Neem Tree Oil Soap

[oldragbagger]

I just made my first batch of Neem Tree oil soap. I had been looking forward to this one because we live in a very marshy area on the Chesapeake Bay and the mosquito is the state bird around here in the summertime. They love me, too. I can't go outside for 5 minutes without getting eaten alive, which is a shame because there isn't a more beautiful place to live for being outdoors.

I have seen mounds of literature saying that neem repels insects, and even interrupts their breeding cycle. Supposedly there's a lady that makes a 30% neem soap and sends it to Iraq for the troops to keep all those nasty sand flies away from them. All good.

I can see why it would work. If those little buggers have any olfactory senses at all, then they won't come within a mile of me. Even with cocoa butter and a heavy dose of peru balsam eo, it still smells like neem, which don't exactly smell like roses. We'll have to see if I actually want to use it after it's done. Stink....get bit....stink....get bit......stink.....get bit..........hmmmmmmmm

 

[SimplyE]

Definitely stink! Sounds truely pleasant!

It will be interesting to hear how it works for you since it is a wash-off product, rather than a leave on. Keep us posted!

 

[Vinca Leaf]

I've got one with neem and citronella and it *does* work!

(and the Neem is not too stinky!)

 

[oldragbagger]

What percentage neem did you use? I used 20%. I wanted the equivalent of a mosquito howitzer. Citronella would have probably been a better choice for a scent, and would have given an extra bug-zap.
So, now here we are again, making a soap that would supposedly have benefits beyond just cleaning, but can't promote those benefits to the customer. ARGHHHHHH.

 

[Vinca Leaf]

Ahhhh, I can't remember off the top of my head, but I don't think it was 20%...maybe more like 10%

 

[oldragbagger]

I just put my second batch of soap for the day to bed. I bought 2' of 3" PVC pipe today and cut it in half for 2 - 12" molds. Each holds exactly 32 oz. of oil. (Just a tip for those of you who haven't tried them yet - - either pour at a very light trace or get yourself one of those big canning funnels. Getting thickly traced soap in that 3" hole without it globbing all over the counter was harder than it looks!!)

The first batch was the aforementioned neem oil. The second batch was lavender. I had made a test batch with ground lavender buds, shea and lavender eo a couple months ago that needed some tweeking in my opinion. So I tweaked today. This is the first time I have ever made to different batches in one day. I'm pooped.

 

[Qetesh]

neem oil

I made my first batch of neem oil soap yesterday and i am afraid its going to stink! I seem to attract bugs and bites and my bf suffers from excema so that was the main reason for making the soap. I tried to cover it up with orange essential oil and sandalwood. i dont think it really worked tho.... i was hoping that i could even use this as a face soap since neem has so many anti fungal properties and can aid in clearing acne.

 

[Guest]

It will smell different after a bit of a cure .

 

[oldragbagger]

Nope, mine's been curing for 2 months. It still stinks. It stinks a little bit less, but it still stinks.