Simple Layered Christmas Soap

Home-made soap is a little more complex than making bath salts, but it's lots of fun and fairly easy.

You can find the materials you need at craft and hobby stores that carry soap-making supplies or online at Brambleberry.com. 


Peppermint Christmas Soap
This is a recipe that I've used to make batches of cute, refreshing soap bars for Christmas gifts. It's pretty simple. You may need to test it out to get a level of fragrance that you like. This recipe makes approximately 8 to 10 small soap bars, sliced about 1/2" thick. 

Utensils Needed:

• 2 large glass measuring cups   
    
• 2 metal spoons
    
• 1 small loaf mold (approx. 9x3x2; if you can find them with flat sides and bottom, great; if not, a disposable foil loaf tin approx. 9x3x2 from the grocery store will work fine, too) 
    
• Small squirt bottle filled with rubbing (isopropyl) alcohol
    
• Clear plastic wrap
    
• Cellophane bags and ribbons

Ingredients Needed:

• 2 lb. Clear Melt and Pour Base (24 fluid ozs, melted)
    
• 1 lb. White Melt and Pour Base (12 fluid ozs, melted)
    
• 2 Urban Botanic fragrance oils, Peppermint and Coconut (or any two fragrances you like together; or you can use just one fragrance.) (Urban Botanic oils are cosmetic grade and safe for use in bath and body products.)
    
• Red liquid colorant (I sometimes use just a few drops of food coloring; if you only use a tiny bit, it won't stain)

Step-by-Step Instructions

1. Gather all your supplies.
     
2. You will need a total of 24 fluid ozs of melted Clear Melt and Pour Base and 12 fluid ozs of melted White Melt and Pour Base. I suggest cutting your bulk bars into 1/2" to 1" chunks and then melting a handful to see how many chunks you need to make 6 ozs (1 white layer) and 8 ozs (1 red layer).
     
   
   Make Red Layer:
3. Place enough chunks of Clear Melt and Pour Base to make just under 8 fluid ounces of base in a glass measuring cup. Microwave on 50% heat, for about a minute. Stir any remaining clumps until base is smooth. If you need to, put it back in the microwave for a few more seconds.
     
4. As soon as it's melted and smooth, add 10 drops of Urban Botanic peppermint fragrance oil to the melt. Stir well. (You can substitute other fragrances; increase or decrease the drops of fragrance according to personal preference.)
     
5. Add colorant to the melt until you have the shade of red you want. If you're using food coloring, only add 3 to 5 drops. Stir well.
     
6. You will probably have a little more than 8 ounces of fluid in your cup. Carefully pour 8 ounces into the loaf mold or tin.
     
7. Set aside and let cool until it is set up. (You can put it in the fridge to cool, just make sure it is tightly covered with plastic wrap, as it will absorb the odors in your fridge.)
   
     
   Make White Layer:
8. Repeat step 3, adding enough chunks of the White Melt and Pour Base to make just under 6 fluid ounces of base in a glass measuring cup. Heat and stir.
     
9. Repeat step 4, adding 10 drops of Urban Botanic coconut fragrance oil to the melt. Stir well. (Or you may add another fragrance that will blend well, or no fragrance at all.) You should have approximately 6 ounces of White Melt in your cup. Let cool slightly.
     
10. Take loaf pan out of fridge and spritz the top with rubbing alcohol. This keeps air bubbles out and helps the layers to adhere.
      
11. While White Melt is still warm, carefully pour 6 ounces over the red layer of melt. Repeat step 7.
    
      
    Make Additional Layers:
12. Follow the above directions to make another layer of Red Melt, then another of White, then a final of Red, for a total of five layers. Be sure to let each layer set up before pouring the next layer, and ALWAYS spritz the top layer with rubbing alcohol!
    
      
    Final Steps:
13. As soon as the final layer has set up completely, you can remove the soap from the mold. To speed the set-up process, you can either put the loaf mold in the freezer for about 30 minutes, or back in the fridge for an hour or two. Remember to cover it tightly with plastic wrap before putting in fridge or freezer.
      
14. Remove mold from fridge or freezer and let sit on counter for about 5 minutes. Then carefully turn mold over and gently ease soap out of mold.
      
15. Turn the soap so that the bottom (smaller) side is on top. Using a sharp, smooth knife, make soap slices approximately 1/2 inch thick.
      
16. Immediately place each bar of soap into a cellophane bag and seal, or wrap with plastic wrap. If you let it set out, it may bubble and crack. Tie with a ribbon and there you have it—a perfect Peppermint soap!
 

You can also use this basic Melt and Pour process to make molded soaps. Just melt, scent, color and pour into soap molds. Easy and delightful!



For detailed instructions with images and ideas for making Pour & Melt Soaps, visit:

• Basic Melt and Pour Instructions from Teach Soap
    
• How to Make Melt and Pour Soap from About.com
    
• Swirled Mint Soaps
    
• Gem Stone Soaps
    
• Chunky Soaps

Note: I forgot to take a photo of my soap before I used it. I borrowed this image from Magic Senses.

Shop Urban Botanic.

Bath Salts

Bath Salts are easy to make and they are an inexpensive and fun gift. Bath salts are also a fun activity for children. Just be sure they don't eat the salts!

You can find some of the materials you need at your local grocery. Others can be found at craft and hobby stores that carry soap-making supplies.

Below is the recipe I like best. Feel free to adjust it to fit your own tastes. You can use all Epsom salts or all sea salt, or a mix of the two. Add more or less fragrance oil, as desired. This may take some trial and error on your part.

The following recipe makes approximately 6 to 7 cups of bath salts.

Utensils Needed:

• Glass or metal bowls, 1 large, 1 small for each color (Do not use plastic or wood; they will absorb the ingredients)
     
• Whisks
     
• Air tight containers—mason jars, other decorative jars (you can find these at your local dollar store or thrift store). You can use either glass or plastic. If you use plastic, do not reuse the containers for anything else. Also, some fragrance oils may discolor plastic containers.

Ingredients:

• 4 cups Epsom salt
     
  
• 2 cups generic sea salt (if you're using high quality coarse ground sea salt, decrease to 1 cup and increase Epsom salt to 5 cups)
  
  
• 1 cup baking soda, optional (skin softener)
  
  
• 30 to 40 drops Urban Botanic fragrance oils
  
  
• 1/4 cup Natrasorb or 1/2 cup Dendritic Salt, optional (absorbs and holds the fragrance)
  
  
• 5 to 10 drops of coloring, optional (It is usually safe to use just a few drops of food coloring. If you go light, it won't stain your tub or skin; or, if you want more vibrant colors, use liquid soap colors or micas)

Step-by-Step Instructions

1. In your large glass or metal mixing bowl, measure the Epsom salt and the sea salt together. Stir well, breaking up all clumps. Add the baking soda and mix well.
   
   
2. If you are using the Natrasorb or Dendritic salt, put it in a smaller glass or metal bowl. Add 30 to 40 drops of fragrance oils, depending on how strong you want it to be. Mix well.
   
   
3. Add the fragranced mix from step 2 to the salts from step 1.  Mix well. Break apart all clumps.
   
   
4. If you are not using the Natrasorb or Dendritic salt, slowly drizzle the fragrance oil over your salts, a few drops at a time. Mix well, breaking up the clumps. If your bath salts are very clumpy, you might want to let it dry a bit and then whisk it before adding it to your container.
   
   
5. If you want a natural white color for your salts, skip to step 7.
      
   
6. For color, add it a drop or two at a time over the salts. Mix well and break apart the clumps after each drop. If you want multi-colored bath salts, divide the salts into smaller bowls, one for each color. If your bath salts are very clumpy, again, let them dry a bit and then whisk it before adding it to your container.
   
   
7. Make sure there are no more lumps in the bath salts.
      
8. Spoon the bath salts into their containers, layering the colors if you're creating a multi-color arrangement. Put the air-tight lid on the container.
      
9. Add a ribbon or bow, and voilá, you have a wonderful gift!

To use the bath salts:
Sprinkle salts into a warm tub of water, adding 1/2 to 1 cup to a standard-sized bathtub.

If you're giving the bath salts away as a gift, include a tag with usage instructions and a caution not to eat the salts.

For step-by-step instructions with images and ideas, read How to Make Basic Bath Salts on About.com

Shop Urban Botanic.

Start Thinking Christmas!

At 80% off retail prices,
you can make
personalized fragrances or
give warmers with oils
to everyone on your shopping list.

Shop Urban Botanic.

While supplies last!
Prices will remain at 80% off retail through the end of 2010.

Shop Urban Botanic.

Using Fragrance at Work

It's fairly common knowledge that you can use fragrance to change your mood. But did you know it can also help with performance and memory?

Studies have shown that scented rooms can have a positive effect on such things as proofreading, computer programming and other "sustained attention tasks." Tasks were completed with greater accuracy in the scented rooms as compared with the non-scented rooms. Grapefruit, jasmine and lemon all help to reduce drowsiness and sustain attention.

Peppermint is piped into the Tokyo Stock Exchange in the afternoons to help re-invigorate the brokers.

College students can use mint and sage during finals week to fight exhaustion and boost memory and concentration while they study.

Geranium and bergamot have been used to relieve stress and tension in a variety of situations.

Tip of the Day: Take your UB Warmer and your favorite oils to work with you. You'll love it (and so will your co-workers).


*Aromatherapy and Performance from Prolitec.com

Shop Urban Botanic.

Using Fragrance to Change Your Mood

Scent is a powerful thing. Breathe in the fragrance of a summer rose and life just feels a little better. The right scent at the right time can change your entire outlook in a matter of moments.

Fragrances have been used for centuries to manipulate mood. Here are a few of my favorite mood lifters.

• Stressed out and can't sleep? Try a little lavender or chamomile to help settle your nerves and calm you down.


• Feeling overworked and overwhelmed? Vanilla can ease the pressure.


• A little sluggish and run down? Green tea or grapefruit is the answer, or try a little lemon and lime.


• Totally exhausted? There's nothing like peppermint or eucalyptus to perk you up again.
  


• Got a big date and want to feel more womanly? Try a musk or sandalwood.


• When I'm feeling down, nothing makes me happy faster than a mix of pomegranate and cinnamon.
  

Scent is a powerful thing. What do you use as a pick-me-up?

Shop Urban Botanic.

Be Mine

Be Mine makes a wonderfully romantic lotion, a sensual bubble bath, or a perfect perfume.

It's sweet (but not too sweet) and innocent.

You can purchase it pre-mixed, or mix it up yourself.

Jasmine 5 parts
Sandalwood 7 parts
White Musk 3 parts

Use this recipe in any of our bath and body products or as a home scent with our fragrance warmers.

Shop Urban Botanic.