A Refreshing and Uplifting Soap

It's getting closer to the holiday season so I like to purchase suitable containers to use for my homemade gifts. My husband and I took our youngest children and went to IKEA yesterday to pick up some things we needed. I found some really nice bottles that would make great gifts, so I am quite happy. I am planning to use these bottles for liquid soap and bath salts. My daughter and I decided to try them out by making some soap today.

I like to use Dr. Bronner's liquid un-scented castile soap when I don't make my own from scratch. It is a wonderful soap that keeps my skin real moist.

Essential oils like orange, lemon, and peppermint are very refreshing this time of the year when it is dark outside and we have less sunlight. Lavender makes a nice addition to the other oils. Not only do the essential oils provide a wonderful aroma, but they possess powerful healing properties as well.

First we added the liquid soap to a glass bowl. It is best to mix the oils and the soap before adding them to the bottle.

Mix 60-80 drops of essential oils to 8 oz. of liquid soap. We used 25 drops of lavender, 20 drops of orange, 30 drops of lemon, and 10 drops of peppermint to 10 oz of soap.

 After mixing the oils with the soap, we added the mixture to the bottle.

Here it is! 

A non-toxic, refreshing, uplifting, and healing soap that definitely will wake you up in the winter darkness! Aloe vera, jojoba oil can be added for extra soothing properties, and B-complex capsules can be opened and used to add color and healing benefits as well.

Before you leave:

I recommend that you always perform a skin patch test when you try a new oil.

Check out my safety page to make sure you are aware of any contrindications before you use essential oils. Some oils are not suitable when suffering from certain conditions. Also, Read this Before You Start Using Essential oils. Some oils should not be applied prior to sun exposure so make sure you check this list before spending time in the sun.

Not sure how to apply the oils? Visit these pages to learn how to apply the oils:

• Topical Application
• Inhaling Essential Oils
• Are You Diffusing the Oils Correctly?
• How to Dilute Essential Oils
• Vita Flex Technique

If you're new to essential oils you might want to check out my Getting Started Guide. 

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Johanna is an aromatherapist and she is passionate about educating people about health, essential oils, real food, natural remedies, and nutrition so they make healthier choices in their lives. 
Follow Johanna on twitter and facebook for more health tips and information.

This is linked to:
Your Green Resource
Wildcrafting Wednesday 
Frugal Days, Sustainable Ways
Simple Lives Thursday 
Monday Mania 
Make Your Own Monday Link-Up

Homemade Rosemary & Lavender Soap Makes a Perfect Gift

 

Don't you just love homemade gifts? They are so personal and thoughtful, and it shows that you really care. Are you going to be making any homemade gifts this season? Here is a recipe for a soothing and moisturizing lavender and rosemary soap that is a favorite in our household. I like to  make a personal gift basket with a variety of homemade gifts, and I like to include our favorite lavender and rosemary soap in our baskets.

This recipe is inspired by Sandy Maine's Lavender and Rosemary Soap from her book, "Soothing Soaps for Healthy Skin". I modified it some, and I used 2 tablespoons shea butter, 1 pound of solid glycerin, and 1/4 cup infusion of lavender flower and rosemary leaves. I also added 1 teaspoon dried, chopped rosemary and lavender, and 40 drops of lavender essential oil. I normally add rosemary essential oil as well.

To make the infusion I poured 1 cup of hot water over 3 tablespoons of dried or fresh herbs. I let it steep for about 10 minutes. 

The infusions are very healing and they also add color to the soap. I like to make it a little stronger than the standard recipe when I make an infusion for soap.

The shea butter and the soap base were melted separately. If you don't have a double boiler, you can do what I  do and put bowls on top of sauce pans and let it slowly melt. 

First I added the melted shea butter to the melted glycerin, then I added the herbal infusion. 

I pour it in various suitable molds. This time I tried this version for a change. Once the mixture was poured into the mold and had cooled slightly, I added the lavender essential oil. Last I added about a teaspoon of chopped, dried, lavender and rosemary. I let it cool.

Doesn't it look wonderful?

 Now comes the fun part which is to create some memorable and healing gifts. You could put the whole soap on a fancy platter and decorate it with some dried herbs. Wonderful platters can often be found in antique or thrift stores. Perhaps you already have one in the cabinet?

I decided to make more than one gift out of this soap, so I cut and placed a few pieces in a soap holder. I found this inexpensive soap holder at IKEA last year. You can be very creative and use beautiful glass bowls from antique or thrift stores. I have used items that I've found at estate sales and garage sales for gifts.

I like to add  liquid soap to a matching container and include it in my gift baskets.

My mother makes beautiful needle point tablecloths and place mats. They make a nice addition to my homemade gift baskets. My children added a little gift as well. Doesn't it look like wonderful gift?

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Johanna is an aromatherapist and she is passionate about educating people about health, essential oils, real food, natural remedies, and nutrition so they make healthier choices in their lives. 
Follow Johanna on twitter and facebook for more health tips and information.

This is post is linked to:
Weekend Bloggy Reading, The Mommy Club, Wildcrafting Wednesday, Your Green Resource ,  Sunday School 

Frugal Days, Sustainable Ways, Make Your Own Monday Link Up , Spa Sundaze , Make it Yourself Monday, Show Me What Ya Got, Teach Me Tuesday