Hi
Here are some pictures of my homemade style “Savon de Marseille”
73% Olive oil (2,585gr)
27% Coconut (950gm)
Lye (500gm)
Sea Water (from Western Australia) 1, 2 litre
I added about two table spoons titanium dioxide to the sea water and lye mix.
I never bother to measure the temperature other that feeling the outside of the containers containing the melted fats/oils and the lye mix to feel that they are not too hot.
To some of the soaps I added about two teaspoons green French clay per litre.
For a bit of variation to other separate batches I added things like:
Fine green tea leaves, Turmeric powder, melted candle wax.
For scents I used premixed fragrant oils from the soap supply shop. (+/- 3% in separate batches):
Cypress, Rain Forrest, Lemon Oil
Anyway the mix worked well and did not set too rapidly, even after adding the fragrant oils so I was able to pour it into moulds leisurely.
It unmoulded very easily the next day and was easy to cut, although the cylinder moulds tended to split (crumble) when I cut it into discs. Perhaps this is due to the “in the pot” swirl attempt with the turmeric.
The soap when used is very nice and creamy, with fluffy bubbles and feels soft and very moisturizing.
I have in the past made soaps using plain water, goat’s milk and butters.
I am not convinced that this soap it is markedly better or worse than the mix would be if I had used plain water or goat’s milk instead of sea water, nor am I convinced that adding some butters (coco, shea or mango) would make a noticeable difference to the characteristics of the soap.
Still it was good fun and yet another reason to cycle to the beach for a swim to collect some sea water.
Here are some pictures of my homemade style “Savon de Marseille”
73% Olive oil (2,585gr)
27% Coconut (950gm)
Lye (500gm)
Sea Water (from Western Australia) 1, 2 litre
I added about two table spoons titanium dioxide to the sea water and lye mix.
I never bother to measure the temperature other that feeling the outside of the containers containing the melted fats/oils and the lye mix to feel that they are not too hot.
To some of the soaps I added about two teaspoons green French clay per litre.
For a bit of variation to other separate batches I added things like:
Fine green tea leaves, Turmeric powder, melted candle wax.
For scents I used premixed fragrant oils from the soap supply shop. (+/- 3% in separate batches):
Cypress, Rain Forrest, Lemon Oil
Anyway the mix worked well and did not set too rapidly, even after adding the fragrant oils so I was able to pour it into moulds leisurely.
It unmoulded very easily the next day and was easy to cut, although the cylinder moulds tended to split (crumble) when I cut it into discs. Perhaps this is due to the “in the pot” swirl attempt with the turmeric.
The soap when used is very nice and creamy, with fluffy bubbles and feels soft and very moisturizing.
I have in the past made soaps using plain water, goat’s milk and butters.
I am not convinced that this soap it is markedly better or worse than the mix would be if I had used plain water or goat’s milk instead of sea water, nor am I convinced that adding some butters (coco, shea or mango) would make a noticeable difference to the characteristics of the soap.
Still it was good fun and yet another reason to cycle to the beach for a swim to collect some sea water.
