September 2017 | Lavender Essential Oil | KCK Soapery

This batch was inspired by a family member who likes essential oils.  

I decided to make this very natural, no added colors or fragrance. Oils used were Olive Oil, Rice Bran Oil, Coconut Oil, Palm Oil, and Castor Oil.  I also used two butters, Shea Butter and Mango Butter and scented with Lavender Essential Oil.

I always love the look and feel of the oils and butters emulsifying.

Poured the batch onto the mold.  Just as natural, plain, and simple.

 I got an itch and just had to do some artsy stuff.  Using spoon, I gave the top some texture.

Added some lavender buds in the middle. The buds were added while the soap was still wet in the mold.

I forgot to take a picture of it.
This picture was taken after I unmolded the soap.

Some of the lavender buds are still just loosely attached and came off.  But I like the contrast it gave to the soap.

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May 2017 | Gardener's Soap | KCK Soapery

I mentioned to a friend at work that I will make a Gardener's soap for her since she is starting her garden and herb farm again.

As I search for the perfect gardener's soap recipe, I noticed two recipes that caught my fancy.  I used the recipe from soap-making-resource  since I have all the ingredients on hand and try to make the soap look like the one from Brambleberry's soap queen's super gardener's soap.  I also combine additives like rose clay, lavender buds, activated charcoal and titanium dioxide from both sources.

Oils used were coconut oil, palm kernel oil, olive oil, avocado oil and castor oil.  This soap is chuck full of essential oils of Lavender, Rosemary and Tea Tree essential oils.

This is the largest amount of oils, essential oils and additives I have ever used.

I decided to add the lavender buds to the white soap batter and poured it first to be the base of the soap.

In went the rose clay layer.

Last layer was the soap batter mixed with coffee grounds.

Topped with white I set aside and lined with some leftover rose clay soap batter.  As you can see, some of the batter start hardening as I was spooning the batter.

Managed to swirl it before the top completely harden.

Off the mold.

This is the biggest soap bar I have ever made.

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