Teach Soap

Hello,

Well, I have used a variety of floral inclusions in soap. So far I have found rose buds to go brown, but not separate dried petals. Jasmine flowers and calendula petals have been fine, and still look lovely (although this may be because they're in Honey and Jasmine Soap, and the honey helps preserve/antioxidise). I've heard lots of people say that lavender goes brown. Well, I'm getting some lavender from a friend, who has grown it in his garden, and am hoping to use it as a soap inclusion.

I was wondering if anyone knew of a way to make sure lavender doesn't go brown in the soap? Perhaps something you could coat it with/spray on before putting it in. I'm thinking of the way you can put lemon or lime juice onto fruit like apples and bananas in a fruit salad, to stop them turning brown.

So far I was planning to use lavender and frankincense essential oils in the soap.

_________________
"The question is: does it work on stage? If it works on stage, does it fit the theory? If it works on stage, but doesn't fit the theory; throw out the theory." Bertolt Brecht

I don't know of any way for the lavender not to go brown. I made that mistake once and will not again.
Mine ended up looking like mouse turds,

_________________
Irena
Closed minds are like faulty parachutes; they refuse to open.

I'm wondering if dipping the flowers in a little purple/lilac mica before I put them in the soap might work. It won't preserve the colour, but might fake it a bit!

Have you any experience with dipping/rolling other items in mica before embedding which might suggest if this would work or not?

One thread I looked at suggested dying them, but I can't imagine adding more liquid would help. Also as they are dried flowers, that could go horribly wrong. Guess I could try dying one or two before I decide if I want to include them. Not sure the best way to go about that though. I know how to dye LIVE flowers by putting colourant in the water... but not so much dry ones. Thinking using mica might work better.

Any thoughts?

_________________
"The question is: does it work on stage? If it works on stage, does it fit the theory? If it works on stage, but doesn't fit the theory; throw out the theory." Bertolt Brecht

I've tried dipping some dried leaves in soap safe liquid colorant once. The problem became obvious when the color started to bleed. I say try it and see how it works out for you. Normally, micas don't bleed, but I don't know if it would stay on the flowers and nowhere else.

_________________
Irena
Closed minds are like faulty parachutes; they refuse to open.

Would mixing the micas with a little glycerine or rubbing alcohol (I think you did that in one of your tuts) make them stick better to the flowers? I'm hoping to pick up my lavender on Sunday, so I will have a play! It's really nice to have something a friend has grown in their garden and so it would be great to make the most of it!

_________________
"The question is: does it work on stage? If it works on stage, does it fit the theory? If it works on stage, but doesn't fit the theory; throw out the theory." Bertolt Brecht

_________________
Irena
Closed minds are like faulty parachutes; they refuse to open.

Sweet, will try that. Yes glycerine didn't sound right. I'll keep you posted if it works!

_________________
"The question is: does it work on stage? If it works on stage, does it fit the theory? If it works on stage, but doesn't fit the theory; throw out the theory." Bertolt Brecht

_________________
Irena
Closed minds are like faulty parachutes; they refuse to open.