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Soap making
Soap of the Magi
Here is an easy soap recipe I found while surfing the net.
It's not too early to begin those Holiday gifts.
5 Ounces Glycerine Soap
1/8 teaspoon Myrrh Oil
1/8 teaspoon Frankincense Oil
Bronze and Gold Mica Dust
Ultra fine gold fabric glitter
Oval soap mold
Melt 1/2 of the soap.
Stir in the Frankincense oil and Gold mica dust.
Pour into 2 molds filling only half way.
Melt the other 1/2 of the soap.
Stir in Myrrh oil and Bronze mica dust.
Spoon over 1st layer of soap. Set, unmold.
Give the bars a light dusting of the gold glitter
and you have a soap of gold, frankincense and Myrrh
the gifts of the Magi. If you've frozen the soap
allow it to thaw and dry before adding the glitter or wrapping.
Simple Ritual Soaps
This is a very super simple way to create your own ritual soaps. Ritual soaps
can be created to cleanse and purify yourself as part of an overall ritual.
Think about your purpose and then select herbs and oils to correspond to your
need.
You will need: 1 bar of plain white soap, unscented (like Ivory brand soap)
1/4 cup of very warm water, several drops of essential oil and crushed herbs
Grate the bar of soap using a simple metal kitchen grater (if you use a food
processor it may or may not work, and I believe magick is more empowered with
spirit when you use simple hand tools).
Place the grated soap into a bowl and add the remaining ingredients.Knead the
soap, water, oils, and herbs together with your hands and form your soap into
simple ball shapes or some other simple shape.
Since you do not need a lot of ritual soap at one time, I usually make about 3
or 4 small shaped soaps from this recipe. While you are making your soaps keep
your magickal purpose in mind and perhaps sing or chant something appropriate,
for instance:
"Air moves us, Fire transforms us, Water heals us, Earth grounds us, and the
power of the Wheel goes round and round, and the power of the Wheel goes round!"
While using your ritual soaps, whether in the bath or shower, you can visualize
the soap/herbs/oils healing,cleansing and purifying you! and the water rinsing
away your problems and any negative stress. While these soaps can be created
specifically for ritual, they can also be used as a soothing soap to effectively
calm your spirit and invigorate you in a positive way.
Simple Oatmeal Soap
1/2 cup ground oatmeal
1/2 cup soap shavings
1 1/2 tablespoons sweet almond or olive oil
1 tablespoon water
Place soap shavings in a plastic bag, and pound them into
smaller pieces. Place the soap in a blender, add oatmeal,
and process until mixture it's "grainy" in texture.. Pour it
into a bowl and remove any larger pieces. Add the oil and
water, then "knead" it to mix and form it into a firm ball.
Set it aside for at least 2 hours until it dries. (You can use
leftover soap that you've grated---small sample bars can
be used too as long as the fragrances don't clash.
Old Fashioned Witch Soap
. 4 lbs lard
· 13 oz lye (1 can)
· 5 cups cold water
· 1tbsp lavender oil
· 1 tbsp patchouli oil
· 1 cup fresh strawberry juice
· 1/4 cup dried soap bark herb (optional
Procedure
In a large enamel or iron kettle, melt the lard over very low heat. (Never use
metal) In aseparate pot, stir together the lye & the water. Heat lard until
small bubbles begin to appear - do not boil.
Remove from the heat & slowly pour the lye solution into the lard. With a big
wooden spoon, stir in the lavender & patchouli oils, the strawberry juice & soap
bark herb. Simmer for about 30 minutes, stirring frequently.
Pour into 2-inch deep greased pan & allow to cool overnight. Cut the soap into
squares and leave in the pan for at least 3 days before removing. Place the Soap
bars on waxed paper & allow them to age in a draft-free area approximately 4-6
weeks before using.
Soapballs
skill level: easiest
cost: under $5
craft time: 2 minutes
bar of Ivory Soap (This only works with Ivory)
microwave
paper towel
Cut a bar of Ivory soap into 4 equal pieces.
Place one piece on a paper towel and microwave for approximately 30 seconds.
The timing depends on your microwave.
Watch the soap "grow".
Take the expanded soap out with the paper towel and form into a ball.
Be careful, the soap may be hot.
Then repeat the process with the other soap pieces.
Wrap in tulle or just set around your house.
These permanent soap balls can also be used for a fun time in the bath.
Lammas Maple Oatmeal Soap
1 bar Ivory soap, grated
oatmeal, 1/8 to 1/4 cup
a little maple syrup
soap moulds
Mix soap, oatmeal, and maple in a
microwave-safe bowl.
Microwave for 30 seconds.
Pour into soap moulds, let cool.
Honey Patchouli Soap
4 bars unscented glycerin soap cubed
1 T. French clay (for opacity) optional
1 T. honey (optional)
10 drops patchouli or other
essential oil of your choice
-Microwave soap on high for 60 seconds
and then in ten second intervals until melted
Mix clay, honey, and patchouli to form a paste
Add paste to melted soap and stir
Pour into mold and allow to harden
Fresh Mint Soap
4 bars unscented glycerin soap cubed
1 T. Mint leaves (finely crushed)
1/2 tsp. Peppermint essential oil
1/2 tsp. Spearmint essential oil
Follow directions for "Honey Patchouli Soap"
Citrus Oatmeal Soap
4 bars unscented glycerin soap cubed
1 T. ground Oatmeal
1/4 t. grated orange peal
1/4 t. orange colorant
4-5 drops grapefruit seed extract
10 drops sweet orange EO
1 capsule vitamin E
Follow directions for "Honey Patchouli Soap
MAKE-YOUR-OWN BATH SALT SOAP
Make your own melt-and-pour bath salt soap and enjoy the benefits of a salt bath
in the shower. It's quick, it's easy and it's very affordable to make with
utensils you already have in your kitchen.
What you will need:
melt and pour soap base
sea salt
essential oil(s)
microwave safe glass large glass measuring cup (4 cup size) or bowl (the spout
makes for easier pouring)
soap molds or heat-resistant container
cookie sheet or tin foil shaped like a tray with raised sides
Where to find it:
Melt and pour soap base :
Some local craft stores supply melt-and-pour soap bases. I have found these to
be overpriced and lacking in quality so I personally use an online supplier.
Sea salt:
Sea salt can usually be found at any grocer or bulk food supply store. It can
also be purchased from online suppliers relatively inexpensively.
What to do:
Using a cookie sheet or tin foil tray, sprinkle sea salt evenly over the bottom
and set aside.
Cut your melt-and-pour soap base into 1 or 2-inch cubes and place in your
measuring cup/bowl. How much you use depends on how much soap you want to make
and how big your mold/container is. One way is to simply first cut the
melt-and-pour in cakes as big as the size of the resulting bar you desire and
then cube it. If you want to be meticulous, you can use a scale or go by the
volume each mold or contain holds.
***Don't get stressed over measuring. Melt-and-pour soap base can always be
re-melted, so if you over guess, just let it harden in a contain or soap mold,
wrap it after it hardens, and save it for next time. You can afford to be lazy
about measuring like me!***
Place the measuring cup/bowl into your microwave and microwave on high for 30
seconds at a time, stirring in-between. Once almost all the base is melted,
remove and stir until all pieces have melted.
***If you dont have a microwave oven, melt-and-pour soap base can also easily be
melted with a double-boiler method.***
Now is the time to add essential oils if you choose to do so. I usually let my
soap base cool down just a bit before adding essential oils so the heat doesn't
cause them to evaporate off too quickly.
Carefully (it's hot!) pour a thin layer of your melted soap over the sea salt in
your tray, just enough to cover it, about 1/8 inch. Let it stand and cool for a
few minutes then place in the freezer for 15 minutes. Set your melted soap base
aside during this time. Stir it slowly during the 15 minutes so it doesn't set
up. If it does, give it a few seconds on the microwave again.
***TIP: (optional) Stir the soap base slowly and minimally or you will have air
bubbles. They don't hurt anything, some people just prefer more
visually-appealing soap. If you want added insurance against air bubbles, spray
your poured molds with rubbing alcohol. The bubbles will quickly rise and
vanish.***
After 15 minutes, remove the soap/sea salt from the freezer and peel from the
tray. Now you can either use a knife or your hands to break the salt soap into
small pieces or strips.
Next take your pieces/strips and fill your soap molds/heat resistant container
and pour the remaining soap base into the molds. Let stand until it hardens. I
find that giving the mold about 10 or 15 minutes in the freezer after it hardens
makes it easier to get out of the molds.
I usually let my bars sit in open air for about 24 hours and then put them in
zip lock bags for storing so they don't dry out too much. The soap can be used
as soon as the bar is completely hardened, however.
OTHER PACKAGING IDEAS:
If you want to go for a more pleasing and professional appearance, there are
suppliers who offer decorative plastic wrap and packaging just for homemade
soaps. These are wonderful and relatively inexpensive for making gifts of your
creation.
CREATIVE SUGGESTIONS:
I like to pour different colors of soap over the sea salts and then clear soap
over the pieces. You can use either food grade colors or colors made just for
soaps. Craft stores supply colors or you can find them online.
Cinnamon Soap
Magical intent:
Cinnamon attracts things "quickly"
Makes One 14-ounce bar or
2 small molded bars.
You will need;
Unscented glycerin soap (1 block aprox 1 lb)
10 drops cinnamon oil
1 drop red food coloring {optional}
Cinnamon bark broken into small pieces
Most glycerin soap comes in blocks/bars,
cut up in small pieces & place soap into
a microwave safe bowl.
Heat soap for about 40 sec. in the micro until liquefied.
Stir in the cinnamon oil, coloring until well mixed, add
cinnamon bark pieces, not to many.
(You can chant while you stir, if soap is for magical purposes)
Pour the soap into a mold that you have added cinnamon oil to.
Let set for three hours or until hardened. Smells great !!!
(If you have a problem removing soap from mold, place
mold in freezer for 10 mins, it will pop right out.
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