Soap Naturally Recipes
7th International Soap Swap
NAME's Soap Recipe

Rosemary Zenfusion by Sarah Gonzalez-Lavin

I chose the rosemary because that is my favorite scent, as it always makes me feel relaxed and happy. I was hoping others would feel the same. I must admit that I really don't know anything about Zen except that it is mystical, and rosemary just felt like it might be a Zen-like experience. In addition, I had been trying for two years to capture the rosemary scent in a soap, and with the infusion of fresh rosemary into the lye water and the oils, I think I finally did it. So, I was rejoicing in the success of something I had tried to do for a long time. A Rosemary infusion relaxes me and thats my kind of 'Zen'.

Base Ingredients

20 oz Coconut oil
20 oz Olive oil
20 oz Rice Bran oil
10 oz Palm Kernel oil
10 oz Palm oil
10 oz Castor oil
10 oz Shea Butter

31 oz Rosemary tea
14 oz NaOH

Scented with

2 oz Rosemary essential oil, camphor type
2 oz Rosemary essential oil, cineole type
2 oz Lemon Myrtle essential oil

Additives

2 Tblsps Wondra flour
2 tspns chromium oxide green

Method

Fresh rosemary was used to make the tea, and fresh rosemary was infused into the combined castor, olive and rice bran oils. The tea and infusion were done the day before the soap was made. All ingredients were close to room temperature (approx 80°F) at the time of mixing, and the soap was not covered or insulated after pouring. This is due to the fact that the flashpoint for rosemary EO is only slightly higher than 100°F, and I didn't want the fragrance to vaporize.