(Why is beer soap so tricky to make? Well, it turns out that if you attempt to mix fresh beer with lye you could end up with a beer volcano on your hands. For this reason it is important to let the beer go completely flat before you mix it with lye.)
Coming off of a bad soap loss (my next post will explain), I was pretty nervous about this batch so I took it slow, especially when mixing the lye solution in with the oils. I have to say I'm really happy with the way it turned out.
This was a batch of firsts for me. I used my new 2lb wooden soap mold, and incorporated the use of oatmeal, essential oils and beer.
Whew!
The essential oil blend includes black pepper, eucalyptus and tea tree oil. I chose to use finely ground oatmeal, instead of larger oats, so that the final bar will not be abrasive or exfoliating. I know that a lot of soap makers will add large bits of oatmeal, or other things, to their soaps for exfoliation and appearance, however, I have found that my personal preference is to have a smoother bar of soap.
Ingredients: Olive Oil, Coconut Oil, Castor Oil, Palm Oil, Jamaican Beer, Essential Oils, and Finely Ground Oatmeal.
I can't wait to try out this soap! The cure time is 4 weeks, so until then I will just have to look at it and sniff it as I walk by.
Have a great week!
