Description
Scented with Rosemary & Litsea Cubeba (May Chang) essential oil.
My initial goal of achieving a blue colour with indigo in these soaps proved challenging due to the infused fat, that turned out really green. Since achieving blue wasn't feasible, I've decided to add activated charcoal. This natural ingredient, known for its absorbing properties, did create a striking black soap. This addition nicely complements my existing range of contrasting coloured soaps like Calendula (yellow), Rhubarb (pink), and Lemongrass (pale yellow), offering a wider variety of colours within the collection.
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 developed a specialised recipe to enhance the lather of this 100% tallow soap.
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.
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. |
| Rosemary | is sometimes used for its purported benefits on the scalp and skin, such as promoting circulation or having mild antiseptic properties. However, the scientific evidence for these claims is limited. |
| Activated Charcoal | Renowned for its deep black colour and for its potential to cleanse the skin deeply, making it a popular choice for thorough cleansing. |
| 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. |
