Natural Alternatives for the Home: Part 2: Process to Product

What I want to do is answer some basic questions about creating art. A lot of you might be thinking, How do I create my art items? How long does it take? What is needed? What does it cost?

For this post, I want to share the process for creating my newest product, herbal soaps. I am so excited about making soaps that feature the herbs I've been learning about because their benefits are twofold: clean hands and any other benefits from using herbs.

Also, it's AMAZING the amount of work that goes in to making such a basic staple.

Lavender Soap

A. Growing Lavender:

I promised you that we would start at the very beginning, didn't I? I've been growing lavender crops since the nineties because they were so easy and effortless to produce. I used the lavender in candles and various body products. Since I moved in March to the city, where there is only a small landscaped area to work in, I've started working on growing lavender indoors from seeds. Despite working hard to grow lavender from a Burpee Seed starter, I ultimately did not grow any lavender from scratch. By August, I finally had a plant produce a few blooms.

B. Drying blooms:

This involves cutting stems of lavender and hanging them upside down to dry. Then when dry, I crunch them up or blend them in the food processor for use in products later.

C. Gathering materials:

My shopping list: shea butter soap, molds, colorant, scent.

- Make sure to use colorant that is made for soaps. I add one drop at a time until I get the color
I want.
- You can use a chart to figure out how much scent to add (Fragrance Calculator.)

A lot of the materials needed are not available at local craft shops, so the best thing is to investigate online shops. My favorites are Amazon and Nature's Garden, and I'm a fan of comparing prices and saving money where possible.

D. Grinding up lavender buds and oatmeal:

Why put Lavender in soap?

- It has a calming effect on the skin and nerves.
- Lavender's antiseptic, antibacterial and anti-fungal
properties can benefit mild cases of eczema
- It smells great!!

Why put oatmeal in soap?

- Oatmeal is a great moisturizer for your skin.
- Oatmeal is a mild exfoliating agent
- The protein and polysaccharides in oatmeal can help
improve your skin's natural barriers

(Treatment of rosacea with herbal ingredients. Wu J., Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 2006 Jan; 5 (I): 29-32.)

- Oatmeal has phenols, which provide it's anti-inflammatory properties.

Ground Oatmeal

- Oatmeal acts as a pH buffer and helps to correct the pH of your skin.
- Oatmeal has been used for centuries to soothe skin and help relieve itch.

E. Make It:

a. Melt the soap. I used a glass measuring cup and microwaved 40 seconds and then for 10
second increments thereafter. Stir in between.