The Lather Project: 30 Soaps in 30 Days - Day 23, Soap 23

It’s still Day 23!

Don’t forget to enter our Lather Project Soap Giveaway! 3 fabulous Soapy Prizes and lots of easy ways to enter and WIN!

I’m super excited about Soap #23!

Mainly because it’s a special request.

A lovely young lady contacted me and told me about the bridal shower she’s hosting for her sister. She had made some beautiful Lavender & Chamomile herb pillows for party favors and had a thought that some matching soap might be a nice touch.

What’s more pampering and relaxing than Lavender & Chamomile scented pillows and soap? And what woman wouldn’t like to receive spa-quality items as a gift?

I completely agreed with her!

Since she was a little short on time (the Shower is June 13th), she had certainly done her research by hunting down a hot-process soapmaker. The hot-process method of soapmaking essentially ’cooks’ the lye out and speeds up the saponification process by weeks. While the soap is ready to use right out of the mold, the more time you give before using the bar translates to a harder, longer lasting bar of soap. But it’s ready to cut, package and ship within 24-48 hours.

So I used Egyptian Chamomile-Infused High-Oleic Sunflower Seed Oil (and infused the chamomile in distilled water, as well), added lots of real Lavender buds, scented it with 3 parts Lavender and 1 part Chamomile and gave it a pretty purple iron oxide swirl to come up with her matching soap!

She’ll have them in hand and ready to decorate and pair with her pillows by the weekend! And since I fell in love with this blend, I have plenty extra to list in my shop!

Here’s the official description for Soap #23:

Bellissima Botanical-Infused Lavender Chamomile Soap

Our line of Botanical Infused Bath Bars are a special treat for your skin - infusing teas, flowers, plants and herbs in oils or water and adding it to soap not only imparts the amazing benefits to the soap, but also allows for the most nutrients and enrichment possible from the botanicals!

Lavender Chamomile is a harmonious blend of sweet, fresh lavender with just the right amount of herbal chamomile to elevate this to a relaxing and heavenly scent. This is an unforgettable floral fragrance! And with real lavender buds and Egyptian Chamomile, this soap offers gentle exfoliation and is a visual delight!

Look for Bellissima Botanical-Infused Lavender Chamomile Soap for sale at http://BellissimaMinerals.etsy.com in the next few days!

Tune in Tomorrow for Soap #24!

The Lather Project Soap Giveaway!

We’re on Day 23!

And with only 7 Days left in The Lather Project, I’m officially announcing a GIVEAWAY!

Yes, I’m going to give away 3 'Scent-Sational' Prizes:

1st Prize is 2 Full Size Soap Bars from The Lather Project - Winner’s Choice!
2nd Prize is 1 Full Size Bar & 1 Sample Size Bar - Winner’s Choice!
3rd Prize is 2 Sample Size Soap Bars - Winner’s Choice!

The Winners will each get to select two of the 30 Bars we’ve made during The Lather Project!

How do you get in on this sweet deal, you might ask?

Well, if you’ve already commented on any of The Lather Project Posts, you are automatically entered to win! Surprise! I appreciate every single person who has taken the time to comment on posts, blog about The Lather Project or feature Bellissima on their site - and every single one of you has earned one entry in the Giveaway!

And here’s how you can earn an entry - or additional entries into The Lather Project Giveaway (there‘s no limit to the number of entries you can earn!):

1. Post a comment on any Lather Project Post from Day 1 to Day 29
2. Write a blog post about The Lather Project or The Lather Project Giveaway (counts for 2 entries)
3. Feature Bellissima’s Etsy Shop on your Blog/Site - http://BellissimaMinerals.etsy.com (counts for 2 entries)
4. Follow Bellissima on Twitter: http:/twitter.com/BellissimaMMU
5. Rate and comment on any of Bellissima’s Squidoo Lenses (see sidebar for links)
6. Visit

http://www.bellissimamineralmakeup.com and request your FREE Mineral Makeup samples
7. Make a purchase from our etsy shop and use Promo Code ‘Entry’ in Notes to Seller http://BellissimaMinerals.etsy.com (counts for 2 entries)
8. Buy any Lather Project Soap using the discount codes found on our Blog (counts for 2 entries)
9. Twitter about The Lather Project providing a link to this Blog: http://BellissimasBlog.blogspot.com
10. Twitter about Bellissima’s Etsy Shop providing a link to my Store: http://BellissimaMinerals.etsy.com

So Enter as many times and ways as you can! Be sure to let me know if you post about The Lather Project or feature Bellissima's Shop on your Blog - it’s the only entry we may not be able to track!

The Winners will be randomly chosen from all the entries and announced on Day 30!

Good Luck to Everyone!

Soap #23 will be posted a bit later on today - so don‘t forget to Tune In!

The Lather Project: 30 Soaps in 30 Days - Day 22, Soap 22

On to Soap #22!

And just one more scented soap for Father’s Day!

I just love spicy scents for men.

Chances are very good that it harkens back to memories of my Dad and his absolute favorite aftershave - Old Spice. I relate scents (and music, too) to people and places from my past and certain smells (and tunes) can literally transport me back to another place and time.

To this day, if I get a whiff of cherry pipe tobacco, I think of my Grandfather.
BubbleYum bubblegum reminds me of the 1st boy I ever had a crush on.
Lysol brings me right back to my high school locker room.
Aquanet hairspray send me right back to high school… period (I went to an all-girl school)
Cherry LifeSavers always make me think of my best friend from 3rd grade.
And Old Spice triggers cherished and loving memories of my Dad.

So I wanted a nice, blended spice for Soap #22, and here’s the description:

Bellissima Cardamom Spice Triple Milk Blend Soap

Our amazing Triple Milk Blend Soap in Cardamom Spice is incredibly creamy and full of lather with our triple blend of protein-rich milk (goat, cow & coconut) and luxurious all-veggie oils like olive, high-oleic sunflower seed and rice bran to leave your skin feeling soft, smooth and hydrated.

Cardamom Spice delivers a warm, sensual and exotic aroma. Cinnamon, cardamom and clove blend beautifully with white florals, notes of earthy amber and musk and a touch of sweet, creamy vanilla. This is a sultry and sexy scent, passionate and memorable for either men or women!

Look for Cardamom Spice Triple Milk Blend Soap for sale at

http://BellissimaMinerals.etsy.com in the next few days!

Tune in Tomorrow for Soap #23!

The Lather Project: 30 Soaps in 30 Days - Day 21, Soap 21

It’s Day 21!

Three weeks down, only 9 more soaps to go! And to put it in different terms, over 60 lbs of soap down and almost 30 more to go!

For Soap #21, I wanted another masculine scent for Father’s Day. I’m not so sure this one succeeds as a manly man’s soap, but the scent reminds me a bit of those commercial ‘deodorant’ soaps, so it should appeal to men who like Irish Spring!

I had acquired this Fragrance Oil at the beginning of the year, and have been using it to scent my homemade liquid laundry detergent - yes, it smells that fresh and clean! And yesterday I went back to the supplier’s site that I bought it from to get a peek at the fragrance description, and it’s been discontinued.

This happens all the time, so I’m not terribly surprised, just s bit disappointed. I have a full pound of it, so I’m not likely to run out of it anytime soon, but I can’t access a description for the scent. It’s been completely eliminated from the website as if it never even existed! I always go back to the supplier for the manufacturers’s scent description so that I have all the elements of the fragrance correct, and then add my own take on it. So I really felt at a loss on this one….

However - I absolutely stunned myself by doing something with amazing forethought and unbelievable organization and planning. Back when I first started buying fragrance oils, I wanted to document my initial sense and thoughts on each one as they came in. I actually made a list and wrote down my impressions of - and renamed as I saw fit - every fragrance oil I’ve ever bought!

I had stopped doing it a few purchases back - but believe me, I’ll be continuing this practice religiously now that I realize how important it is and how being able to refer back to the list comes in extremely handy!

So, here’s the description for Soap #21:

Bellissima Handmade Triple-Milk Blend Soap in Hunter Green

Our amazing Triple Milk Blend Soap in Hunter Green is incredibly creamy and full of lather with our triple blend of protein-rich milk (goat, cow & coconut) and luxurious all-veggie oils like olive, high-oleic sunflower seed and rice bran to leave your skin feeling soft, smooth and hydrated.

Hunter Green delivers a relaxing blend of woody and herbal notes. Cedar, cinnamon, rosemary, sage and other green herbal elements blend harmoniously with hints of patchouli, and clove and just a touch of musk and vetiver to create a complex and stylish scent. This is a bright yet earthy scent and a refreshingly different clean fragrance.

Look for Hunter Green Triple Milk Blend Soap for sale at

http://BellissimaMinerals.etsy.com in the next few days!

Tune in Tomorrow for Soap #22!

The Lather Project: 30 Soaps in 30 Days - Day 20, Soap 20

We’re on Soap #20!

I can hardly believe it - only 10 more days left on The Lather Project!

For those of you who voted in our Poll and did not select Amber Vanilla (Soap #15), I have no intention of disappointing! Today’s soap is Cracked Black Pepper!

With Father’s Day coming up, I wanted to offer something in a more masculine scent. I have to admit that although I have lots of fragrance oils, I have very few - if any - that specifically (and supposedly) appeal to men. No bay rum, no sandalwood, no cedar - although I have every intention of adding these and more to my collection someday.

Men just don’t think about scented soap the way women do - I think…

My husband, for example, likes all kinds of soap fragrances - everything from a simple vanilla to the highly complex Avocado & Lime. But his favorite so far? Prickly Pear Cactus (Soap #19) - who’d have thought that would appeal to a man? But he drooled over it all day yesterday (and today), asking me three times already when he could grab one for the shower.

So I don’t quite buy into the stereotypical men’s scents - I like to think that a man’s sense of smell is every bit as sophisticated as a woman’s, and that a wide variety of fragrances are as appealing to them as they are to us.

But personally, I prefer spicy for a man - and Cracked Black Pepper fits the bill!

So, here’s the description for Soap #20:

Bellissima Handmade Cracked Black Pepper Coconut Milk Soap

Our amazing Coconut Milk Bar Soap in Cracked Black Pepper is incredibly creamy and has impossible lather due to lots & lots of organic coconut milk! Our lavish blend of vitamin- & nutrient-enriched all-veggie oils keep this bar vegan friendly and luxuriously nourishing. I include olive & coconut oils to make this wonderfully cleansing and sunflower and rice bran oils to leave your skin feeling soft, smooth and hydrated. Pure black pepper essential oil and real cracked black peppercorns elevate this soap to a spa-quality experience!

Cracked Black Pepper delivers the sweet, spicy, warm aroma of sun-dried peppercorns with a hint of woody and floral notes and fresh, green, almost-fruity undertones. Cracked Black Pepper is exotic and earthy, stimulating and sensual, energizing and refreshingly different - and without a doubt a sexy and masculine fragrance!

Look for Cracked Black Pepper Coconut Milk Soap for sale at

http://BellissimaMinerals.etsy.com in the next few days.

Tune In Tomorrow For Soap #21!

We Interrupt Programming for a Short Announcement....

I'm interrupting The Lather Project for a moment -

but don't worry, Soap #20 will be posted a bit later on today!

The reason for the interruption?

Bellissima's Blog has been awarded our very 1st Blog Award!!!

I'm so thrilled - and completely surprised and totally honored!

Amy of Chicy Creations has so kindly bestowed this incredible award on us - and we're ever so grateful - thank you Amy! Be sure to visit her shop for hair bows, clippies and the most adorable tutus you will ever see!

We humbly accept One Lovely Blog Award, and in doing so, post the Rules of Blog Award Acceptance:

1. Accept the award, post it on your blog together with the name of the person who has granted the award, and his or her blog link.

2. Pass the award to 15 other blogs that you've newly discovered. Remember to contact the bloggers to let them know they have been chosen for this award.

And Bellissima's Blog Proudly Passes 'One Lovely Blog Award' on to:

CarpetBagger Creations

Totally Tutorials

AllOver Art

Samantha's EcoFriendly Art Endeavors

Jacaranda Designs Jewelry

Serenity Art

gemsbyjerri

On The Mary-Go-Round

Spritual Counseling, Perfume, Healing and Me

gretchenmist

Life As We Know It By Paula

Oh, I Love That

Gloria's Jewelry Box

Annie Kae

Cherry Tart Desgn

Congratulations to all the 'One Lovely Blog' Award Winners!

Thank you for offering such interesting posts and fabulous photos - you're all incredibly talented and have given me lots of joy!

If you have a moment, take some time and get to know a few of the Award Winners by clicking on the links and visiting their Blogs & Shops!

The Lather Project: 30 Soaps in 30 Days - Day 19, Soap 19

Today is Day 19!

Given the option, I will choose a milk soap over any other (oh, and a goat’s milk soap with shea butter wins every time!), so I decided to make a few in some of my favorite scents. Well, I could never make for others what I wouldn’t use myself, could I?

And, as you’ve probably noticed, I have an awful lot of faves. But that’s because I base a lot of my fragrance selections by mood:
~ If I’m tired and need a pick-me-up, I enjoy fresh and fruity.
~ If I have a lot of work to get done, I like crisp and refreshing.
~ If I’m tense and need to relax, I go for earthy and herbal.
~ If I’m feeling down or a bit blue, I prefer florals.
~ If I’m feeling romantic, I always choose spicy and exotic.

That makes sense, doesn’t it?

So I was torn between fresh & fruity and crisp & refreshing for Soap #19 - and decided on Prickly Pear! If you’ve never seen the Prickly Pear Cactus or tasted the fruit, you’re missing out on a sweet delicacy!

I tasted my first Prickly Pear while living in Arizona - I worked at the Grand Canyon Resort for a few years in my youth and fell in love with it. The flowers of this particular cactus ripen into fruit (also called Indian Figs) that can be eaten and prepared in a variety of different ways. Prickly Pear juice, candies, jelly, pies - even margaritas and mojitos (did I mention I was a Bartender while at the Grand Canyon?) - are simply delicious.

While it depends on the variety, I think prickly pear tastes most like a cross between strawberries, melon, bananas & fig - and what a delicious cross it is! If you ever have the opportunity, give it a try!

Here’s the Description for Soap #19:

Bellissima Prickly Pear Cactus & Coconut Milk Handmade Soap

Our amazing Coconut Milk Bar Soap in Prickly Pear Cactus is incredibly creamy and has impossible lather due to lots & lots of organic coconut milk! Our lavish blend of vitamin- & nutrient-enriched all-veggie oils keep this bar vegan friendly and luxuriously nourishing. I include olive & coconut to make this wonderfully cleansing and sunflower and rice bran to leave your skin feeling soft, smooth and hydrated.

Prickly Pear delivers a fruity, sweet-tart aroma with notes of melon, strawberry, plum, banana and fig that blend harmoniously with a hint of aloe & mint and nuances of glorious herbal elements and green florals. Refreshing and clean, this is a cool, crisp invigorating scent!

Look for Prickly Pear & Coconut Milk Soap for sale at

http://BellissimaMinerals.etsy.com in the next few days!

Tune in Tomorrow for Soap #20!

The Lather Project: 30 Soaps in 30 Days - Day 18, Soap 18

It’s Day 18!

And we’re still talking about using milk in soaps.

Adding milk - just about any kind of milk - to soap just makes it so much richer and creamier. It’s all about bathing your skin in luxury when it comes to milk soaps.

And it works so well because milk contains vitamins A, B and D and minerals such as calcium, potassium, magnesium and phosphorus. Milk also has alpha-hydroxy acids which helps in exfoliation - essentially softening skin, making it more supple, leaving it rejuvenated for a younger-looking appearance.

My favorite milk to add to soaps is coconut milk. Not only do you get most of the advantages of goat’s milk, but the higher sugar content in the coconut milk really boosts up the lather! Soap made with coconut milk makes a great shampoo bar, too!

Now, I’m a best-of-both-worlds kind of girl (something me and Hannah Montana have in common), so I actually like to blend goat milk and coconut milk together, and then add in cow’s milk so I can replace all the liquid in my soap with milk. And of course, the obvious choice for a milk-blend soap (for me, anyway) is Oatmeal, Milk & Honey!

The softening and silkening benefits of the milk, the exfoliating and soothing qualities of the oatmeal and the ability of the honey to draw and trap moisture is a triple threat in a bar of soap!

So, here’s the description for Soap #18:

Bellissima Handmade Triple-Milk Blend Oatmeal & Honey Soap

Our amazing Oatmeal, Milk & Honey Exfoliating Bar Soap is formulated to be as gentle as possible and is luxuriously creamy with our triple blend of protein-rich milk (cow, goat & coconut) and our lavish blend of vitamin- & nutrient-enriched veggie oils. I include olive & coconut to make this wonderfully cleansing and sunflower and rice bran to leave your skin feeling soft, smooth and hydrated.

Our Oatmeal, Milk & Honey Exfoliating Bar has no added fragrance or colorants - just pure, natural, gentle soap with finely ground oatmeal to lightly exfoliate and real honey for added moisturizing! And its mild cleansing is great as a facial bar or for your whole body.

Look for Soap #18 for sale at http://BellissimaMinerals.etsy.com in the next few days!

Tune in Tomorrow for Day 19!

It’s Day #17!

And we’re moving right along - to milk soaps!

The only word I can use to describe milk soap is… okay - I need more than one word: rich, luxurious, creamy, lush, velvety… I could go on and on and on!

Milk not only enhances the texture and consistency, but also adds remarkable health benefits to soap.

All milk contains natural emollients, vitamins and triglycerides that moisturize the skin. Goat milk specifically contains the highly effective moisturizer capric-capryllic triglyceride, as well as amino acids that are easily absorbed to nourish and rejuvenate the skin.

Goat's Milk has a PH level similar to our skin, which may help protect the skin from invading free radicals, bacteria and chemicals we come in contact with every day.

Goat milk soap can relieve dryness and leave your skin feeling silky soft. And it’s often recommended by dermatologists for their patients who suffer from skin sensitivities and conditions such as psoriasis, eczema and acne.

With such incredible benefits - as well as the wonderful feel it has on the skin - who can resist Goat Milk Soap?

And so, here’s the description for Soap #17:

Bellissima Handmade Anjou Pear Goat Milk Soap

Our amazing Anjou Pear Goat Milk Soap is incredibly creamy with plenty of protein-rich goat milk and our blend of luxurious all-veggie oils. I include olive & coconut to make this super-cleansing and sunflower and rice bran for ultra-moisturizing and to leave your skin feeling soft, smooth and hydrated.

Anjou Pear delivers the aroma of crisp tree-ripened pears with hints of tart green apple and sweet pienapple. Notes of aloe, ivy and just the slightest touch of ginger & cinnamon raise this scent to a sophisticated and refreshingly different fruity fragrance!

Look for Soap #17 for sale in our shop at http://BellissimaMinerals.etsy.com soon!

Tune in Tomorrow for Soap #18!

The Lather Project: 30 Soaps in 30 Days - Day 16, Soap 16

It’s Day 16 - and we’re past the halfway point in the Project!

And our last of this week’s utility-themed soaps is a Doggie Shampoo Bar! Now normally, I like to do a liquid soap for doggie shampoos, but I had a request for a bar, and this was the perfect time to do it!

There is some controversy over handmade soap for pet use, due to the ph factor. Since it’s difficult to control the ph of soap, and a dog’s skin does not tolerate temporary ph changes as ours does, the question remains how healthy lye soap can be for animals. However, if you’ve ever read the ingredient listing on the bottle of any commercial pet shampoo, you’ll wonder how any of that stuff - chock-full of chemicals and wholly unnatural ingredients - could possibly be good for any animal. Handmade soap has got to be better!

And the greater advantage is not only in the ability to choose the healthful oils, but also in selecting beneficial and all-natural ingredients to take the place of those chemicals. There are some wonderful herbs and botanicals that will help achieve similar results - repelling fleas, ticks and mosquitoes while nourishing and soothing the skin and fur.

Comfrey and chamomile can help in soothing and calming dry, stressed and irritated skin. Eucalyptus and sandalwood may aid in repelling fleas, ticks, mites, mosquitoes, chiggers and other annoying critters. Aloe, oatmeal and lavender can help to calm and heal bug bites, scratches and sores. Rosemary has antibacterial properties.

I also added essential oils - but only in the absolute lowest therapeutic amounts - tea tree oil and peppermint essential oil to aid in repelling bugs and black pepper as an antiseptic.

But this soap’s not just for dogs - people who plan to be in the outdoors and want a more natural bug repellent will benefit from use, as well! And since most of these ingredients are antibacterial, antiseptic, soothing and gentle - it also makes a great soap for acne-prone skin!

So, here’s the description for Soap #16:

Bellissima Handmade Comfrey & Tea Tree Dog Shampoo Bar Soap

Our Comfrey & Tea Tree Dog Shampoo Bar is incredibly lathering and wonderfully creamy with our luxurious blend of vitamin- & nutrient-enriched veggie and plant oils. I include olive & coconut for cleansing, castor oil for extra lather and lots & lots of shea butter, sunflower, grapeseed and rice bran oils to leave your pet’s coat soft and shiny and their skin healthy and nourished.

Both comfrey & chamomile are added to sooth the skin, eucalyptus & sandalwood included to help repel bugs, aloe, oatmeal & lavender help in calming itchy skin and rosemary acts as an antibacterial to help in healing sores and scratches. The lowest - and safest - therapeutic amounts of tea tree oil, peppermint and black pepper essential oils are added as well, to pump up the repellent and antiseptic qualities of this Dog Shampoo Bar!

Look for Soap #16 for sale in our shop in the next few days:

http://BellissimaMinerals.etsy.com

Tune in Tomorrow for Soap #17!

The Lather Project: 30 Soaps in 30 Days - Day 15, Soap 15

It’s Day 15 - and we’re already halfway done with The Lather Project! It’s hard to believe - this series is just going by sooooo fast!

Now, several readers were kind enough to cast their vote in our Poll to choose the scent for today’s soap - thank you so much! And the Winner was Amber Vanilla - so exciting!

And we’re also keeping with this week’s theme - soaps that serve a purpose - by creating a bar that works well as both a bath soap and a shampoo bar with Amber Vanilla fragrance.

In creating a soap that can also serve as a Shampoo Bar, I designed the recipe to include oils that would produce a bubbly and creamy lather as well as provide a number of benefits for skin, hair and scalp. While extremely luxurious as a body soap, it will work incredibly well as a shampoo bar, effectively cleansing and naturally moisturizing and nourishing.

And the additives I chose are beneficial for hair, too: Aloe strengthens the hair shaft, makes hair smoother, silkier, and more manageable and a touch of beer provides shine and manageability. Infused rosemary stimulates while chamomile soothes the scalp, promoting growth.

Unfortunately, I won’t be posting photos of this one until the end of the Project. I know that this is a soap that will discolor over time, and I’ve tried some layering that won’t be visible for a week or so - right now, though, it looks exactly like Soap #14 - but smells much, much better!

Here’s the description for Soap #15:

Bellissima Handmade Shampoo & Body Bar Soap in Amber Vanilla

Our amazing Amber Vanilla Shampoo & Body Bar Soap is incredibly lathering and deliciously creamy with our lavish blend of vitamin- & nutrient-enriched veggie & plant oils. Olive oil helps to promote full-bodied hair and a healthy scalp. Meadowfoam seed oil helps to silken hair and aids in detangling. Rice bran and Sunflower oils contains proteins that may help strengthen the hair shaft and prevent split ends. Sweet almond and Cherry Kernel oils add sheen and manageability while moisturizing and conditioning both the hair and scalp.

Amber Vanilla delivers a romantic and sensuous aroma with rich notes of amber, sandalwood, vetiver, patchouli and bergamot blending harmoniously with the resonant spicy sweet and warm tones of vanilla. This is a sexy and passionate fragrance, elegant yet intense - definitely distinctive and unforgettable!

Look for the Amber Vanilla Shampoo & Body Bar at our shop in about ten days at http://BellissimaMinerals.etsy.com

Tune in Tomorrow for Day 16!

The Lather Project: 30 Soaps in 30 Days - Day 14, Soap 14

It’s Day 14!

And we’re still doing soaps with a purpose - other than just cleaning, that is! And today it's my alltime favorite! It’s a facial complexion bar!

Skin care is a passion for me. And I’ve spent years trying and testing facial cleansers - with some satisfaction but so much disappointment. The common theory seems to be that because cleansers spend so little time on the skin, there is low penetration and therefore, very little benefit from even the best of ingredients. But my feeling is that it’s another important and wonderful opportunity to feed your skin the very best nutrition you can!

So I wanted a really nourishing complexion bar and chose some fantastic ingredients:

Extra Virgin Olive Oil for quality moisturizing
Coconut Oil as an emollient
Meadowfoam Seed Oil for its ability to penetrate and moisturize and nurture damaged and distressed skin
Castor Oil for its lubrication and ability to draw and hold moisture to the skin
Evening Primrose Oil as a super-emollient and its ability to protect and condition the skin
Avocado Oil because it’s protein and vitamin-rich and has healing and regenerative properties
Grapeseed Oil for its absorption abilities and moisturizing properties
Sweet Almond Oil for conditioning and softening properties
Rice Bran Oil for its high moisturizing abilities
High-Oleic Sunflower Seed Oil for its absorption and moisturizing properties
Vitamin E because it’s an anti-oxidant
Honey for its ability to draw and hold moisture to the skin
Oatmeal for its ability to help bind emollients to the skin
Chamomile & Calendula for their ability to soothe irritated and sensitive skin
Aloe Vera for its ability to heal and soothe skin

Amazing, right?

So, here’s the description for Soap #14:

Bellissima All-Natural Luxury Facial Bar Soap

Our All-Natural Luxury Complexion Bar Soap is incredibly lathering and deliciously creamy with our lavish blend of vitamin- & nutrient-packed all-veggie & plant oils. I include lots of both evening primrose and meadowfoam seed oils to make this bar super-nourishing, castor oil for plenty of lather, sweet almond and rice bran for softening and conditioning and sunflower, avocado and grapeseed oils to leave your skin feeling smooth and hydrated.

I carefully infuse aloe juice with oatmeal, and infuse water and oils with gentle chamomile and calendula to produce a soothing and moisturizing Facial Bar. I added Vitamin E as an antioxidant and honey to help draw and trap moisture in the skin. I’ve left this bar fragrance- and color- free to leave this an ultra-luxurious and all-natural facial soap!

Look for Soap #14 for sale in our shop soon at

http://BellissimaMinerals.etsy.com

And the fragrance winner in our Poll is Amber Vanilla - so be sure to Tune in Tomorrow for Soap #15! It's our First Reader's Choice!

The Lather Project: 30 Soaps in 30 Days - Day 13, Soap 13

Today is Day 13!

And time for another soap that serves a purpose: shaving soap!

The first time I shaved with handmade soap a tear came to my eye - and not from pain for a change!

I spent years investing in higher quality and more expensive razors, testing various hair removal products even trying hot wax and sugaring. When those Smooth-Away sandpaper-style pads came out, I had to practically restrain myself from picking up the phone and ordering! Shaving has just always been an issue for me.

But handmade soap has solved so many of my shaving problems. I rarely nick, scrape or cut myself anymore, there’s no stinging or cringing, no peeling, chafing or dry, flaky skin afterwards. I get the closest shave I’ve ever been able to achieve and my skin looks and feel fabulous! I don’t even need to use the gallons of lotion afterwards like I used to!

There are so many wonderfully emollient oils and soothing ingredients that can be added to a handmade soap, making a shaving soap that really works and feels fantastic. It actually helps to make shaving a pleasure rather than a chore - well, almost!

And here’s the description for Soap #13:

Bellissima Shaver’s Companion All-Natural Luxury Shaving Soap

Our amazing All-Natural Shaving Soap is incredibly lathering and deliciously creamy with our lavish blend of vitamin- & nutrient-enriched all veggie & plant oils. I include lots of both mango and shea butter to make this bar super-velvety, castor oil for plenty of lather, and sunflower, sweet almond and grapeseed oils to leave your skin feeling soft, smooth and hydrated.

I carefully infuse aloe juice with soothing oatmeal, and infuse water and oils with gentle chamomile and calendula to produce a gentle and moisturizing bar of shaving soap. Kaolin clay is added to provide ‘slip’ to help the razor glide smoothly across the skin. We’ve chosen to leave this bar both fragrance- and color-free for a completely natural shaving experience.

Look for Soap #13 for sale in our shop soon at

http://BellissimaMinerals.etsy.com

Tune in Tomorrow for Soap #14!

The Lather Project: 30 Soaps in 30 Days - Day 12, Soap 12

It’s Day 12!

And in keeping with our ‘utility theme’ this week - soaps that serve specific purposes, I thought I’d make a Mechanic’s Companion - pumice soap. Remember Lava - that soap that would virtually strip two layers of skin off your hands while also scouring dirt & grease? Well, handmade pumice soap will still remove the dirt and grease, but leave the skin on your hands - and keep it looking and feeling fabulous!

The difference is in the oils. With handmade soap, we can control the properties of the finished product by carefully choosing the oils. Oils like coconut and palm are cleansing, oils like castor and nut butters provide lather, oils like sweet almond and apricot kernel are conditioning, oils like rice bran and sunflower are gentle and emollient. Additives like chamomile or calendula for gentle soothing, orange essential oil to cut grease and tea tree oil to help with disinfecting can really turn a plain pumice soap into a spa treatment!

And I love a good pumice soap for my feet! I’m still plagued with callouses after spending years working on my feet during my youth. I find pumice stones and files too abrasive, but a good moisturizing pumice soap always does the trick! My feet are almost summer-ready!

So, here’s the description for Soap #12:

Bellissima Mechanic's Companion Orange & Tea Tree Pumice Soap

Our amazing Orange & Tea Tree Pumice Soap is incredibly lathering and deliciously creamy with our lavish blend of vitamin- & nutrient-enriched all-veggie oils. I include olive & coconut to make this super-cleansing and lots & lots of mango butter, sweet almond and grapeseed oil to leave your skin feeling soft, smooth and hydrated. Finely ground pumice adds to the deep cleaning and brings the exfoliating factor. Wonderful for the mechanic or gardener in your life!

Orange & Tea Tree Pumice Soap works as hard as you do! Pumice is fabulous for removing dirt, grime, tar, ink, paint, adhesives and more while the orange essential oil works overtime to help dissolve grease and oil. Tea tree oil is added for it’s antibacterial and disinfectant properties while a touch of black pepper essential oil adds a mild antiseptic. Super for either heavy-duty clean-up or for a spa foot treatment!

Look for it in my shop at http://bellissimaminerals.etsy.com/ in the next few days!

Tune In Tomorrow for Day 13!

The Lather Project: 30 Soaps in 30 Days - Day 11, Soap 11

It’s time for Day 11!

I’m so fortunate that everyone I know is a fabulous cook! The kitchen was always the busiest room in our house when I was growing up and there was constantly something on the stove or in the oven. And having married into an Italian family has just reinforced this tradition - although the aromas are just a little bit different from my family’s Irish cooking!

The biggest complaint that any cook has - while certainly not every one - is the lingering scents left on your hands after cooking with particularly pungent ingredients. Fish, garlic and onions leave odors that are really difficult to get rid of - and I'm embarassed to admit I’m guilty of even taking steel wool once to try to eliminate these overpowering smells!

So, in honor of my family of fabulous cooks, I decided on a Kitchen’s Companion for Soap #11. I chose oils that would be highly cleansing and provide lots of lather. I used double-brewed black diamond coffee and added a few tablespoons of coffee grounds, since coffee works wonders to absorb odors and the grounds work to gently exfoliate.

Oh, and if you choose to believe everything you read, coffee grounds are fantastic for helping to smooth cellulite! So it's not just for use in the kitchen!

Here’s the description for Soap #11 on Day 11:

Bellissima Kitchen Companion - Handmade Black Diamond Coffee Exfoliating Soap

Our amazing Black Diamond Coffee Soap is incredibly lathering and deliciously creamy with our luxurious blend of vitamin- & nutrient-enriched all-veggie oils. I include olive & coconut to make this super-cleansing, castor oil for extra lather and lots & lots of mango butter, grapeseed oil and sweet almond oil to leave your skin feeling soft, smooth and hydrated.

Black Diamond Coffee is a gently exfoliating hand soap made with double-brewed black diamond coffee and lots of finely ground fresh coffee beans. This soap is fabulous for nourishing the skin while eliminating grease and removing strong kitchen odors. Some of the coffee aroma remains, but I’ve left it fragrance-free to give you a pure, refreshingly cleansing experience!

Tune in tomorrow for Day 12!

The Lather Project: 30 Soaps in 30 Days - Day 10, Soap 10

Today is Day 10 of The Lather Project!

Time is just flying by and there’s still so much I want to do! So many soaps, so little time…

Soap #10 is a bit of a follow up to yesterday’s hot-process soap making tutorial (Day 9). We used a very simple recipe, ready available tools and even an cardboard box mold to show how accessible soap making is for the home crafter.

So, I wanted to use the same 3 oil recipe for Soap #10, but show how we can dress it up! And even though iron oxide colorants, additives and fragrance oils are not as readily available, I still wanted to show that even a simple recipe can produce a beautiful bar of soap with a little creativity!

I know from past experience that my Lemon fragrance oil will, over time, darken my soap to a deep brown shade. Many fragrance oils with a vanilla scent base will do this. There are color stabilizers and non-discoloring fragrance oils, but I prefer to use some ingenuity in combating this issue.

I split the raw soap into two batches, coloring one with a little yellow oxide and adding the poppy seeds - but no fragrance oil - therefore no discoloring. I then added the fragrance oil only to the second half of the soap base, after removing about 2 tablespoons of raw soap. Then I swirled in the leftover 2 tablespoons - since this soap has no fragrance oil either and won’t darken, I’ll get a beautiful brown & cream swirled bottom half with a yellow-poppy seed top half.

I hope. it’ll actually take about 10 days to 2 weeks for the fragrance oil to completely discolor the soap, so I’ll have to update you at the end of the Project! But you can actually already see a bit where the soap will darken.

So here’s the description for Soap #10 on Day 10:

Bellissima Handmade All-Veggie Oil Lemon Poppyseed Soap

Our amazing Lemon Poppyseed Soap is incredibly lathering and luxuriously creamy with our simple blend of vitamin- & nutrient-enriched all-veggie oils. Coconut oil makes this soap super-cleansing and one third olive oil leaves your skin feeling soft, smooth and hydrated.

Lemon Poppyseed Soap delivers a citrusy-fresh and totally tempting bakery-style fragrance! Tart lemons, a hint of orange & lime and just a pinch of mint merge harmoniously with buttery graham, sweet vanilla cream and spicy nutmeg & cinnamon to produce a rich and deliciously inviting scent! Poppyseeds add a touch of gentle exfoliation and dash of authenticity!

Soap #10 won't be available for sale until the color finishes 'developing', but be sure to look for it in about 10 days at

http://BellissimaMinerals.etsy.com

Tune In Tomorrow for Day 11!

The Lather Project: 30 Soaps in 30 Days - Day 9, Soap 9

We’re on Day 9!

And I thought now would be the perfect time for a hot-process soapmaking tutorial. While I enjoy all methods of soap making, I find that the hot-process method allows for greater control over the finished product and satisfies my need for immediate gratification!

First things first:
Step 1. Assemble all your tools and ingredients. For this tutorial, we’re using:

4 Quart Crockpot
Postage Scale
Stickblender
2 Plastic long-handled Spatulas
1 2 Quart Plastic Container
1 4 Cup Plastic Container
1 2 Cup Glass Container
Rubber Gloves & Protective Eyewear

Ingredients:
Olive Oil
Coconut Oil
Soybean Oil
Sodium Hydroxide
Distilled Water

This is a take on the soap recipe fondly known in soap making circles as the ‘Walmart Recipe’. It’s known as such because all the oils are readily available and can be purchased at Walmart as well as many grocery stores and wholesale clubs.

Here’s how my 2 ½ lb Recipe looks, and it will yield almost 3 1/2 lbs of soap:
14oz Olive Oil
14oz Soybean Oil
12oz Coconut Oil
15.2oz Distilled Water
5.7oz Sodium Hydroxide
*Remember when soap making to run every recipe through a soap calculator to avoid any errors or oversights.

Step 2. Measure out the Olive Oil, Coconut Oil & Soybean Oil. Melt the oils in the Crockpot on the Warm setting.

Step 3. Measure out distilled Water and in a separate container measure out the Sodium Hydroxide. Be sure to don your gloves & goggle before handling lye. I prefer to freeze my distilled water (or any liquids) before adding the lye because it cuts down on fumes and keeps the temperature from climbing too high. Slowly add the lye - I add in 1/4ths - to the Distilled Water, carefully stirring the entire time.

Step 4. Once the oils are melted and the lye water is almost clear, carefully pour the lye solution into the crockpot with the oils. Use the stick blender for about 1 minute to ensure all the lye is incorporated.

Step 5. After about 15 minutes or so, your soap will start solidify - it looks to me like a very thick pudding. I tend to hand mix a bit at this point, but it’s not necessary.

Step 6. After another 15 minutes or so, the next stage the soap will reach is a ‘mashed potato’ stage - it will still be thick, but more grainy-looking rather than smooth. Time to stickblend again for about 1 minute.

Step 7. After another 15 minutes or so has gone by, the soap will thin out and have a clear and chunky texture - commonly know as ‘applesauce’ stage. Here is when I take the stick blender and mix for about 1 minute.

Step 8. You’ll see that the soap starts to become glossy after about another 15 minutes. It should be somewhat translucent and shiny. This is the first time you can check to see if you’ve got soap! The best way to tell if all the lye has cooked out is to take the ‘tongue-test’ - touch your tongue to a bit of cooled-off soap. If you feel a tingling (or ‘zap’), lye is still present and you must continue to cook. Continue cooking and check again after every 15 minutes. If you feel nothing and it has a soapy taste, you’ve got soap!

Step 9. Once your soap passes the tongue-test, it’s time to put it in the mold. I’m using a cardboard box that Domino’s sandwiches come in lined with a garbage bag to show you don’t need anything fancy! Carefully ‘glop’ your hot soap into the box, banging on a hard surface after each addition to eliminate any air bubbles.

Step 10. Cover your soap with a sheet of wax paper or plastic wrap. Use a folded towel to smooth the top. Allow to cool and unmold.

You can trim and slice your soap as you please!

Stay Tuned Tomorrow for Day 9!

The Lather Project: 30 Soaps in 30 Days - Day 8, Soap 8

We’re on Soap #8!

I can’t believe we’re already on Week #2 - the first week went by so fast! Over 20 lbs of soap down, less than 70 to go!

The last few soaps in the Project have had kind of a pale palette, and I realized I totally needed something bold and colorful - a true feast for the eyes! I wanted some serious eye candy!

Since I normally only use cosmetic grade mica, oxides and ultramarines for soap colorants, I know I’ll never achieve some of those brightly hued soaps that are produced by using liquid soap dyes. What I also know, however, is that some amazing colors can be achieved through completely natural sources - things like alkanet, turmeric and even pumpkin puree can create gorgeous colors in soap. And I can’t wait to experiment with them to see what I can create!

I also thought I’d try more layering with Soap #8. Now, layering hot-process soap is not an easy task. At the end of the cooking process, the soap is a hot, thick, glossy mass that has to be maneuvered - I believe the technical term is ‘glopped’ - quite carefully into the mold to prevent air bubbles and other catastrophes. Scenting & coloring hp soaps are skillful talents in themselves, but layering adds a higher degree of difficulty. And because I’m an unbelievably impatient person, this is always a particularly tricky challenge for me.

But it was so much fun! And I love the festive, ‘ice cream cake’ quality of the soap loaf!

So, Soap #8 on Day #8 is:

Bellissima Handmade All-Veggie Oil Blend Bath Soap in Exotic Orchid

Our amazing Exotic Orchid Soap is incredibly lathering and deliciously creamy with our lavish blend of vitamin- & nutrient-enriched all-veggie oils. I include olive & coconut to make this super-cleansing and sunflower and rice bran to leave your skin feeling soft, smooth and hydrated.

Exotic Orchid delivers the lush, heady aroma of fragrant orchids and notes of ylang ylang, frangipani, white lily, hyacinth, gardenia and creamy vanilla add interest and complexity to this delicious fragrance. Passionate and romantic, vibrant and intoxicating, luxurious and exhilarating, this is an incredibly unique and distinctively glamorous scent!

Soap #8 is available for sale at http://BellissimaMinerals.etsy.com

Mention Promo Code ‘Lather Project’ in the Message to Seller Box for a 10% discount off of your Exotic Orchid Soap purchase!

Choosing something else? Enter the Promo Code to receive a Exotic Orchid Sample Bar! (Either wait for a revised invoice or I’ll refund the discount back after payment)

Tune In Tomorrow for Day 9!

The Lather Project: 30 Soaps in 30 Days - Day 7, Soap 7

I’m so excited about Soap #7!

I’ve been wanting to do a Salt Bar since the day I first heard about them. Living here in Rhode Island, there’s not a place in the State that’s more than an hour from the Ocean (hence RI‘s nickname, ‘The Ocean State’). And I was fortunate enough to grow up on the water, spending every moment above 60 degrees at the beach, on a boat or in the sea.

I’ve always loved how my skin felt after a day in the ocean. The salt water gently exfoliates and softens the skin, leaving it glowing and silky smooth. And salt has natural antimicrobial properties, helping to detoxify and purify the skin. In my youth, I always found that sea water would help in clearing up my acne-prone skin.



And salt bars accomplish the same effects - without spending the day at the beach! I added lots of dead sea salt to a blend of coconut oil (for cleansing), shea butter (for moisturizing) and castor oil (for lather) to create a spa-quality sea salt soap bar. Because the salt bar can be a little abrasive during the first few uses, I left just a strip of pure soap to make it a bit more gentle on the skin. And to that point, it’s important that those with ultra-dry or super-sensitive skin try a test patch to ensure that the high amount of salt doesn’t irritate their skin.

So, here’s the description for Soap #7 on Day 7:

Bellissima Handmade Sea Salt Spa Bar in Cucumber & Aloe

Our Sea Salt Spa Bars are made with a combination of Coconut Oil, Shea Butter & Castor Oil and lots and lots of Dead Sea Salt to create a Spa-Quality salt bar. Thoroughly cleansing, gently exfoliating, and highly moisturizing, our Sea Salt Spa Bars will leave your skin radiant, hydrated and silky smooth.

Our amazing Cucumber Aloe Sea Salt Spa Bar imparts the scent of crisp cucumber with notes of fresh aloe vera, green apple, casaba melon, a hint of mint and airy, delicate white florals. This is - without a doubt - an invigorating, rejuvenating and bright scent, both revitalizing and relaxing at the same time!

Soap #7 is available for sale at http://BellissimaMinerals.etsy.com

Mention Promo Code ‘Lather Project’ in the Message to Seller Box for a 10% discount off your Cucumber Aloe Sea Salt Spa Bar purchase!

Choosing something else? Enter the Promo Code to receive a Cucumber Aloe Sea Salt Sample Bar! (Either wait for a revised invoice or I’ll refund the discount back after payment)

Tune In Tomorrow for Day 8!

The Lather Project: 30 Soap in 30 Days - Day 6, Soap 6

Soap #6 is another special request.

One of my very first sales after I opened up my Etsy Shop was from lovely woman with a true passion for handmade soap! I firmly believe she has bought from and tried some from every single soap seller on etsy, bless her heart!

She had left me flattering feedback and sent a convo asking if I had her favorite scent - Lavender Vanilla Soap - and at the time, I didn’t. But I offered to make her some - and unfortunately, I moved on and completely lost track of her request.



I forgot about it.

It happens to all of us. And when I discovered her request yesterday as I was sorting through and filing old emails (thank goodness I save everything!), I was horribly embarassed and wracked with guilt! And decided immediately that Soap #6 would be hers. This one’s for you, Emma!

Here’s the description for Soap #6 on Day 6:

Bellissima Handcrafted Botanical-Infused Lavender Vanilla Soap

Our line of Botanical Infused Bath Bars are a special treat for your skin - infusing teas, flowers, plants and herbs in oils or water and adding it to soap not only imparts the amazing benefits to the soap, but also allows for the most nutrients and enrichment possible from the botanicals!

With this amazing Lavender Vanilla Soap, I infuse both distilled water and sunflower oil with Lavender to get the absolute most out of it’s healing and aroma-therapeutic qualities. I added a bottom layer of vanilla to warm up and complete the scent profile - the herbal elements of the Lavender and the creamy, spicy yet sugary sweet notes of the Vanilla are perfect together! And then I sprinkled real lavender buds on top and between the layers for both their beauty and for gentle exfoliation.

Soap #6 is available for sale at http://BellissimaMinerals.etsy.com

Mention Promo Code ‘Lather Project’ in the Message to Seller Box for a 10% discount off your Lavender Vanilla Soap purchase!

Choosing something else? Enter the Promo Code to receive a Free Lavender Vanilla Sample Bar! (Either wait for a revised invoice or I’ll refund the discount back after payment)


Tune In Tomorrow for Day 7!

The Lather Project: 30 Soaps in 30 Days - Day 5, Soap 5

Soap #5 is purely for stock replenishment - and one of my scent faves!
It's so complex & sophisticated!

I was down to one bar of my Avocado & Lime Soap and couldn’t relist it in the shop until I made more!




I tend to sell my soap in pairs - it may not be the smartest marketing choice, but I think it gives buyers the most bang for their buck! I can ship two bars for slightly more than it costs to ship one, so I can offer a much better deal to my customers on the purchase of two bars. And with the size of my bars, it’s like getting four bars for the price of two!

Now, I could possibly sell more by offering them as single bars… probably would sell more. And actually, I have this internal debate quite often, but I feel like I’m being a bit stingy sending out one bar or a single soap sample - irrational and ridiculous, I know. And I am honestly so passionate about the benefits of handmade soap that I really should be doing everything I can to get some into the hands of potential users.

Okay, this is it. I am officially announcing that Bellissima will now be selling sample bars and single bars of handcrafted soap! Aahhh, I feel so much better now that the decision’s been made!

So, onto the description of Soap #5 on Day #5:

Bellissima Handcrafted All-Veggie Blend Avocado & Lime Soap

Our amazing Avocado & Lime Soap is incredibly lathering and deliciously creamy with our luxurious blend of vitamin- & nutrient-enriched all-veggie oils. I include olive & coconut to make this super-cleansing and sunflower and rice bran to leave your skin feeling soft, smooth and hydrated.

Avocado & Lime - thinking Guacamole? THINK NOT!!! This incredible scent offers one surprise after another: an amazingly complex blend of ripe avocado, cilantro, sweet lime, sugared lemon, mint and lots of delicate white florals. This is a bright & confident, refreshingly different and oh so sparkling fragrance!

Soap #5 is available for sale at http://BellissimaMinerals.etsy.com

Mention Promo Code ‘Lather Project’ in the Message to Seller Box for a 10% discount off your Avocado & Lime Soap purchase!

Choosing something else? Enter the Promo Code to receive a Free Avocado & Lime Sample Bar! (Either wait for a revised invoice or I’ll refund the discount back after payment)

Tune In Tomorrow for Day 6!

The Lather Project: 30 Soaps in 30 Days - Day 4, Soap 4

Soap #4 is a special request by my husband.

When I first started on my soap making journey years ago, I had made this soap with him in mind - and it‘s been his favorite ever since! He’s not a coffee drinker - strictly tea. Me, I’m a coffee-by-the-pot kind of girl, but I enjoy drinking tea occasionally.


What I do love about tea, though, is all the anti-oxidants! Rich in polyphenols, Vitamin C and Vitamin E, tea just might provide as many benefits when applied to the skin as when ingested internally! Honey, too, has anti-oxidant as well as anti-microbial properties - and is famous for, among other things, it’s natural ability to attract and retain moisture which may aid in maintaining skin’s softness and elasticity.

And this is another soap for our all-natural line!
This one’s not vegan, however, due to the honey, but it has no synthetic fragrance and no colorants. I love when I can scent and color a soap without using additives!

I used strongly brewed mix of earl grey tea (for the aroma & color) and green tea (for the benefits) as the water element of this soap, and then added about 3 tablespoons of honey once the cook was done. The soap is a rich, deep caramel brown shade as a result of the tea - and the scent is both delicate and distinctive.

So, here’s the description for Soap #4 on Day #4:

Bellissima Handcrafted All-Natural Sweet Tea & Honey Soap

Our amazing Sweet Tea & Honey Soap is all-natural with our luxurious blend of vitamin- & nutrient-enriched all-veggie oils. We incorporated brewed tea and lots of honey for the wonderful skin-healthy benefits, used lots of olive & coconut oil to make this gentle but cleansing and lots of sunflower and rice bran oils to leave your skin feeling soft, smooth and hydrated.

Sweet Tea & Honey imparts the scent of traditional earl grey tea - a relaxing blend of citrus with a hint of bergamot. With the golden amber, slightly floral perfume of honey and the aromatic notes of fine, black tea leaves, this is a uniquely subtle and highly sophisticated fragrance!

Soap #4 is available for sale at
http://BellissimaMinerals.etsy.com
Mention Promo Code ‘Lather Project’ in the Message to Seller Box for a 10% discount off your Sweet Tea & Honey Soap purchase!

Choosing something else? Enter the Promo Code to receive a Free Sweet Tea & Honey Sample Bar! (Either wait for a revised invoice or I’ll refund the discount back after payment)

Tune In Tomorrow for Day 5!

The Lather Project: 30 Soaps in 30 Days - Day 3, Soap 3

We’re on Soap #3 - and a yummy #3 at that!




When I ordered this particular fragrance oil, I was really looking forward to the first sniff. It was named Tropic Winds (or something similar - ‘name changed to protect the innocent‘). Having been a travel agent for over 10 years, I’ve inhaled the breeze on many islands and I really looked forward to all the fabulous memories this scent would bring back!

When it arrived in the mail I swiftly opened the bottle and took in a huge whiff - and it smelled nothing like Tropic Winds! Certainly not of the winds I had ever experienced tropically. Oh I sensed an undercurrent of hyacinth, maybe a touch of hibiscus, but nothing that resembled the ‘winds’ of any island I had visited. I was expecting red florals, a touch of tropical fruit, a bit of exotic greenery and lots of ozone and sea air.

But didn’t it smell exactly like my favorite Red Sangria from my very favorite Spanish restaurant!?! And once I soaped it, the fruity, wine-y aroma prevailed… and there we have it!

Oh! And this was my first attempt at layering hot-process soap - I have to work on my technique quite a bit, but overall I was pretty pleased!

And so, Soap #3 on Day #3 is:

Bellissima Handcrafted Red Sangria All-Veggie Oil Blend Soap

Our amazing Red Sangria Soap is incredibly lathering and deliciously creamy with our luxurious blend of vitamin- & nutrient-enriched all-veggie oils. I include olive & coconut to make this super-cleansing and sunflower and rice bran to leave your skin feeling soft, smooth and hydrated.

Red Sangria imparts the scent of a medley of fresh fruits and the invigorating aroma of a variety of red florals. Pineapple, tangerine, plum & lime mix melodically with hibiscus, amaryllis, hyacinth & even sweet orchid. The robust undercurrent of smooth, red wine makes this a unique, brisk & energizing, fun & fruity fragrance! And the mica-tinted top layer makes this soap a visual delight!

Soap #3 is available for sale at
http://BellissimaMinerals.etsy.com
Mention Promo Code ‘Lather Project’ in the Message to Seller Box for a 10% discount off your Red Sangria Soap purchase!

Choosing something else? Enter the Promo Code to receive a Free Red Sangria Sample Bar! (Either wait for a revised invoice or I’ll refund the discount back after payment.)

Tune In Tomorrow for Day 4!

The Lather Project: Day 2, Soap 2

I've had so much fun with Soap #2!

I’ve been meaning to add to my line of completely natural, vegan soaps - no animal byproducts (like tallow or beeswax), no synthetic fragrance oils, no chemical dyes - and this project is such an awesome opportunity to develop fabulous new products for this line!

So, Soap #2 started with my all-veggie oil soap recipe and I decided I’d create a fragrance blend with my essential oils - something uncomplicated to start with. Since I’m a beginner at fragrance blending, I wanted something straightforward and traditional - a two-note blend well-loved and instantly recognizable.
I chose orange & clove.

And getting the blend right was much easier than I thought - probably because I already knew that I wanted just enough clove to ‘warn up’ the scent, but not overpower the orange. A ratio of 2:1, orange to clove, worked perfectly.
And then I took to my spice grinder.

Orange essential oil is famous for it’s ability to cleanse and cut grease, so I felt it would be a natural progression to add in some exfoliants. I ground up some dried orange peel and added about 1.5 teaspoons to the cooked soap (since I have a 3 pound batch). I knew I also wanted a really pretty soap - so I ground up some cloves for a bit of color contrast and texture. I added only about ¼ tsp to the batch, since the clove - even finely ground - is quite abrasive.

And lending to the pretty factor, I noticed that the orange essential oil added a gorgeous light peachy tint to the soap, so I couldn’t resist a mica swirl - I chose a deep orange, almost pumpkin colored mica to swirl in.

And to ‘top’ it all off, I dropped a few whole pieces of the dried orange peel and just a pinch of the ground cloves into the mold before I spooned in the soap. This gave me an elegant and colorful surface to my loaf.

And so, here’s the description of Soap #2:

Bellissima Handcrafted All-Natural Vegan Sweet Orange & Clove Soap

Our amazing Sweet Orange & Clove Soap is an all-natural, vegan soap including luxurious all-veggie oils - featuring olive - but also with sunflower and rice bran to nurture and leave your skin feeling soft, smooth and hydrated! With real ground orange peel & cloves, this soap offers gentle exfoliation for the shower or makes a wonderful super-cleansing, super-moisturizing hand soap!

Sweet Orange & Clove is a year-round, uplifting and rejuvenating fragrance favorite for both men and women. It offers a well-balanced blend of citrus - pure, sweet orange - and just enough spicy clove to warm up and round out this refreshingly clean, classic scent.

Soap #2 is available for sale at

http://BellissimaMinerals.etsy.com

Mention Promo Code ‘Lather Project’ in the Message to Seller Box for a 10% discount off your Sweet Orange & Clove Soap purchase!

Choosing something else? Enter the Promo Code to receive a Free Sweet Orange & Clove Sample Bar! (Either wait for a revised invoice or I’ll refund the discount back after payment.)

And here’s wishing you all a Happy Mother’s Day!

Tune In Tomorrow for Day 3!