Teach Soap

No it is not enough to scent the soap, I am infusing calendula, rose & chamomile. I will use some of it in lotion.

This is a kinda late reply but I thought it was worth an update.

I did finally try infusing some olive oil with calendula petals in a more traditional non-crockpot method. I ground the petals and wrapped them in doubled coffee filters then secured those with small wire ties... kinda like making my own tea bags.

I used a large clear acryilic storage canister that I found at Goodwill which was really nice because it had a solid rubber seal and was also pretty unbreakable.

I submerged two large bags of ground calendula into the oil. I had planned to replace these periodically but instead I just watched as the oil became more and more amber colored over about 3 weeks. I gave the jar an occasional swirl to stir it but otherwise just left it alone out of my way in as much sunlight as possible. I just bottled the results being sure to give the "tea bags" a very good squeeze to get as much oil back as possible. The oil is wonderful and you can very easily see and smell the calendula infusion in it.

Now I just need to make soap with it!

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- Mickey!

Hi Mickey

I have been reading your posts- you have excellent info- thank you for sharing it with us. I am going to try and make some infused oils- the price of FOs and EOs is making me crazy...I was wondering about how large your acrylic container was, how much oil you used and how much calendula was in each tea bag? (Approx)
Also, aside from growing your own is the grocery store the best place to get herbs? I've actually ripped open Lipton tea bags and used them - no scent but they look ok. I'm trying to be so careful because I used an FO I got on eBay and it was a disaster - seized almost as soon as I put it in. I really want to avoid that but don't want to keep paying high prices for my FOs and EOs either. Thanks.

Hello Mae,
It's been a long time since I posted this but I'm glad you found it helpful.
The container I use is approx. 1 gallon though I don't infuse that much at one time. I only do as much as I think I will use before it goes bad, which is usually only about 16 oz.

I use regular coffee filters from the dollar store to make my "tea bags" and I fill each one up about as much as it can take and still close it with a twist tie. So... maybe about 1/2 - 3/4 cup??

As for supplies... personally I stay away from eBay. You just can't trust the quality to be good or consistent. I'm sure there are reputable dealers there but it's just not worth the risk unless you know them. There are lots of reputable botanical and soap maker supply companies online. I use WSP, MMS, and of course Brambleberry. It all depends on what I'm looking for. I also keep an eye on Craigslist for some herbs. For example last year a lady was trimming a very old Rosemary bush and hated to throw it away. I got several bags of it from her and dried it in my garage (smelled wonderful). I also used some to infuse some olive oil for cooking as well as for soap.

By the way, don't count on infusions to provide a lot of scent in your finished soap. You may get some but for the most part it either doesn't survive the lye or it fades quickly. You will want to use FO's or EO's from a reputable supplier if you want a strong scent. Be sure anything you buy explicitly says that it is skin safe and tested for soap and other body products.

Good luck!

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- Mickey!

This is a great idea... I've learned a lot reading on here. A couple of weeks ago I bought a pound of chamomile flowers, not realizing how much a pound was...

I also have some lavender, but it's a smaller amt of BB's grade 1. Don't know if I want to infuse those... I think they'd be better off displayed in something.

Anywho, I definitely have plenty to spare. Would olive oil and chamomile do well? I'm thinking about steeping them in a big mason jar, and I don't know that I have enough of any other oil on hand at the moment. I'm waiting on commission money so I'm having withdrawals from soaping, and I just got through with my first kit,

Chamomile infused oil is quite nice. Try it.

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

Hi Mickey

Thanks so much for your reply. Even a little scent is better than none...I just cringe when I see the prices. And yes, I learned my lesson with eBay. That's the last time I will but EOs there.
I just wish there wasa more economical way.

Thanks again.

I understand. As hobbies go, soaping is not an inexpensive past time. There are some ways to save money but it's usually a trade off. It can be a great business opportunity but that takes a lot of work, dedication, and practice. For hobbyists like myself I can only hope to one day cover the cost of my supplies. Fortunately I have a job that supports my habit to some extent.

The best thing is to find a product that you know you like and then buy it in bulk from a reputable supplier. We've all bought 16 oz "bargain" FO's that sounded yummy and turned out to be very disappointing. Many suppliers will send free samples with an order so it never hurts to ask. And you can always order the smallest amount, make a 1# batch of soap and then decide if you want to buy a larger quantity.

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- Mickey!

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Linda
I know the voices in my head aren't real, but they sure have some great ideas!