beer soap

I make what may be referred to as 'natural' soap. I use only plant, clay or mineral colours, and almost all my soaps are fragranced with essential oils. I would like this to be 100%, but right now, I have a few that I fragrance wih quality UK/EU accredited fragrance oils. I am working on getting to the 100%, but clever blending is required when the scent I am aiming for would normally be from either an endangered species (sandalwood for example) or prohibitively expensive for use in soap making (eg. rose).  My rose garden soap is now in the final blending stage using floral essential oils and rose wax (by product of manufacturing rose absolute) to get the fresh rose bloom scent I am aiming for.

this is my current range l-t-r: coolcumber, barenakedlady, kitchen garden, gingergrass, provence, dreamy, rose garden, lemon soul, herbal fusion, sweet contemplation, citrus bliss.

I have long been thinking of a simple, single note range of soaps to compliment my existing range, kind of plain and rustic, back to basics if you will. There would not be any swirls, textured tops or colour blends. I have no reason other than the desire to do this as my basis for a new range of uber simple soaps.

So begins my foray into beer soaps, herbal infusion soaps and plain, one scent (single note) soaps.  I have come up with so far: unscented beer soap, patchouli soap, sandalwood soap and calendula infused soap (I grow pot marigolds every year at my allotment, so I'll be able to make my own infusion) I will have to resist the urge to colour, to blend and to generally frou frou these soaps. They will be basic and wonderful. they will be super natural!

 calendula (pot marigolds)

first up: beer soap

I wanted to use locally brewed ale, and discovered, to my joy, that there is a small brewery based in Twickenham making delights such as sundancer, gothic dark and the one I picked to use this time, naked ladies. Having left to go flat in the fridge for a few days, then simmered the alcohol off gently, I pressed ahead with an unscented beer soap, made in the slow cooker (hot process) so that it will be ready to use almost right away, but I shall leave it to dry and mellow for a couple of weeks anyway.

the bars are flat and smooth, plain and simple. I love them. they smell faintly of hops, and are a gorgeous caramel colour. The lather (due to the sugars in the ale) is unbelievable, rich and creamy and I think you'll love it!

presenting: 'beer naked ladies handmade soap'