Teach Soap

I was at a high end store and was looking at their soaps. They had soaps with rose buds and lavender and they were prefect. Every time I tried to use those herbs, they turn brown. Is there a way to make them not turn brown?

Were their soaps M&P or CP?

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The Soapinatrix! *whip-crack*
- Posting the trials and tribulations of my Soaping Journey!

I know lavender will always turn brown. Most times I see rose buds used as decoration on the tops.

Did you happen to take a photo? Or have a link to their website so we can have a better look?

_________________
The Soapinatrix! *whip-crack*
- Posting the trials and tribulations of my Soaping Journey!

I don't have a picture or link. I don't remember the brand name. I just remember the lavender and rose buds were on top and not submerged.

I've made a loaf once and sprinkled rose petals on top and they turned brown within weeks

I've seen many CP soaps with botanicals on top that didn't discolor, usually rosebuds that aren't submerged much in the soap. I read a really interesting blog post (it was on a French blog I don't remember) about how really high water discounts can prolong discoloration too, but that isn't MP. Sorry, I've never tried any herbs or botanicals in MP to offer advice.

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Laura<3

I read about soaking them in glycerin before using them in MP. It is supposed to maintain their colour. But I have never tried it.

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~~Heather~~
Mad [soaping] Scientist

I'd say likely they were CP soaps and with the rosebuds on top, they have stayed free form the soap enough to remain their colour.

_________________
The Soapinatrix! *whip-crack*
- Posting the trials and tribulations of my Soaping Journey!

I don't know of any soap MP or CP with botanicals on top that didn't either discolor or turn brown over time, except for calendula. It could be the soaps you saw were fresh.

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

Is calendula the only herb that won't discolor?

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

I agree with Irena, Calendula is (according to my experience) the only one , which does not get brown.
If the herbs are on top of the soap, then they have little contact with the lye and alkaline soap. Another possibility is to cover the herbs with silikone wax or even with paraffin wax. They build a mantle around the herb and isolate the inner from the lye.
It is not really natural but what is really natural in the commercial dimensions?

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Genius is 1 % inspiration and 99 % perspiration

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

How do you cover the herbs in wax? Can you tell me where to get the supplies and what to get? And how to do it?

_________________
The Soapinatrix! *whip-crack*
- Posting the trials and tribulations of my Soaping Journey!