a soap a day (15 and last)
sage and rosemary skin type: hair energy soap odour: uplifting, bracing, herbal, complex blend: 20g sage, 40g rosemary, 20g indian bay, 50g peppermint, 20g cedarwood additives: lavender floral extract concentrate
a soap a day (14)
lime and vetiver skin type: men’s shaving soap blend: 50g lime, 40g may chang, 30g lavender, 10g black pepper, 10g vetiver, 10g sandalwood additives: lavender floral extract concentrate 5 drops, green clay 50g, red clay 50g, oatmeal 20g, aloe vera powder 20g
a soap a day (13)
calendula castile skin type: sensitive effect: soothing, calming odour: very subtly sweet and natural 100% calendula and st john’s wort infused olive oil base additives: lavender and neroli floral extract concentrate 5 drops each, manuka honey 80g, goatsmilk powder 40g, chamomile powder 20g, calendula powder 20g
a soap a day (12)
yuzu skin type:acne and oily skins odour: complex citrus with fresh medicinal, tonic and spice notes effect: soothing, cleansing, oil-balancing blend: 30g bergamot, 30g tea tree, 30g lavender, 40g may chang, 10g clove bud, 10g patchouli. additives: neroli floral extract concentrate 5 drops, yuzu peel powder 30g, oatmeal powder 50g, a touch of french green [...]
a soap a day (11)
blue berry skin type: sensitive skin blend: 120g lavender, 10g helichrysum, 10g german chamomile, 10g roman chamomile additives: neroli floral water concentrate 5 drops, blueberry powder 50g, activated charcoal, rose petals, lavender buds added some blue ultramarine to boost the blueberry powder, which turned gray as soon as it hit the raw soap. a white [...]
a soap a day (10)
aloe vera skin type: all effect: creamy, soothing odour: the fresh green aloe vera scent dominates this soap (note: if i make this soap again, i will select eos that marry better with the green scent of the aloe vera….this blend is absolutely beautiful but wasted in this soap, in my opinion) blend: 70g lavender, [...]
botanical gardens, jeju island
i visited the botanical gardens on jeju island, korea, last week. they are fabulous gardens, beautifully and lovingly kept and there were hordes of people there enjoying them….including quite a lot of school groups. i took a photo of a couple of posing kids and suddenly there was a whole swarm of them. the laughing [...]
hallabong soap (pic)
a pic of the hallabong soap in the mould:
a soap a day (9)
korean ginseng skin type: devitalised tired skin effect: rejuvenating, stimulating odour: crisp, clean, tonic, medicinal blend: 40g rosemary, 30g pine, 30g eucalyptus, 45g lemon, 5g patchouli additives: lavender floral water concentrate, korean ginseng powder 50g, honey 80g, red clay to preference.
a soap a day (8)
orange blossom all skin types. odour: uplifting rich, citrus with a hint of spice. blend: 70g orange, 30g lime, 10g clove, 20g petitgrain, 10g neroli, 10g patchouli additives: neroli floral extract concentrate (natch), 5 drops.rose petals, lavender buds, calendula petals, orange peel powder 35g.
a soap a day (7)
blue chamomile skin type: eczema, sensitive odour: rich, deep, herbal and sweet. blend: 100g lavender, 20g german chamomile, 10g yarrow (fabulous blue yarrow oil from bulgaria…sweetest and finest i have ever sniffed), 10g australian sandalwood. additives: neroli floral water concentrate, chamomile powder, lavender buds. the azulene from the yarrow and chamomile oils turn this soap [...]
a soap a day (6)
manuka honey skin type: acne and oily effect: cleansing, soothing, oil-balancing, detoxifying blend: 10g manuka oil, 30g tea tree oil, 40g may chang oil, 30g lemon oil, 30g lemongrass oil, 10g australian sandalwood oil. additives: neroli floral water concentrate 5 drops, manuka honey 80g, green clay 50g, dead sea mud 50g, black tea 20g. a [...]
a soap a day (5)
moccachino skin type: all odour: rich deep luscious chocolate/coffee with orange and mint highlights blend: cocoa absolute 10g, coffee absolute 20g, peppermint 30g (this is a very sweet beautiful peppermint from india), orange 80g, patchouli 10g. additives: lavender floral water concentrate, coffee powder 50g, cocoa powder, 15g (plus extra for dusting if desired), goatsmilk powder [...]
hallabong soap
i visited jeju island this week, just off the southern coast of korea. it is an absolutely beautiful place, covered in black volcanic rock and citrus orchards….among other things. the local flora has great diversity, with pine trees in the north part and palm trees in the south. and i actually saw both growing together, [...]
a soap a day (4)
gardenia flower skin type: all odor: sweet citrus and rich floral blend: 5 g gardenia absolute (yep, the real deal, sourced carefully from one person in china), 5g rose concrete, 40g bergamot, 50g grapefruit, 40g may chang, 10g patchouli additives: neroli floral water concentrate 5 drops, gardenia flower powder (orange colour) this turned out absolutely [...]
a soap a day (3)
summer wine skin type: oily odor: complex citrus blend: lime 30g, lemongrass 30g, may chang 40g, clove bud 10g, orange 40g, patchouli 10g additives: neroli floral water extract 5 drops, red wine extract, grape powder 50g, rose petals, french pink clay. all in a 3 kilo oil base.
a soap a day (2)
buddha’s tears skin type: damaged/aging blend: jasmine 1010g, ylang ylang 20g, orange 90g, australian sandalwood 20g, patchouli 10g additives: neroli floral water concentrate 5 drops, lotus flower extract 5g, sandalwood powder 50g. all in a 3 kilo oil base
a soap a day….
as some readers may be aware, i am currently in korea, doing another series of soapmaking workshops. the format this round has been different. five one day workshops and at each one i am demonstrating fifteen soaps. the focus has been on outrageously luxurious and fabulous essential oils and other natural aromatics, in conjunction with [...]
seoul food
this is my fifth day in seoul and every single meal has been terrific. now, i don’t know if every last one of the bazillions of restaurants in the city is just naturally extraordinary….or if i am lucky because i am being taken to the best eats in town by a local who appears to [...]
hong kong again
here i am in hong kong for the day, en route to korea for almost 3 weeks of soapmaking workshops and amazing korean hospitality. i’m staying at the migle on the wing, in what might possibly be the smallest hotel bedroom i have ever seen. boy, it is compact. but it’s very cheap and clean [...]
