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A failed batch of peppermint mocha cheesecake ~ and other soapy fun
November 8, 2009
I made my Christmas gift soap this week. Problem is I won't be giving it for gifts.
What I had planned to be such a luscious soap - peppermint scented, coffee and cocoa for color with chunks of real chocolate turned out crumbly and is now getting all white and spotty. The symptoms all point to incorrect measurement of oils and/or lye.
I've never had this happen before so I'll chalk it up to a learning experience.
I'm still trying to decide if I will re-batch the whole lot; melt it all down and re-pour and see if that fixes things. But then I'll lose all that marbled, swirly, chocolate chunk effect. But I can't give it away like this anyway so... I'm not sure what I'll do. It sure does smell wonderful in my house though, all that peppermint goodness.
And a failed batch of soap isn't truly failed. It will still clean, it just might not look pretty.
On a brighter note Brienne and I felted a few pieces of soap this afternoon. My mom picked up small bits of fleece rovings for me at Common Ground Fair earlier this fall for this very purpose. They've sat on my soap shelf tempting me for over a month and today I finally tried it. And I don't know that I was terribly successful at it either.
I didn't do any research on how to do it, I just remembered what I'd read about hot water/soapy felting in general; recalling 5 Orange Potatoes recent felt post and the kid's felted snakes they made back in March.
Next time I'll rub the soap on our sushi roller; saw this trick when I was researching after the fact.
That's all the soap news today. Brainstorming what soap I could make to replace the failed peppermint mocha cheesecake. Thinking I'll do another batch of Orange Clove Pomander, one the loveliest soaps I've made to date.
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Rodney and Cindy on Nov. 8, 2009, 2:32 a.m.
I can smell it from here. I'd be happy that I didn't have to give it away!
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nicola@which name? on Nov. 8, 2009, 4:57 a.m.
you and my friend rhian have me very near to trying. perhaps my new year's resolution of something new to learn for 2010. the peppermint mocha soap sounds heavenly, but then again, so does the orange clove pomander! nicola http://whichname.blogspot.com
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Denise on Nov. 8, 2009, 2:46 p.m.
it still looks good enough to eat : )
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Organizing Mommy on Nov. 9, 2009, 12:18 a.m.
I don't know. I think it looks fantastic. Send it to me--please!
Organizing Mommy's last blog post... Back to Menu Planning!
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Jenn on Nov. 9, 2009, 2:55 a.m.
yes, you have to have a board to rub it against...something with ridges. oh, have you tried the pizza crust? just wondering if it turned out for you.
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Jody on Nov. 9, 2009, 3:08 p.m.
Well, even if it's not as 'decorative' melted down & re-done, I'd be happy to take some off your hands! LOL. Mmmmmm....sounds heavenly.
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5orangepotatoes on Nov. 13, 2009, 12:07 a.m.
Seriously Renee, salivating about that soap. Good thing it didn't turn out, I don't know how anyone could resist eating it!
lisa
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Bec on Nov. 18, 2009, 3:49 p.m.
I made honey oatmel soap that didn't turn out. All the oil on the top and the rest on the bottom. I tried to melt it down but the fumes were so toxic it gave me a wicked headache, even with the fan on and window open. Oh well. I also have to agree about the orange clove pomander. At first I thought it smelled a bit medicinal but now I think it smells like the spa. Thanks for the inspiration Renee.
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Rana on Nov. 8, 2009, 2:03 a.m.
Peppermint scented, coffee and cocoa for color with chunks of real chocolate sounds delicious. I hope if you decide to make it again it works out.
Rana's last blog post... Home alone!