Description
Scented with Rosemary & Litsea Cubeba (May Chang) essential oil.
November 23: This was a first try to get a blue colour with indigo... which didn't quite work as it turned out to be almost black. Next time I'll try to use a lot less indigo and/or a different method.
March 24: This time I used less indigo, but the infused rosemary is so amazingly green that the indigo has no chance of turning this into blue. It's still an interesting colour and so fascinating to see the almost white edges that happened naturally.
100% tallow (The fat came from an organic farm here in the Marlborough Sounds and was rendered by us - we do render all our tallow ourselves).
I infused the tallow with rosemary (from our garden, dehydrated and then infused with the tallow).
I put a lot of care into the recipe - because normally 100% tallow soaps don't lather very well, I added some sugar and citric acid, which helps to get more lather and also decided to use the dual lye method. I used mainly the usual sodium hydroxide (NaOh - lye), but added a part of potassium hydroxide (KOH - lye) as well. This is usually used for liquid soaps, but has the advantage here of producing a bit more lather than a 100% NaOh soap usually would.
This soap is fragranced with Rosemary & Litsea Cubeba (May Chang) EO, complementary to the infused herb.
Please be aware that natural colours do fade after a while, so might not look as bright and crisp as on the photo.
The tallow that I use for the soaps is organic, but it's not officially
certified. The farm I get it from used to be certified, but they now
planted heaps of native trees on their property (because they are very
environmentally conscious). Unfortunately they needed to spray roundup in these places (not on their paddocks, where the animals graze though) and therefore lost their organic certification.
I use tallow from our own sheep as well (which are organically kept - no chemicals involved), but again, we are not certified.
So the tallow is organic (not certified), but the whole soap is not.
I use Essential oils from reputable sources
(Pure Nature and Zen Aroma), but they are not organic either.
Soap ingredients:
Saponified fats: 100% Organic Tallow (infused with rosemary).
Water, Glycerine*, Citric Acid, Sugar, Essential Oil, indigo powder
*Please note that I don't put any extra glycerine into the soap - this is just the glycerine that is created naturally during the soap making process.
According to NZ labelling rules the final ingredients of a product have to be listed.
Properties of oils / materials used:
| Tallow | Provides excellent hardness to soap for long-lasting bars. Produces a creamy lather with good cleansing properties. Contains skin-friendly vitamins A, D, E, and K. Natural antioxidants help protect the skin. All our tallow originates from pasture-raised beef and sheep in the Marlborough Sounds, sourced directly from farms and rendered by us to ensure the best quality. |
| Citric acid | in your soap serves a dual purpose. It helps your soap perform well in hard water by preventing mineral build up, ensuring a rich lather. Additionally, it acts as a natural preservative, extending the soap's shelf life for a longer-lasting product you'll enjoy. |
| Sugar | Added to soap recipes to increase lather and bubbles. Acts as a natural humectant, attracting moisture to the skin. |
| Kawakawa | a native New Zealand plant, has held a special place in Maori culture for centuries. Maori people have traditionally used Kawakawa leaves in various ways, harnessing their unique properties for their well-being. The leaves were collected from our garden in the Kenepuru Sound. |
| Essential Oils | It's important to note that while essential oils have gained popularity for their natural origins, they can be potent and should be used with care. Essential oils may trigger allergies or skin sensitivities in some individuals, and their usage often requires dilution and proper knowledge. Which is why we’re very careful in our usage of them and often prefer to use Fragrance oils. We adhere to European safety regulations and never put more than 3% into our oils and usually use a mix of Essential oils to really be on the safe side here. As with our fragrance oils, we only buy from reputable sellers. |
