plantain infused oil

[mlktrkdrvr]

I have been infusing olive oil with plantain for a few weeks now hoping to make some soothing soap for summer rashes, bug bites etc. I plan to use mainly the infused oil 28 ounces and 4 ounces of coconut oil, one ounce of bees wax. 5 ounces of lye 6 ounces frozen goats milk and 6 ounces of distilled water. At trace I want to add some finely ground oatmeal. My first 3 batches (of other olive oil soaps) turned out great but my fourth batch was not great. Just wanted opinions if this sounded acceptable by some of the veterans

 

[judymoody]

Sounds like a nice mild soap. I haven't run your recipe through a lye calculator but it's worth doing for any recipe. Try the one at soapcalc.net

Just looking at this, I'd cut back on the beeswax so it's no more than 1% of your recipe. Too much can inhibit lather and you also have to work at higher temperatures so the beeswax doesn't precipitate out of solution. Given that you also want to use goat's milk, it might be better to leave the beeswax altogether so you can soap cooler.

Let us know how it turns out!

 

[mlktrkdrvr]

I have been afraid to make any olive oil soap without bees wax as I was told it would be way to soft and would melt really easily... true or not true?

 

[sudbubblez]

Plantain infused oil? OMG I LOVE PLAINTAINS! What is infused the fruit, the peel or the leaves?

You can skip the beeswax if you have some other hard fats; it cuts down on the lather. If you find that its too soft, soaping with a water reduction can produce harder bars. soaping with a water reduction is easy with a castile soap. It doesn't accelerate trace wildly because its a soft recipe to begin with. It also helps because olive oil is one of those oils that is more prone to separate from full water recipes.

 

[mlktrkdrvr]

sorry I guess I should have clarified, not Plantain Musa paradisiaca, the herb Plantago major (Rubbed on parts of the body stung by insects, nettles, etc., or as an application to burns and scalds, the leaves will afford relief and will stay the bleeding of minor wounds.) And after reading here if I should use the plantain oil to make the soap or if I should superfat with it? It needs to maintain the properties of the infused oil to be effective the way I am looking for.

 

[judymoody]

Adding a superfatting oil at trace in the CP method does not make a meaningful difference. The lye is still very active at that point and will use whatever it encounters. You might consider the HP method instead. In this technique saponification is largely complete by the time you add superfatting oil and/or fragrance.

There are diverse opinions about what lye does to the therapeutic qualities of herbs and essential oils.

If that is your main concern, your lovely infused oil might be put to better use in a solid lotion bar (very easy to make - roughly 1/3 liquid oil, 1/3 saturated oil or butter and 1/3 beeswax) or a salve or lotion. You could also add it to some whipped shea butter.

 

[mlktrkdrvr]

I would like to try the HP, but have to admit I am so overwhelmed with all the information on this board and other places that I do not know how! I have plenty of plantain and can always infuse more for a salve or lotion, it only takes time... Can someone give me some good tips about HP with olive oil soap?

 

[mlktrkdrvr]

oh yeah about that solid bar lotion-- BUTTER? Really like churned cow's cream?? REALLY COOL! But how long does it stay good? We are getting our dairy cow soon!

 

[judymoody]

oh yeah about that solid bar lotion-- BUTTER? Really like churned cow's cream?? REALLY COOL! But how long does it stay good? We are getting our dairy cow soon!

Oops, sorry, I wasn't clear. I didn't mean that kind of butter. I meant shea butter, cocoa butter, mango butter, like that.

Cow butter would go off quickly. And it can really stink in CP soap.

 

[mlktrkdrvr]

ok something else just come up...I was told I need to pasturize any milk that I use before I can use it or it will sour. yes or no?