With a Little Luck

 As of today all of the soap from the summer giveaway has been packaged and sent off to their new homes. I know it's Friday the 13th but I am going to need a little luck with this heat to get it to you in decent shape. Let's all cross our fingers.

 Since I had a lot of newcomers participate this time around I thought I'd share some things most of you already know. First, the ingredient label. It's not on the individual soaps since these soaps are so small. It's on the bag. If you plan on giving it away make sure the label goes with it. Allergies are no fun and can be serious business.

Having said that, I make soap because I have so many allergies and can't use store bought soap. Everything makes me sneeze, wheeze or itch. I've tried many recipes but this is the one that gives me the least trouble. I use lots of food grade ingredients. The way I look at it is if I can eat it then I can probably take a bath in it.

Even the lye I use is food grade-not the kind you find in the hardware store for unclogging drains but the kind you use for making pretzels.

 What gives me the most trouble is the fragrance. Some make me itch. That's why I call some hand soap. My hands can handle anything, my other parts not so much. That spoon is how much fragrance oil I put in the soap. See those blue bottles? Most recipes call for at least HALF A BOTTLE per pound of oil of which there are two of in my small loaf recipe. I can't even imagine using that much. Wowza. Just the thought makes me itch.

The same goes for the cosmetic grade mica colorant that makes all the pretty swirls.

I only use a quarter of a spoon for each color I use in the soap. A little goes a very long way.

That's what my bathtub looks like when I am testing soap. I won't give it away until I've used it. If I can put it on my face, it's okay.

To make sure your soap stays nice and fresh, take it out of the big plastic bag and let it breathe in it's little plastic soap band. It will last about two years if you put it in a dry place. Don't store your extra bars in the bathroom. It's too humid. They will continue to cure and grow milder and creamier the longer you hang onto them. Without preservatives they will turn one day. You'll know it's time to toss them if they turn orange and spotty. I have been making soap for four years now and not one has turned on me yet. Those oldies but goodies I use from time to time are amazing, totally worth the long cure.

Those boxes contain the soap I have left. If you are late to the party, there is still plenty. Come and get it. Kathy B-if you want some for that charity thing let me know. I can't respond to comments anymore  thanks to Blogger. Message me what you need and I'll send it on.

So to sum it all up, the rules of soap are:
*Keep it out of your eyes. Like all soap it will sting.
*Because of all the fancy butters it's slippery. Be careful if you drop it.
*If it makes you itch or sting, toss it or use it for hand soap, I use it on my dog and for doing dishes.
*Remember it's soap. No matter how lovely it feels rinse it completely off.
*Finally, don't eat it. Yes, I had someone take a bite of the coffee soap. Don't. Just don't.

ALSO don't forget to let me know what condition the soap and card were in when you got it and what the weather was like in your neck of the woods. It will help me decide whether to do this again next summer.

THANKS AGAIN.....believe it or not, I am already planning the fall soap giveaway and it's going to be a doozy. Something completely new-details in AUGUST!!!!