Bath Oil Spray

This summer, we will be diving into bath oil spray!! I have been working on putting together a complete collection of bath oil spray recipes for everyone to go crazy over. I had planned on adding these bath oil spray recipes to Bath and Body Recipes sooner, but as I am only one person… I do as much as I can with the limited amount of time I have. Okay… I give… I have added one bath oil spray recipe for you gals to enjoy until the summer update! You can find the bath oil spray recipe at Whispering Rain Bath Oil Spray Recipe. I hope you enjoy it!

Summer Site Updates

I know that I have received countless emails asking when the members area of Bath and Body Recipes will be back open. As far as I can tell, the relaunch of the Bath and Body Recipes member area will fall during summer break. Not only do I plan on having the members area open, but I have great plans for a few other site goodies.

Many of you have asked about the print options at Bath and Body Recipes. Good news, the print options will also be updated. You can expect to see printable Bath and Body recipe cards for you to share with family and friends. If you want an idea as to what this will look like, check out Natural Cleaning Recipes… pick any of the recipes to view and then click on any of the print options… you will see what I mean.

As for other summer site updates… well… you will just have to wait and see! The kids get out of school on June 4th, so the summer update will probably begin the week after… if nothing happens or goes wrong.

But making your own soap has some definite advantages. One of the most significant is the price. We can make soap much cheaper than we can buy it. Making it ourselves also gives us complete control over the ingredients, so we can create a soap that’s perfect for our skin type in a scent of our choosing.

Making soap is much easier than you might think. It is, however, important to take certain safety precautions. Here’s a basic recipe:

Ingredients

* 12 cups lye crystals
* 5 cups softened water
* 6 pounds lard

Instructions

1. Put water in a glass or plastic bowl. Carefully pour lye into water, stirring constantly with a plastic or wooden spoon. This should be done outdoors or in a well-ventilated area, because it produces caustic fumes.
2. Mixing lye and water produces heat. When the lye is completely dissolved, set the mixture aside to cool.
3. Place lard in a stainless steel or enamel pan. Melt over low heat.
4. Allow both the lye solution and the lard to cool to room temperature.
5. Slowly pour the lye solution into the lard, stirring slowly and constantly with the plastic or wooden spoon.
6. Continue stirring after all of the lye solution has been added. Drizzle a small amount of the mixture into the pot periodically. When the soap keeps its shape for a moment before sinking into the mixture, you can add scent, color and herbs.
7. Pour the soap into a mold greased with Crisco. Wrap in a towel, and let set for about 18 hours or until completely cooled. Uncover and let set for 12 more hours.
8. The soap may now be removed from the molds and cut into bars. Let the bars cure for 3 to 4 weeks before using.

Customizing Your Soap

There are lots of different ways you can customize your soap. To make the best soap for your skin type, you may want to use different oils. Some that are commonly used include olive oil, coconut oil, cocoa butter and shea butter. The correct amount varies depending on which oil you use, so look for recipes online or in books until you get the hang of it.

Essential oils have therapeutic properties and add fragrance. Oatmeal, cornmeal and other grains can be added to exfoliate. And skin-safe colorants may be used to produce the desired color. These ingredients should be mixed together and added to a cup of the soap mixture, then stirred into the rest of the soap mixture immediately before pouring into the mold.

Making your own soap is easy, and it can be lots of fun. Coming up with the perfect concoction for your skin is rewarding, and sweetly scented homemade soaps make wonderful gifts for any occasion.

Looking for great soap recipes, visit Bath and Body Recipes.