Soap question...

[mmhinton]

Is castile bar soap the same thing as, say "Ivory" bar soap? (ok, so I know it's not the "same".....but here's what I need to know...

I've been researching soap (hand soap) recipes online. I have found many recipes that call for 1 bar soap (grated).... but the recipes don't specify if castile will work? So, will it work?????

Here's an example recipe I'd love to try: (but don't know if the castile bar soap I have on hand will work???)
1 bar soap
2 T Olive Oil
1 T Honey
water


I am in the process of changing over to natural, non-toxic - preferably homemade / inexpensive - products and still have so many questions!

[JessicaS]

Ivory soap is essentially detergent.

A castille bar is actual soap.

I think most of the places where you would get "natural" recipes mean "real soap" not Ivory

[sunnysandiegan]

Ivory burns my skin in seconds!

Castille soap doesn't seem to bother me.

I'd try a small amount with both and see what you like best.

[maggiemae]

Originally Posted by mmhinton

Is castile bar soap the same thing as, say "Ivory" bar soap? (ok, so I know it's not the "same".....but here's what I need to know...

I've been researching soap (hand soap) recipes online. I have found many recipes that call for 1 bar soap (grated).... but the recipes don't specify if castile will work? So, will it work?????

Here's an example recipe I'd love to try: (but don't know if the castile bar soap I have on hand will work???)
1 bar soap
2 T Olive Oil
1 T Honey
water


I am in the process of changing over to natural, non-toxic - preferably homemade / inexpensive - products and still have so many questions!

I like this recipe! Do you heat it? Let us know how it works

[mmhinton]

I plan to make the recipe this weekend - I'll post my results

This is the actual recipe - it's from homemademothering.com


1 bar of soap (I used Ivory because I always have a stash of it here to make my homemade laundry detergent)
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 tablespoon honey
water

Finely chop (or grate) the soap and put into a saucepan with 3 cups of water. Bring to a boil and, stirring often, melt the soap. Be careful not to let the soapy water overflow. Once the soap has dissolved, remove the pan from heat and whisk in one tablespoon of the olive oil. Let the mixture sit overnight.

When you wake up in the morning, it will be solid. Break it up a bit and put it into a blender or food processor. Add in the remaining tablespoon of olive oil and the honey and 1 cup of water. Turn the blender on and whip well. You may need to add more water to get the soap to the right consistency.

Pour into empty soap containers and enjoy!

[maggiemae]

I just did step one- can't wait to finish it tomorrow!

[mmhinton]

Me too!! Well, I did it this morning.... it is setting now.... I'm hoping to be able to finish this evening if it is solid all the way through!
But I do need to go get a couple of foaming pumps - from all that I've read on here they seem to work better?! And, I'd like to have a "nice" pump anyway (right now we just have the plastic bottles from soft soap or whatever we purchased initially then reused - those will now get to go to the recycling box

[maggiemae]

Originally Posted by mmhinton

Me too!! Well, I did it this morning.... it is setting now.... I'm hoping to be able to finish this evening if it is solid all the way through!
But I do need to go get a couple of foaming pumps - from all that I've read on here they seem to work better?! And, I'd like to have a "nice" pump anyway (right now we just have the plastic bottles from soft soap or whatever we purchased initially then reused - those will now get to go to the recycling box

So this makes a faom soap? I wonder if you have to add water to the final product to make it work in a foam bottle? Are you adding any E.O.'s?

[Naturalyst]

In castile soap the only fat used is olive oil. But, I have nonetheless seen some soaps labeled "castile" that are only partially-based on olive oil.

Ivory is not based on olive oil. It's formula is a combination of soaps (sodium tallowate - soap made from beef fat, and/or sodium palmate - soap made from palm oil, sodium cocoate - soap made from cocoa butter, and/or sodium palm kernelate - soap made from palm kernel oil) and other ingredients that vary, depending on the version.

Glycerin, a by-product of soap-making, is moisturizing to the skin. But, mass market soap manufacturers remove much (if not all) of the glycerin and sell it off. It's sold to cosmetic manufacturers and the food industry, among its many users.

One version of Ivory, Simply Ivory (I think), puts back some of the glycerin. One of the major complaints about the original version of Ivory is that it is very drying. Putting some glycerin back in the mix helps.

Some bar "soaps" aren't soap at all, or only contain a little soap. These are detergent based. I recall one that referred to itself as a "beauty bar", because it couldn't be labeled "soap" - then, some years later, it went back to a soap-based product.

I'd stay away from using an original version of Ivory bar or add some glycerin to your recipe if you are prone to dry skin. I'd use a bar of Dr. Bronner's unscented, if there was a choice.

[mmhinton]

I used Dr. Bronner's unscented (it was what I had on hand . I am not sure about the foaming...but I've read several posts on MDC about soap stuff and many of them indicated that a foaming dispenser seemed to work better for these types of recipes.... However, I don't have one at home and could not find one (empty) in a quick look at the store. So, I will use the empty regular pump bottles we already have and see how it goes

I do plan to add some essential oil - probable lemon, lavendar or tea tree (or a combo) - even though the recipe didn't call for any. I don't figure a bit of eo's will change the consistency enough to make a huge difference.

If anyone has done this or a similar recipe before, I'd love to know what you think!!

[mmhinton]

Ok, so I did step two this evening - that would be about a 12 hour time of "sitting". I put it into a food processor, added the rest of the olive oil, then honey, water and a couple eo's and blended it all up. It completely filled the food processor bowl and was about the consistency of runny whipping cream.

It feels fabulous to wash with - leaves my hands feeling clean, but soft. BUT, here's the problem I'm having - no way to easily get it into a pump bottle!! I tried a funnel, but it is just thick enough to fill the bottle top whole without draining down (think of squeezing shampoo into a travel size bottle and it fills the hole, but doesn't drain down....). It does work in a pump bottle - really well actually - I did get enough into one to see if it would work.

So, right now, I have about 8-10 cups of soap in a gallon ziploc bag on my counter! I would LOVE to hear any ideas as to how to get it into pumps OR what else I should try!!

[ASusan]

Can you cut a corner off the ziploc and squeeze it in - like you would do for frosting a cake?

[mmhinton]

Yep! That's what I ended up doing this morning! BUT, I did it into a big (like gallon) size "refiller" bottle then squeezed that into the smaller pumps - worked very well that way!

[maggiemae]

I finished my soap and I have to say I love it! I usually use Dr. B's but this is so rich and creamy. Very moisturizing! I did use an unscented bar of Dove and used olive and jojaba oil. I think I am going to make some for Christmas presents. I wonder if I used a bar of Dr. B's peppermint soap and added some peppermint E.O. if it would make a nice Christmas soap?

[mmhinton]

OOOOHHH, what a great idea maggiemae!! LOVE the idea of Dr. B's peppermint soap bar with peppermint eo!!

To borrow your idea, perhaps, what would you put the soap in (for pumps) as gifts?? Right now, I'm just reusing old pump bottles I already have - but, I think as gifts I would want a "nicer" bottle?!?

Also, did you use jojoba oil AND honey or instead of? I added lemon, eucalyptus, and teat tree eo's to mine and, yes, I love it!!!

[maggiemae]

I think I will run up to Bed, Bath and Beyond to look at the soap dispensers they have. If I could find some at a decent price, I might even put it in a real (not plastic) dispenser.

For this soap, I used the jojoba oil instead of the second addition of olive oil. I added lavendar and patchouli oils.

[kwiathellen]

I just read you post and I have to say I love the idea of making your own soap!!!
One question: is making your own soap cheaper than buying some natural soaps(with ingredients derived from plants)??
I started reading this book titled "Green living" and this is how I discovered that body care products contain so much bad stuff!! I had no idea!!! So I went to Whole Foods and bought some hand soaps that are made from natural ingredients. but now I wonder if maybe making my own soap would be even better? What do you ladies think???

[amber913]

Originally Posted by kwiathellen

I just read you post and I have to say I love the idea of making your own soap!!!
One question: is making your own soap cheaper than buying some natural soaps(with ingredients derived from plants)??
I started reading this book titled "Green living" and this is how I discovered that body care products contain so much bad stuff!! I had no idea!!! So I went to Whole Foods and bought some hand soaps that are made from natural ingredients. but now I wonder if maybe making my own soap would be even better? What do you ladies think???

I'm an amateur soaper and make coconut oil soap for cleaning, dish soap and laundry. I prefer organic soap, however, to clean my skin, so i use Dr. Bronner's on myself and the kids. I don't think making organic soap is cheaper than buying DB. Besides, i LOVE Dr. Bronner's!

[maggiemae]

Update

Today I made peppermint soap and put it in clear plastic dispensers. I then had my kids paint a candy cane or round mint on them. They are so cute and smell yummy! I am going to make more and give some as Christmas presents with a card with the recipe and a 3 month exp. date since I am not using preservatives.

Recipe
1 bar grated Dr. B's peppermint soap. Boil until soap dissolves in three cups water. Must contstantly watch or soap will foam over. Whisk in one tablespoon olive oil and let sit over night. Soap will be semi-hard. Put in blender. Add about one cup water, one tablespoon honey and another teaspoon vit. E, and few drops tea tree and peppermint oils. Pour into jars.

[sunnysandiegan]

Originally Posted by maggiemae

Today I made peppermint soap and put it in clear plastic dispensers. I then had my kids paint a candy cane or round mint on them. They are so cute and smell yummy! I am going to make more and give some as Christmas presents with a card with the recipe and a 3 month exp. date since I am not using preservatives.

Recipe
1 bar grated Dr. B's peppermint soap. Boil until soap dissolves in three cups water. Must contstantly watch or soap will foam over. Whisk in one tablespoon olive oil and let sit over night. Soap will be semi-hard. Put in blender. Add about one cup water, one tablespoon honey and another teaspoon vit. E, and few drops tea tree and peppermint oils. **************** Pour into jars.

How long did you blend the final time?

I love this idea for gifts! Did you ladies use your regular blenders and pots/pans for making this or do you have old or special soap-making items? I ask because the only blender I have that would hold this quantity is our Vitamix and I would not want the peppermint scent to linger in that...... Our pots and pans are stainless steel, so that doesn't concern me.