I made this soap a couple of months ago and it’s been a surprisingly good seller, despite its rather ‘plain jane’ looks:
Ordinarily I love my colours and swirls, and in my head this one was going to be a beautiful drop swirl design in shades of blue, a bit like this green one I made not so long ago…
but it wasn’t to be…
I usually soap at room temperature. To that end I generally mix up my lye solution and melt my hard oils and butters during the baby’s midday nap, so that they’ve cooled down nicely by the time both kids are asleep in the evening. I also weigh out my liquid oils and add them to the melted oils as well – this starts the cooling process and also makes the ‘hard’ oils and butters less likely to re-solidify as they cool.
So on this occasion I prepped everything as normal, and once the bedtime routine was finished I eagerly set to work. I combined the oils with the lye, added the essential oils (a blend of Bergamot, Patchouli, Orange and Ylang Ylang) then portioned out the batter and mixed in the colours (titanium dioxide, denim blue mica and ultramarine blue pigment). It was only after I’d poured all of the white portion into the mould that I realised that, even when I dropped in the two blues, I wouldn’t have anywhere near enough soap to fill the mould.
It only took a second or two for the penny to drop. For some reason I had skipped a step at lunchtime, and hadn’t added the liquid oils to the melted oils. My measured out liquid oils were still in a jug, put away safely to one side. Arrrgghhhhh! I couldn’t bear to waste a 3lb batch of soap, so did the only thing I could think of. All the mixed batter went back into a big bowl (oh the colours looked so pretty as I poured them in!) along with the liquid oils and I stick blended like crazy. The batter had originally behaved very well and traced beautifully (I’d had no indication that anything was amiss) so I had no idea whether it would work or not. I fully expected ricing, seizing or something equally frustrating but no, it all combined really well and I was able to pour my (by this stage) very plain, unicolour soap.
Despite everything, I’ve called it Serenity. The colour is very calming, and the fragrance blend is soothing and comforting. It’s funny how things turn out.
It is a beautiful bluish white, and the name Serenity is lovely. Fortunately, you were still able to correct the mistake before it was too late. Last night, I made an experimental soap using essential oils of bergamot, blood orange and patchouli. It smells so good and intoxicating, albeit on the masculine side. I bet the addition of ylang ylang in your blend makes it smell even better.
I was just happy that I could save the batch, so I’m amazed that it’s turned out so nice! I’m really enjoying experimenting with EO’s as well – I’m pretty certain Santa is bringing me a mini ‘test’ mould for Christmas 😉 so there’ll be more blending experiments to come in the Spring!
There’s definitely something to be said about a simple soap and the name is very fitting. Good thing you figured out what was missing and was able to make it work for you. Isn’t it funny how happy accidents can turn out so well?
Thanks Monica – it really was a happy accident :-D. It has sold so well I’ll definitely be using that EO blend again, but next time I’ll give the drop swirl another go!
I made completely white soap the other day,too! Funny, but I don’t see blue here! As for me,it’s beautiful the way it is and the only lucky accident here was you hadn’t chosen darker colours to make a muddy mess! I know what happens when children distract us, soap always suffers 🙂
Ha ha Maja – you’re so right! I don’t know whether I’m coming or going at the moment (I forgot my son’s haircut appointment yesterday – II had to phone up and grovel to see if they could fit him in this afternoon – which they can, phew!!) Thanks for your kind comments!
It happens to me often, Vicki, so now I am happy that I am not the only one 😉
The white soap looks so delicate( I don’t know why, but lately I am into simple soaps!), and love the name!
And what a gorgeous blend combination for your 2nd soap: Bergamot, Patchouli, Orange and Ylang Ylang! It should smell divine!
Oh thanks Natalia, I too am pleased that I’m not the only one!! It is actually a rather pretty pale blue colour, but the photo doesn’t show the colour particularly well. Like Maja said, it was very lucky that I didn’t use darker colours and end up with a sludge coloured bar!
Sorry to hear about the oils being left out, but I’m glad that you were able to salvage the batch and that it still turned out so lovely! “Serenity” is the perfect name. The scent combo sounds wonderful!
Thanks Jenny!
What a beautiful soap Vicki, glad it turned out to be such a happy accident! =)
Thanks Cee – me too :0)