Luxurious Lavender and Lemongrass Soap

There's nothing quite like a luxurious bar of soap and a hot bath or shower to wash away the stresses and pollutants of the day. This soap recipe caters perfectly to this need as the aroma of summer lavender clams your nerves and the brightness of lemongrass awakens your mind and senses.

You will need:

Olive Melt and Pour Soap Base
   You can find this at your local specialty craft store or aromatherapy store. If this is not a viable option for you, I always buy my soap bases from http://www.newdirectionsaromatics.ca/. (New Directions Aromatics has no affiliation with this blog site) The current price for their olive soap base is $4.22/ 0.9 kg (2lbs) brick. I like this soap base because it contains no animal products. The oils are 100% vegetable oil and it is very rich and moisturizing.

Soap Mold(s)
   You can find beautiful and easy to use soap molds on the New Directions website, however making your own is a more economical alternative. Search you house for interesting shapes. You could use tart trays or mini loaf pans for individual soaps. Or use a pie plate, a large loaf pan, a cake or bunt pan and later cut them into individual soaps. You can also use old yogurt or milk containers. Be sure there is some give to your mold or you may have a hard time forcing your soap out. This is a great opportunity to let those creative juices flow.

Vaseline
Measuring Cup (microwave safe)
Knife and Cutting Board
Spoon or Stir Stick
Waxed Paper or Napkin
Lavender Essential Oil
Lemongrass Essential Oil
Lavender Buds (optional)
Royal Purple Soap Dye (optional)



Method:

First you must determine the volume of your mold. Fill your mold with the appropriate amount of water. Pour that water into a measuring cup and record the volume. This will be the volume of soap you will need to prepare for your mold. If you are using the Olive Melt and Pour Soap Base from New Directions Aromatics, then you should know that one 0.9 kg (2 lbs) brick is approximately 4 cups.

Dry your mold and measuring cup well. Grease your mold with a very thin layer of Vaseline.

On your cutting board, cut the appropriate amount of soap into 1-2 cm cubes. Place some in your measuring cup, cover with waxed paper or a napkin and place it in the microwave for 30 second intervals, stirring in between intervals. Add more and more soap cubes in between intervals until your desired volume is reached.

Do Not let your soap boil.

As soon as it has completely melted you can add the remaining ingredients.


Per one cup of melted soap add:

Lavender Essential Oil, 15 drops
Lemongrass Essential Oil, 3 drops
Lavender buds, approx. 1 tbsp (optional)
Royal Purple Soap Dye, until desired colour is reached (optional)


Pour into soap mold immediately after this addition. Allow your soap to cure for at least 2 hrs, however time will vary depending on the size of your mold.

If you are having trouble removing your soap from the mold, try giving the mold a hot water bath to gently loosen the soaps.

Wrap your unused soaps in waxed paper to prevent moisture loss and eventual cracking. Since there are no preservatives in this recipe, please use them within 6 months.


I just know you will have such a spa-like experience while using this soap. It is so important that we find the time to nourish and pamper ourselves each and every day, even if it is with something as simple as a luxurious homemade bar of soap.

Enjoy!


Warning: Please refer to the MSDS for the materials used in this recipe.