#coldprocesssoap #patchoulirain #frenchvanillaoak #havananights #madampresident
#testingnewfragrances
Tuesday, August 25, 2015
Over the past year, we have amassed quite a few samples of different fragrance oils that we just haven't gotten around to using yet. Today was a testing day - yay! We have so much fun trying new things. The four FOs we tested are scents that we really LOVE, L-O-V-E, straight out of the bottle, so we were eager to see if we would still love them in CP soap.
Back in February we purchased four small silicone molds from +Bramble Berry with the idea that we would use them for test batches. They are the perfect size - 4 x 3 1/2 x 2 3/4 H.
We have formulated a soap recipe that, when divided evenly into four parts, will contain enough oils for 1 oz of FO in each portion. Once we reach light trace, we weigh our mixing bucket, then subtract the weight of the bucket to get the total of just the soap batter. We divided that number by 4 to know exactly how much soap batter we would pour into each portion.
Yay for math!
To make it easier on the eyes we've divided the blog into 4 separate sections, one for each scent.
Ready? Here we go!
#1 - French Vanilla Oak is from +Natures Garden. They describe the fragrance as a sensual fragrance of creamy vanilla and warm amber which mingle with oak moss and sandalwood, anchored by patchouli and musk. It sounds like a lot going on, but the blend is quite wonderful. It has a 4.5% vanilla content so we went into it knowing this soap would discolor. We have made candles with this FO also, and they smell fabulous cold as well as hot.
For the French Vanilla Oak FO, we decided to keep it relatively simple. We used micas from +Rustic Escentuals: copper sparkle mica and light gold mica. We left the rest of the batter without any added color so we could see how much it would darken as it cured.
We poured a small portion of the uncolored batter into the bottom of the mold, then a layer of batter colored with the copper sparkle, then a layer of the light gold mica colored batter, then topped it with the remaining uncolored batter.
Our curing room is also Kathy's laundry room, and occasionally we have mishaps! And the photo below shows you, well, this is what happens to a bar of soap when it's curing too close to the washing machine.....and, you put a big load of sheets in and accidentally wash the soap with the sheets!!!
That load of sheets smelled fantastic!
#2 - Madam President is also from +Natures Garden. This has been a favorite fragrance of both of ours since the first time we opened the bottle. We hope we love it as much after it cures in CP soap! For this scent, NG has "combined fresh, zesty citrus notes of charisma and charm, balanced out by feminine florals of jasmine, white rose, and freesia. The nuances of brilliant musks and ozonic notes are backed by a respected and humble hint of sweet vanilla; ending with a kind hearted, warm amber base." This FO has .5% vanilla, so we expect it to darken as it cures.
All of the micas for this scent came from +Rustic Escentuals. We mixed a small amount of batter with Arctic White, Bordeaux, and Bewitched mica. Starting with uncolored batter we layered each color then finished with the remaining uncolored batter.
The colors we used "almost" seemed patriotic, leaning towards a red, white and blue look.
#3 - Patchouli Rain is from +Rustic Escentuals. RE says the fragrance is "rich, deep, and mysterious. This fragrance oil is a fresh rain and earthy patchouli with notes of lily of the valley, cyclamen, fresh ozone, earthen moss, and hints of sweet citrus." This is definitely a fresh, sweet, version of a patchouli scent. There is no vanilla, so we could be more creative with our colors on this one.
We used an assortment of blue micas, from +Bramble Berry 1982 Blue Mica (which they don't sell anymore - at least we can't find it when we do a search) and Antique Blue Mica. And from +Nurture Soap Supplies we used Blue Vibrance Mica.
We pulled out about a 1/2 cup batter for each color and left the remaining batter uncolored.
We poured the colored batter into the mold with no plan then did a quick swirl with a skewer just to give it a little drama.
The colors are pretty together, and the scent is wonderful; we just wished there had been a little more swirling action.
The last batch.....
#4 - Havana Nights is also from +Rustic Escentuals. RE's description says that the FO is "a sultry and provocative blend reminiscent of a hot summer's night in a beautiful, mysterious land. Havana Nights is a spicy floral with notes of spiced citrus, fresh water lily, sensual jasmine petals, cedar, patchouli, sandalwood, vanilla, dark musk, and amber." Out of the bottle, this oil made us long for a beach vacation. The vanilla content is .98%, so some discoloration might be a consideration.
We used +Bramble Berry Aqua Pearl Mica mixed with +Rustic Escentuals Clementine Pop Mica, both bright vivid colors that would convey the essence of the tropics.
Not so tropical. Unfortunately I (Kathy), after carefully layering in the colors, realized I'd forgotten to add the fragrance oil - big ooopsie.
So the lovely planned swirl went out the window when I mixed the scent into the batter.
Luckily you can still see remnant of a design, so it's not all for nothing.
And this smell, oh my goodness, it is amazing!
Here is what the four test batches looked like after curing overnight. We had some ash.
We did not experience any acceleration or ricing from these FOs.
Here they are freshly out of the molds.
And once they are cut, nice light colored soaps.
Wait until you see how they looked 2 weeks later.
Not so bright, are they?
The vanilla content rears its darkening head and changes the color somewhat.
They all smell great, and I don't think either of us has a favorite. We want to make larger batches of all of these.
And that definitely isn't what was supposed to happen. We were trying to eliminate some of our fragrance stash....not add to it!
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