Lavender~do you crush it, or use it whole?

[ChristinaB]

I've seen lavender soaps with the whole seeds on the top, but to put them in the soap I'm wondering how other people do it? It seems like they would have to be crushed, but I think I vaguely remember seeing lavender soap with whole seeds before also....?

 

[Half Caper Farm]

I would crush the flower buds if I was going to put them in the soap - otherwise, they turn brown and have a tendency to look like mouse turds! NOT very attractive. . .

 

[ChristinaB]

LMBO!! I'm so glad I asked, thank you!

 

[soap25]

Lavender seeds

Hi ChristinaB!

I am new in this forum, but not new with soapmaking .

Lavender seeds - crushed or whole - turn brown in your soap, they don´t give any smell or other "useful" purpose.

Even on top of the soap they change the color after a while and they are not very useful, when you cut the soap. I hope my dictonary gave me the right word: you get streaks.

I use seeds in the soap only as strong tea to dissolve the lye. Otherwise I decorate the cured soap with them.

 

[ChristinaB]

hmmm....well, maybe I won't put them in or on the soap then! How do you decorate cured soap with them? Also, I am doing HP, so do you think if I sprinkled the seeds on top once the soap is in the mold they would still turn brown (since the soap will already be cured?)? Thank you for your help and wisdom!

Since I already have your attention I just thought of something; can vanilla bean paste be used in soapmaking? I have almond soap drying on my counter and left it natural colored~it looks just like french vanilla ice~cream~and thought the little specks from vanilla bean paste would look great in this the next time I make it?

 

[soap25]

lavender seeds

..instead a bed of roses, I make a bed of lavender seeds....

I give them first in a plastic bag, ad Lavender EO, mix and leave them in the bag a while. Seeds in a box, soap on the seeds, cover... tata....

The problem with HP soap is to make the seeds stick on it. If the soapsurface is hot and liquid enough it should work.

Since I have no idea what vanille bean paste is, I can´t answer your question. We have real vanilla powder - this works fine. Little black sparkels in the soap. Fine grounded Coffee will do the same job :wink:

 

[paillo]

i haven't gotten around to trying this yet but want to soon -- after complete curing, a top dip in m&p and then sprinkled with lavender buds before the m&p hardens... i haven't seen this done, but bet it will be really pretty...