My soap & salve making process
Soaps
I rely on a soap and lye calculator that allows me to customize the quality of each product. Using this method, I am able to create products that are tried and true. I’m able to adjust how creamy, bubbly and conditioning I would like each bar of soap to be.
I begin the soap making process by melting our oils and butters using a double broiler. I make sure the temperature does not exceed 150 degrees. I set it at the perfect temper of 120 degrees before combining it with a premixed lye solution using a hand mixer. I then add any essential oils and or other natural additives such as clays and herbs for fragrance, color and texture.
Once I have combined all my ingredients, I pour the warm liquid soap into our soap molds. At this point, I have the opportunity to add any personalized artistry. I use patterns, dried herbs and sculpting to give the soaps an artistic look. I then cover the soap molds, wrap in towels and leave for two days during the gel phase.
After the two days have passed, I remove the soap from the mold and cut it into 4-5 oz. bars. I then line the soaps up on trays, allowing it to cure. This process takes 4-6 weeks and levels out the soap’s pH.
Salves
My salves are made by infusing oils with herbs and combining beeswax to harden the oils into a salve or ointment. This begins with a three-week infusion of dried herbs. I place clean herbs in a jar, leaving at least 1 to 3 inches of space above the herbs. I then fill the remaining space with the oil I am using as a base and cap the jar tightly. I shake the jar at least once a day, more if possible, for 3-4 weeks.
When the infusion process is complete, I strain the herbs out of the oil using cheesecloth or a mesh strainer. The oil is now ready to be used as a salve and/or used in a soap recipe. I bring this oil to a desired temperature, usually around 120 degrees, hot enough to melt beeswax but cool enough to preserve the benefits of the herbs and oils. I use a spoon to test the consistency. If the oils harden into a salve within 1 minute, then that's your sign you have used enough beeswax. I then fill 1 oz. metal tins and allow the salve to cool and harden.