While I'm getting ready for my applesauce marathon canning session(s), I've been thinking of soap. (Who doesn't think of soap?). So much so, that yesterday I was a couple of miles past the orchard on my way home with soaping supplies I had no intention of getting that I realized I blew past the orchard. That cost an extra seven miles (round trip).
I was researching today how to use some of the natural colorants I have; I know I need more than the micas, but how much and when to add, etc. So, I'm reading that infused oils are better, blah, blah, blah. I don't have time, besides, I master batch. Then I noticed the 4 oz jelly jars I had washed for the applesauce for the kids. LIGHT BULB!
I put two tablespoons of alkanet root, turmeric, spirulina and madder root into individual jars and added a little over 1/4 cup olive oil. Stirred until well mixed than added some more OO. I put the lids and bands on the jars and they are in a water bath. I brought the water to a boil, then cut it back to a simmer while I was prepping the oils.
I'm going to let them simmer for a few hours then turn off the heat and let them cool down. I am hoping the herbs will infuse the oils intensly and then I could I could use them like a premixed liquid colorant. I know some of you pre-mix your colorants with glycerin and don't add that into the SoapCalc. I'm thinking I'll do that. I usually soap at 8% SF, but if I use these, I'll knock it down to 5% jus to be sure the extra OO doesn't spike up the SF. (I doubt it would, but what do I know?)
So, any advice? Critiques? Anyone think this will be a total failure or that my logic is flawed? Please, bring it on! I've thought it out and it seems like a good plan. But I'm not experienced enough to know what I don't know.
I was researching today how to use some of the natural colorants I have; I know I need more than the micas, but how much and when to add, etc. So, I'm reading that infused oils are better, blah, blah, blah. I don't have time, besides, I master batch. Then I noticed the 4 oz jelly jars I had washed for the applesauce for the kids. LIGHT BULB!
I put two tablespoons of alkanet root, turmeric, spirulina and madder root into individual jars and added a little over 1/4 cup olive oil. Stirred until well mixed than added some more OO. I put the lids and bands on the jars and they are in a water bath. I brought the water to a boil, then cut it back to a simmer while I was prepping the oils.
I'm going to let them simmer for a few hours then turn off the heat and let them cool down. I am hoping the herbs will infuse the oils intensly and then I could I could use them like a premixed liquid colorant. I know some of you pre-mix your colorants with glycerin and don't add that into the SoapCalc. I'm thinking I'll do that. I usually soap at 8% SF, but if I use these, I'll knock it down to 5% jus to be sure the extra OO doesn't spike up the SF. (I doubt it would, but what do I know?)
So, any advice? Critiques? Anyone think this will be a total failure or that my logic is flawed? Please, bring it on! I've thought it out and it seems like a good plan. But I'm not experienced enough to know what I don't know.