The Soap King

We've Moved!

2012-01-22T14:44:00.001-08:00

Our New Blog!

http://www.otionsoap.com/blog/

Looking for great soap projects? We've moved our blog to Otion's home page. You can find us here!

Simple Soy Candles

2011-12-03T14:35:00.000-08:00

If you are putting together handmade gift baskets for Christmas presents this year, consider adding handmade soy candles. They are beautiful in our glass candle containers, colored or left neutral, and soy wax burns cleaner than most other wax products. Plus, they are easy enough for absolute beginners to make!

What you need:

4 Glass Candle Containers
24 oz Advanced Eco Soya Wax
8 cup Pyrex dish
Candle Dye, color by preference
Candle Scent, by preference (I used Milk and Honey)
4 wicks WU 250
Knife
Plastic Dropper for liquid color

First, weigh out 16 ounces of soy wax in your Pyrex measuring cup and melt down in the microwave at 1 minute intervals until melted. We will melt down the rest later.

Next, add 1 full ounce of candle fragrance and stir in completely. Then add 8 drops of candle colorant (or shave off a small amount off dye block and stir in).

Tip! The color will appear much darker in the melted wax than when dried. Put a knife in the freezer when you get started and dip it into the colored wax to immediately see the final color. Add more color if desired.

To place the wicks, dip them in the melted wax and center them in each cup. When you pour the wax, make sure to balance the wick with pens or chopsticks so that they don't tip over.

Finally, melt down 8 more ounces of wax and top off each candle. You don't need to scent this small amount. This uncolored wax will dry white and makes a neat foggy swirl through the purple. Plus, it helps clean out any color left in your bowl. Wipe your Pyrex dish clean with a paper towel while it is still warm.

Let the candle harden and snip off the excess wick. You can print off cute labels to stick on the side or gift them with a ribbon. Enjoy!

Free Holiday Parking Downtown!

2011-11-30T13:58:00.000-08:00

To encourage shoppers to visit downtown during the holidays, the City of Bellingham is launching the Holiday Parking Program, December 12-26. Downtown shoppers can enjoy free parking in metered spaces all day every day.
“We offered free two-hour lunch parking between Thanksgiving and Christmas in past years,” said Clark Williams, Transportation Superintendent with Public Works. “It was confusing for shoppers,” he added. The Downtown Bellingham Partnership proposed longer hours on fewer days.

Although parking is free all day, drivers are asked to park responsibly by observing the time limits posted on the meters.
Shoppers wishing to stay longer are encouraged to park on the ground floor of the Parkade.
For more information, contact the Transportation Superintendent at 778-7700, or click here.

Otion is downtown on the corner of Bay Street and Holly Street. Come see us!

Christmas Jelly Roll

2011-11-26T15:20:00.000-08:00

Learn how to make these sweet Christmas Jelly Roll bars by following the Soap Queen video below and just change the colors and scent! For my red, I blended red labcolor, merlot mica and red glitter, used liquid white for the white, and green chrome oxide for the background, all with our bulk clear base. The fragrance blend is Christmas Tree Cybilla and Peppermint 2nd Distillation. Make sure to add liquid glycerin to the roll so it bends and spray rubbing alcohol so everything sticks together.

How to Make Embedded Jelly Roll Soap from Soap Queen on Vimeo.

Soapy Celebration

2011-11-25T16:29:00.000-08:00

Birthday parties are one of our favorite things we offer at Otion, and we had the pleasure of hosting a party for a great group of nine year-old girls last weekend. Most of them were already experienced soaperstars from using our walk-in Soap Bar before. Everyone made two bars of personalized soap!

There was plenty of time for cake and presents while the soap hardened in the freezer.

In addition to fun shapes, we made what's called a "party loaf." Everyone pours different colors and scents into one big soap and then it's cut up and shared at the end.

Thanks for a great time and enjoy the beautiful soap you made!

Craftiness at Otion

2011-11-19T17:23:00.000-08:00

We love this time of year! Lot's of people had snow in Washington and Oregon today except for us in Bellingham, so we made our own. Melissa is our new fabulous staff member at Otion (far left) and she is a paper snowflake-maker extraordinaire. Selena is in the middle with her perfect snowflake and that's me (Kat) on the far right with my square-ish one.

Below is Melissa hanging them on our front window. Yay! Up next, more Christmas displays!

Another Fun Class

2011-11-19T15:57:00.000-08:00

Today was a basic cold process class at Otion and it was such a pleasure to teach these fast learners. Everyone made four bars of soap from scratch with colors, fragrances and additives of their choice. Take a look at our day in pictures:

Thanks for coming everyone! Your soap turned out great and I hope you have a fun holiday season sharing your new craft. ~Kat

Super Easy Christmas Swirl Soap

2011-11-11T14:02:00.000-08:00

This project took about ten minutes to make ten bars of peppermint swirl soap. Talk about quick and easy Christmas gifts! Of course, there is a little wait time for the loaf to harden in the freezer (45 minutes to an hour), but that gives you time to work on labels or start another body product project (lip balm is also really fun and easy).

What You Need:
1 pound Honey melt-and-pour soap base
1 pound Goat Milk melt-and-pour base
Red LabColor
Red glitter
Green Chrome Oxide
Loaf Mold
Peppermint 2nd Distillation
Rubbing alcohol in spritzer bottle

Cut your soap into cubes and divide the Honey base into two parts (one part will be green, one part will be red with glitter). Melt down the bases and scent with 2 ml Peppermint oil to one pound of base. Add two mini scoops of green chrome oxide to one part of the honey base, and a couple drops of red LabColor and two mini scoops of glitter to the other part of the honey base. Stir well and then alternate pouring the colors and white until the mold is full. Spray rubbing alcohol to get rid of surface bubbles and in between pours so everything sticks together.

Let it harden in the freezer for about 45 minutes to an hour and then cut with a sharp knife or crinkle cutter. You can repeat this method with different types of soap base and different colors and fragrance. The possibilities are endless and each bar is unique.

* Hint * Come in and do this at our walk-in Soap Bar. We have all the supplies, the mess isn't in your kitchen, and it saves you $$

New! Pinot Grigio Fragrance Oil

2011-11-11T11:21:00.001-08:00

I love this new fall scent! Pinot Grigio is a perfect blend of floral and fruit. Plus, it isn't overpowering like most wine scents I've smelled. I paired it with our new(ish) Bubble Tray Mold to create these fun party soap bars using the melt-and-pour Shaving base for extra rich lather. The front is detailed by using a dropper and the back is swirled. Add liquid white to make the soap appear more opaque.

Fun Class Soap

2011-10-31T11:37:00.000-07:00

Kat taught a private melt-and-pour and cold process class about a week ago and made lots of fun projects. First up is a five-pound Oatmeal, Milk and Honey cold process swirl loaf with scrubby oats on top.

Then our new 2.5 pound silicone loaf mold was used for another cold process batch, this time split into three colorful layers with a swirl on top. I can't say enough great things about this mold! The walls are reinforced so it doesn't bow out when filled, the sides are perfectly smooth, the soap comes right out because it's flexible, you don't have to line it, and it's affordable. Love it!

After making soap from scratch using lye, they jumped into the pre-made base projects using melt-and-pour soap. You can easily create detailed, themed bars like the Halloween soap or a luxurious massage bar. Embeds, layering, and swirling were all covered and the soap came out great!

Advanced Swirling Class

2011-10-26T12:13:00.000-07:00

On Saturday, Kat taught advanced swirling to a great group of experienced cold process soapmakers. We even had a little doughnut party while the lye cooled! Both in-the-pot and linear swirling techniques were demonstrated after Kat went over everything from colorants and fragrance choice to supplies and tips.

We made a five pound in-the-pot loaf with Energy fragrance oil and five colors including neutral. Students helped out with preparing the batch and breaking down colorants.

Since it's about that time to start cold process Christmas soap, we made a four-pound linear swirl using Christmas Tree Cybilla fragrance oil. This scent is amazing in cold process. It doesn't accelerate or discolor and the scent stays very strong.

Thank you to everyone who came to class and made it an extra fun soaping session! The next advanced cold process class with Kat is on Saturday November 12. Hope to see you there.

Spoooky Soap!

2011-10-19T15:34:00.000-07:00

Halloween is quickly approaching and we're having a blast making lots of scary soap. Need some ideas for your product line or party? Check out my favorite molds here, and some of Anne-Marie's past Halloween projects here. I love the realistic eyeball soap! You can make your own detailed silicone soap mold using Flexy Fast Molding Putty to create incredible pumpkin soap like these:

Definitely make use of our Toxic Waste Yellow colorant. It practically glows and makes a killer background for black cats and bats.

Ask and You Shall Receive!

2011-10-08T17:10:00.000-07:00

I'm SO excited to reveal our brand new "Self-Serve Pump Station" at Otion!
With six different items to choose from, including Liquid Concentrate Soap, Goatsmilk Liquid Soap, Castile Liquid Soap, Lotion Base, Beeswax Lotion Base, and Shampoo Base. Pay for the product by the ounce and fill your choice of 2 oz, 4 oz or 8 oz plastic bottles. Bring your own bottle to avoid paying for packaging. Personalize each product by adding scent and your gift giving tasks just got a whole lot easier this year!

Need labels? We've got you covered there, too. Bramble Berry has a free Shampoo, Conditioner and Lotion Label Template (downloadable PDF)

Plus, we have a great video on how to make shampoo and conditioner (also free!)

How to Make Shampoo and Conditioner from Soap Queen on Vimeo.

Best Halloween Soap Molds!

2011-10-06T12:20:00.000-07:00

October is my favorite month and I can't wait to make lots of Halloween themed projects and fun party favors. Plus, melt-and-pour soapmaking is easy enough to do in the kitchen, so if you're planning a Halloween party and need a new activity for the kids, why not make some ghoulish glycerin bars? Get ready for Halloween with these spooky soap molds.

Pirates Soap Mold

Halloween Trio Mold

Halloween Mold

Guest Mini Halloween Pumpkins

Guest Mini Ghosts Mold

Skull Flexible Mold

Autumnal Deer Bar Soap

2011-09-29T11:25:00.000-07:00

These handsome deer bars are great for the season, and they're scented with my favorite fall fragrance: Vanilla Oak. The scent is popular with both men and women and has notes of Light Camphor, Italian Bergamot, Cassia Root to provide flighty top notes, with strong middle and base notes of Sweet Heliotrope, Soft Amber, Warm Oak, Sandalwood, Patchouli and Creamy Vanilla.

Supplies:
Cappuccino Mica
Light gold mica
Green chrome oxide
Clear melt-and-pour base (1 pound yields three deer bars)
White Tailed Deer Flexible Mold
Vanilla Oak Fragrance Oil
Vanilla Color Stabilizer Use one tablespoon per pound of M&P soap.
Rubbing alcohol
Dropper
Clean Up Tool

Melt 1 pound of soap base and add 4 ml Vanilla Oak fragrance oil and one tablespoon Vanilla Color Stabilizer. Separate a small amount (about 1/4 cup) and color with Cappuccino Mica. Use a dropper to squeeze brown soap into the deer section. Use the clean up tool for areas that may have spilled over, particularly around the antlers.

Color 1 cup of soap with light gold mica. Remember, the soap base already has scent and VCS in it. You will have to keep melting it down as you work. Spray the hardened deer layer with rubbing alcohol and pour a layer of light gold soap over the deer detail. Tip: Putting a white or light colored layer behind the dark deer will create contrast and pop out the color in the deer. Don't pour dark behind dark or you won't see the detail.

For the final layer, color the rest of the soap base with one scoop light gold mica and one scoop chrome green oxide. Spray the light gold layer before you pour the green so the layers stick together, and make sure the layer you are pouring onto is hard.

Let harden and you're done! You can use other types of clear bases for different benefits, like Aloe Vera, Honey, or Shaving base for example. The Vanilla Color Stabilizer will keep the soap from going brown from the Vanilla Oak fragrance oil.

Patchouli Cranberry Luxury Bars

2011-09-23T13:15:00.000-07:00

This is my favorite cold process recipe! I found it on From Nature With Love a while back when a customer requested a mild facial bar for acne prone skin. I tried out a bar for myself and it was a real treat for my skin, and the customer had great results as well. Now, I've decided to use the recipe again but with a few twists.

Recipe: Yields 2.75 pounds

6 oz distilled water
6 oz aloe vera liquid
2 oz castor oil
4 oz cocoa butter
4 oz coconut oil
12 oz olive oil
5 oz palm oil
5 oz palm kernal flakes
4.4 oz lye
1.5 oz Patchouli E.O.
0.5 oz cranberry seeds
1 teaspoon bamboo powder
Up to 1/4 teaspoon burgundy pigment

Make your lye solution, weigh out your melted oils and combine both when temperatures are at around 100 degrees F. Add the Patchouli to the entire batch at this point.

Separate about half of the batch into a smaller container for the bottom layer. Add cranberry seeds and bamboo powder for natural scrubbing power. Pour this layer at a very thick trace.

In another small container, separate out 1/4 of the rest of the batch. Add burgundy pigment and 0.5 oz Cranberry Fig fragrance oil if you want to try a fun scent blend. Pour this layer at a medium to thick trace.

Pour the rest of the uncolored soap on last. I swirled a little bit of pink on the surface by mixing together the scrapings from my burgundy layer with the scrapings of the neutral soap. It looks great and reduced waste! As the top layer sets up, use a whisk to sculpt peaks. The cuts bars are beautiful with a stamp and the soap is mild, healing and oh so luxurious.

(Doesn't the color scheme remind you of Christmas? It's not too early to start those holiday cold process projects!)

Honey and Milk Bee Bars

2011-09-21T14:16:00.000-07:00

This fun melt-and-pour project is easy enough for beginners and hardly takes any time at all. You wouldn't know it by the highly detailed results! As the seasons change and the temperatures drop, I'm in the mood for comfort soap. Honey and goat milk are both super nourishing and moisturizing, and our best selling Oatmeal, Milk and Honey fragrance is sweet, warm, and toasty.

Supplies:
Beehive Tray Mold
One Bee Tray Mold
2 Pounds Honey Melt-and-Pour Base
1 Pound Goat Milk Melt-and-Pour Base
Oatmeal, Milk and Honey Fragrance Oil
Yellow Mica
Copper Sparkle Mica
Large knife
Rubbing alcohol
Dropper

Start by melting the goat milk soap base. Add 4 ml of scent per pound of soap. Use your dropper to fill the bee details on both trays. Set it aside to harden.

Melt one pound of honey base, add 4 ml scent, two mini scoops of yellow and two mini scoops of copper sparkle mica. Mix well, spray white details with rubbing alcohol and pour the honey soap over both trays.

Let harden, spray rubbing alcohol and pour another layer of goat milk soap. Melt the other pound of honey base and color with just the copper sparkle (2-4 mini scoops). Finish both trays with this copper/honey layer and let harden. Spraying rubbing alcohol ensures that your layers stick together.

Remove soap from tray molds and cut with kitchen knife. The One Bee mold has score marks to follow, and the other tray is one big piece that requires measuring or just eye-balling it. I love how easy it is to make multiple bars at once with tray molds. They came out bee-autiful!

Private Class Swirled Soap

2011-09-09T15:02:00.000-07:00

Hey everyone, Kat here! Check out these fun, colorful bars made in a private class with Elaine. We covered the basics of making soap from scratch and then jumped right into some fancy swirl techniques. We had SO much fun and she was a total pro! I really enjoyed her enthusiasm for color and design.

If you would like to take a private class, please call us at (360) 676-1030 or sign up for one of our group classes online.

Felted Soap Bars

2011-09-07T15:30:00.000-07:00

I LOVE felted soap! I love the way it feels, the way it looks and of course the huge lather. The idea of it does make me laugh a little because it's almost as if we crafters just don't know when to stop. We've already made the soap, but we have to cover it with more handmade goodness! Trust me, once you make one felted bar, you'll have to make more because it's just so much fun. Here's how:

1. First, gather materials: a bar of soap, carded wool, a towel and a dish of hot water.

2. Wrap wool around the bar of soap both length-wise and width-wise, so all surfaces are covered. Include additional bands of colored wool for decoration.

3. Wet the bar by dribbling hot water on it. Do not dunk soap or the wool will slide off. Make sure wool is wet all the way through and begin to squeeze the bar periodically. The bar will start to lather up at this point. Gently rub the bar in your hands to bind the fibers.

4. When the wool is snug, run it under cold water to shock and tighten the wool, then rinse out the bubbles. Squeeze out excess water and pat dry with towel. Now you're ready to start another! Enjoy :-)

Sugared Lime Foam Bars

2011-08-25T17:11:00.000-07:00

This easy guest soap project is a combination of zesty lime essential oil with shaving melt-and-pour soap base, foaming bath whip, and white sugar. They lather like a dream and are super refreshing!

Gather Your Supplies:
1 pound shaving melt-and-pour soap base
1/2 cup foaming bath whip
4 ml lime essential oil
1 cup white sugar
2 drops lime LabColor
Rubber ice-cube tray mold of your choice

Begin by melting the entire one-pound shaving base in 1 minute intervals in the microwave. The shaving base adds to the finished bars' luxurious lather. Add two drops of lime LabColor, 4 ml lime essential oil, and cup of sugar. Stir thoroughly.

In a separate dish, combine equal parts foaming bath whip and melt-and-pour mixture (about 1/2 cup each). Whip with a spoon until texture is thick.

Pour remaining scented/colored soap base in tray mold and let harden (which doesn't take long thanks the the sugar). Top with foaming whip mixture.

Pop these in the freezer for 15 minutes, un-mold, and enjoy the lathery lime goodness and gentle sugar scrub!

In-the-Pot Swirling Explained

2011-08-23T09:33:00.001-07:00

I had a question on the last post asking what exactly "in-the-pot" swirling means. The best way I can answer that is with pictures, so here we go!

Step 1: Separate batch at a light trace into smaller containers for color, leaving about half or more in the pot uncolored.

Step 2: Pour the colored soap back into the pot from high above until the colors pop up on the surface. Pour colors at 12 o'clock and 6 o'clock, 3 o'clock and 9 o'clock.

Step 3: Make one pass through the colors with a rubber spatula to start the swirl.

Step 4: Pour the soap steadily from one end of your log/loaf mold and gradually move the bowl to the other end as you pour. You can make an "S" pattern with the rubber spatula through the poured soap at this point, but try not to swirl it by hand too much or you will get one blended color. Gravity and the actual pour creates the swirl in this technique!

Ylang Ylang Love

2011-08-17T14:23:00.000-07:00

Hi everyone, it's Kat! Yesterday I had the pleasure of teaching a one-hour private class on in-the-pot swirling and made this fun 3 pound loaf. The colors are yellow mica, cellini red mica, activated charcoal and ultramarine violet. We wanted to stick with all-natural scents and came up with an exotic essential oil blend of Ylang Ylang, Grapefruit and Orange Valencia. The results are fantastic! I could see these colors working beautifully with a Patchouli (or patchouli blend) soap. Love it!

Treat Your Feet

2011-08-11T15:17:00.000-07:00

When it's time to unwind and relax at the end of a long day, don't forget about your feet. Complete health, comfort and balance goes from head to toe, and pampering yourself with a personal pedicure is one easy way to get treat yourself.

Find some quiet, undisturbed time and create a soothing foot bath. In a bucket or small tub, add enough hot water to cover your ankles (or cold water if you need to take down swelling). Add a few drops of Tea Tree essential oil as a disinfectant (Tea Tree works wonders to beat foot fungus). You can also add a couple drops of Peppermint essential oil for a cool, clean feeling. Soak from five to 15 minutes and pat your feet dry with a warm cloth.

Using Aloe Vera gel, message your feet and lower legs, gently pull your toes and practice simple foot stretches. Point your toes to the ground, then your heels to the ground, and rotate your feet in a circular motion. Take this opportunity to inspect your feet and carefully remove calluses with a stone or rasp. Trim your nails and file them smooth.

Slough off dead skin with a lavender salt scrub. In a small bowl or cup, combine two tablespoons of sea salt (there are many different types of salt available, so your choice!), two tablespoons carrier oil (avocado, sweet almond, apricot kernel, olive oil, etc.), and five to 10 drops lavender essential oil. Lavender has antiseptic properties and is very calming, perfect for the end of the day. Rinse your legs and feet with cool water to lower your temperature. Dry off and then moisturize with your favorite cream or lotion.

Stephanie Tourles provides great professional tips to keep your feet in great shape in her book, "Natural Foot Care."
-Use a good sloughing lotion two to three times per week to dry, flaky skin at bay.
-Smooth your calluses with a good foot file or rasp one to two times per week.
-Inspect toenails once a week and trim and shape as necessary.
-Have a professional pedicure once a month if possible
-Walk, walk, walk, walk...

Bug-Free Summer Fun

2011-08-05T14:06:00.000-07:00

What's missing from this picture? Bugs! And that's a good thing. Nobody wants skeeters to ruin a great camping trip, and we have a super easy natural bug spray recipe that works like a charm.

1. Add .25 ounces (or 1/4th of a 1oz bottle) of Bug-Be-Gone Synergy Blend to a 2oz aluminum spritzer.
2. Add some witch hazel and distilled water until full
3. Spritz away the bugs!

You can also fragrance lotion bars with Bug-Be-Gone so your skin is not only moisturized, but bug-free!

My favorite lotion bar recipe:

5 oz. Beeswax
8 oz. Sweet Almond Oil
4 oz. Mango or Shea Butter
2 oz. Cocoa Butter
About .25 oz Bug-Be-Gone Blend

Enjoy this wonderful weather while it lasts!

New at Otion!

2011-08-04T17:10:00.001-07:00

Himalayan Pink Salt, Coarse
Green Zeolite Clay
Sea Clay
Garden Seeds Soap Mold
Gone Fishing Soap Mold
Gnome Soap Mold

Let's Talk About Color

2011-08-03T15:27:00.000-07:00

What are the benefits of coloring your soap?

Whether you have a successful soap business or hand out bars as gifts, understanding color use will give your product that extra WOW factor. Also, soap is all about our senses. We love handmade soap because it feels great on our skin, it smells divine, and it looks amazing. You can match color to the fragrance for an even stronger sensory association.

You can make detailed swirls:

Or keep it simple with layers:

I want to color my soap, but where do I start?

There are many forms of soap colorants available, from synthetic liquid and dry pigments to all-natural clays and herbs. If you are using a dry pigment, such as a clumpy oxide or ultramarine, you will need to break it down in a little oil or liquid glycerin before incorporating it into your soap.

When you reach a light trace, hand stir the color into the soap batter. Avoid using your stick blender too much because it will rapidly thicken the soap, and a nice thin consistency is ideal. I like to add color before fragrance, just in case the fragrance acts up and speeds/thickens trace. Most super-floral synthetic scents accelerate.

How do I know what colors to use?

Color choice is based on your personal aesthetic. You may want your bars to be energetic and vibrant (neon pigments with a busy design), or soft and simple (natural, earthy infused colors with little to no pattern). Generally, start with a basic color wheel and pick colors opposite each other. These will be far more interesting than colors that are side-by-side and will pop out the pattern if you swirl. Take a second to write down colors that scare you. Brown and orange are good examples. Now, use them in your soap! You'll be surprised at how great they look. Unpredictable colors and designs are guaranteed to stand out above the rest. It just takes a little confidence and creativity to step out of the box with color.

I can't get my pattern all the way through my soap. It just sits on top. What am I doing wrong?

You are (a) not using a rubber spatula and/or (b) you are only pouring colors close to the surface of the soap (and possibly your soap is too thick). Pour lines of color from high above to get it all the way through the base color, then pour lines close when the mold is just about full. The closer you pour, the more the lines show up on the surface. Now for the real trick, pull your colors through with a rubber spatula. You should feel it touching the bottom of the mold as you swirl.

Happy Birthday, With Soap!

2011-07-29T16:21:00.000-07:00

We had SO much fun this afternoon with some soaperstars celebrating their friend's 11th birthday at Otion (birthday girl in the center!). While the bars hardened in the freezer, they had time for cake and presents. These are their favorite soaps they made, and later we cut into the glittery party loaf. Mom was super excited to not have any mess at her house, and it was our pleasure hosting such a well-behaved group. Thanks for coming and Happy Birthday!!

Coffee Break

2011-07-28T17:03:00.000-07:00

I think most female Pacific Northwest residents will agree with me when I say we love coffee, but we love coffee and chocolate even more. I happen to love it in soap, and so should you! (This is Kat posting by the way, in case you might have had a moment of confusion over Soap King).

We carry a fragrance called Chocolate Espresso, which I admit makes me want to eat a bar of soap scented with it, or drink it straight out of the bottle (don't do that). Thank goodness I haven't gone that far. I made some lovely soap with it today, and I think bathing with it is even better yet.

I started with some white melt-and-pour base and added fragrance and ground coffee beans. This is the soap for my embeds, which you can do any design you want. I made stars.

For the background, I used a clear base colored with cappuccino mica.

Pour a layer of brown and let it set up a bit to hold the embed. Spray both the embed and the layer with rubbing alcohol so everything sticks together nicely. Then fill in the rest with more brown.

Pop them out and try not to take a bite. Enjoy!

Glitter, Neons and Swirling, Oh My!

2011-07-27T16:35:00.000-07:00

This afternoon we had a special guest Bramble Berry shopper who is in town visiting from Wisconsin. While her husband went golfing (thanks to course tips from Erik), Susie stayed with me and made soap! She loves cold process and fully took advantage of our huge fragrance selection. Bramble Berry shoppers LOVE coming into Otion because they can sniff as much as their noses can take. All those curiosities (like Ginger Fish... what the heck? It's actually amazing) are resolved.

We made a fun swirly melt-and-pour loaf at the Soap Bar using two pounds of Aloe MP and one pound of Goat Milk MP. She ingeniously blended Spellbound Woods and Lavender Chamomile Huggies Type for this batch, and of course we used glittery stars.

The final result is spectacular! I see a sunset over the beach in these bars. Talk about a great vacation!

Blissful Bath Salts

2011-07-22T16:43:00.000-07:00

I'm not exaggerating when I say bath salts and scrubs are the easiest bath product you can make (besides just pouring oil on yourself). In about fifteen minutes, I had three different scrubs with three different healing purposes: Energize, Refresh, and Sleepy Time.

In each scrub I used about 8 ounces of fine dead sea salt, one teaspoon additive (lavender buds, orange peel powder, shredded loofah), two tablespoons of liquid glycerin, and up to 2 ml essential oil blend for a heavy scent.

In my refresher scrub, I used lavender buds as colorful interest and fresh scent, and a blend of peppermint and lavender essential oils. This scrub feels amazing on tired feet and the essential oils have great antiseptic and cleansing properties.

In my Energize scrub, I used orange peel powder and a blend of Orange Valencia and Grapefruit essential oils. Citrus blends are known for their "wake-up!" qualities. This is my favorite combination and smells incredibly juicy and delicious.

In my Sleepy Time scrub, I used shredded blue loofah, Eucalyptus essential oil, and the Sleepy Time essential oil blend. The main fragrance components of this blend are Ylang Ylang, which relaxes and brings feelings of joy, Tangerine, which alleviates stress and anxiety, orange, which refreshes, and lavender, which is soothing and calming, and I added the Eucalyptus to soothe any aching muscles before bed time.

Packaging scrubs is as simple as making them. Use a clear plastic bag and tie off with a delicate ribbon or some rustic twine. They make fantastic customized gifts, but make sure to save some for yourself!

Private Class Soap Gallery

2011-07-20T13:52:00.000-07:00

Take a break from your busy work day to rest your eyes on some artsy soap creations made in private classes with Kat this month.

Peggy's projects: First up is a Jelly Roll embed melt-and-pour project scented with the popular Summer Melon Spritzer. We also made a three color swirl (plus neutral) in cold process using lemongrass essential oil. We talked a lot about color and design and how to customize recipes.

Kellie's creations: This advanced cold process class was also a blast! We made soap for four hours and did three different swirl projects. Below is an advanced linear swirl in CP with Eucalyptus essential oil. We colored the majority of the batch with a light blue/green sage color and poured white and black lines into it.

We also made a bright neon in-the-pot swirl with Energy fragrance, just like the soap from this year's Soaping Intensive Weekend demo.

Last but not least, we made a swirled layer loaf with a charcoal vein. Each layer is neutral swirled with color (cappuccino mica on top, merlot and coral mica blend on bottom), paired with Black Raspberry Vanilla fragrance oil. Yum!!

Soapy Displays at Otion

2011-07-14T16:10:00.000-07:00

My Favorite Summer Scent

2011-07-08T17:19:00.000-07:00

Beat the summer heat with a refreshing watermelon slice... of soap! We can't get enough of this popular fragrance oil in these cute melt-and-pour loaf bars. Anne-Marie did a fun tutorial on watermelon soap here using the half round mold.
If you need ideas for summer craft fairs or farmer markets, make a whole watermelon product line! Lip balm is so easy with our pre-made base. Just melt and add 12 ml watermelon flavor oil per pound of base and color with Cellini Red lip safe mica, then pour into tubes or pots. Add the fragrance oil to bath salts tinted with red mica, or make aromatic soy candles using the watermelon candle scent.

What's your favorite summertime fragrance?

Advanced Cold Process Class this Sunday!

2011-07-06T17:24:00.000-07:00

For those who are already familiar with basic cold process soap making techniques and are ready to kick it up a notch, we are offering this Advanced Cold Process class to explore more soaping techniques including "in-the-pot" and linear swirling. You will learn to work with micas, oxides, natural colorants, and fragrances to create swirls, blind swirls, and layers. Discover how to turn soap trimmings and botched soap projects into pieces that are pleasing and fascinating! This advanced class is 3 hours long and you will take home 2-4 beautiful bars of soap. Call (360) 676-1030 to sign up now!

Summer Melon Spritzer Jelly Roll Soap

2011-07-02T13:30:00.000-07:00

Looking for that edgy, eye-catching soap to add to your summer product line? Anne-Marie's jelly roll embed soaps are always a huge hit at Otion. I followed the Soap Queen T.V. video below but changed the colors and fragrance for a bright, summer melon fresh look. You can customize all sorts of projects by picking from the endless color and scent options out there. This is a really fun project that is sure to get a great "how did you do that?" response!

How to Make Embedded Jelly Roll Soap from Soap Queen on Vimeo.

Frefreshing Citrus Bath Bombs

2011-07-02T12:34:00.000-07:00

Summer is here and all the poor sun-starved Washingtonians are outside savoring every minute of gorgeous weather. At the end of a long day kayaking, rock climbing, boating, hiking, biking, or ice-cream eating, a skin soothing citrus bath is the best way to wind down. Let's make bath bombs!

First, mix 1 part citric acid to 2 parts baking soda until all the clumps are out. Separate the batch in two to make different colors. I used yellow mica and coral mica. Scent with your favorite citrus fragrance to the strength you prefer. Try grapefruit, tangerine, orange, lemon, or a blend.

When all the lumps are out, start spritzing with witch hazel as you mix by hand. Not too much witch hazel or you will get a soggy mess.

This is the consistency we are looking for. As soon as the batch holds its shape in a squeezed handful, it's ready to be compacted in the mold.

Get your weight into it and push the mixture hard into the mold. The harder you compact it in, the firmer and longer lasting the bath bomb.

Hold a piece of cardboard on top of the mold and flip them over to get the fizzies out. Let them sit and harden on the counter (try not to touch them when they're fresh!). Drop them in the tub, relax and enjoy that citrus goodness.

Star Spangled Soap

2011-06-29T12:04:00.000-07:00

I'm ready to celebrate Independence Day the soapy way. These awesome melt-and-pour American flag bars are perfect handouts for your friends and family this coming Monday. Everything you need to make your own patriotic party favors is in one easy kit.

Tip! If you prefer to use dry pigments and can't find a true red, try mixing equal parts brick red oxide and cellini red mica. The results are in the photo above. Have fun!

Column Swirl Results!

2011-06-23T15:43:00.001-07:00

Kat's Column Swirl Attempt #1

2011-06-22T15:36:00.000-07:00

If you make cold process soap, you've probably already heard about the column swirl craze going on right now. Well, I am addicted to swirling and had to try it! I used activated charcoal for my black, yellow mica, hydrated green chrome oxide and Cellini blue (which should morph to a nice violet by tomorrow). My fragrance choice is a refreshing combination of lavender, lime and peppermint.

Notice my "column" is a rectangular box I found (thinking, heck, my mold is rectangular, this will work!). Next time I'll try something square to see the difference.

Is it just me, or is there a creature staring back at me in the pour below?

Pulling the colors through with a reed (and giggling with excitement).

I always tell my students in swirl classes to know when to stop manipulating the swirl or you get mud. I pretty much threw my own advice out the window at this point because I was so excited. I love the psychedelic spider web look and cannot wait to cuts bars tomorrow!! Keep an eye out for the finished product.

Learn Cold Process

2011-06-17T10:43:00.000-07:00

The next basic cold process class with Kat is on Sunday June 26th at 2pm, $37.50. Reserve your spot here or call (360) 676-1030. There are currently five spots open!

Father's Day Man Soap from Etsy

2011-06-15T15:13:00.000-07:00

Need some ideas for Father's Day? It's coming up on Sunday! Here are some of my favorite soapy Etsy finds that Dad will love:

Dope on a Rope Soap's Three Trout Soaps on a Rope:

Plunksoap's Stud Muffin Bar:

Soap For Your Soul's Man Soap Collection:

Sweet Soap Treat's Egg and Bacon Soap:

Sacred Suds' Custom Father's Day Gift Set:

The Beer Soap Company's Oslo Cold Process Bar

Don't Miss Out!

2011-06-08T10:21:00.000-07:00

Jill Heuser, lotion instructor at Soap Weekend Intensive and founder of Northwest Scents in Bellingham, will be doing another lotion class on Friday, June 24th at Otion, just in case you weren't able to make it to this year's packed Intensive Weekend event (starting this Friday!). Learn how to design your own luscious lotion recipe, the regulations surrounding labeling, and all about preservatives! The class includes all handouts and materials for you to make two 8 oz bottles of lotion to take home. Sign up online or give us a call at (360) 676-1030.

Mother Earth News Fair

2011-06-06T11:35:00.000-07:00

Hi everyone! Did you have a good weekend in the sun? I sure did. It was over 80 degrees in Puyallup at the Mother Earth News Fair on Saturday where I taught two cold process soap classes. There were tons of vendors, workshops, demonstrations, and even a tent full of farm animals. I loved watching a man with a team of Belgian horses pull a huge log around the arena with ease. Unfortunately, I missed out on the cheese-making classes because they were going on as I was setting up and while I was teaching. It's still on my list of things to learn! Notice in my interview above by Gina from Mother Earth News, there is an electric car passing in the background. There were so many wonderful natural alternatives for everything from your broomstick to the vehicle you drive.

I had a great time teaching and could have talked for hours on the subject. We were given 45 minute time slots, so I packed in as much as I could, including a soapmaking demonstration using Star Anise and Lavender Essential oils, with activated charcoal as my black pigment. Charcoal is a very smart choice for coloring your soap naturally, as it is a renewable resource and it doesn't lather black like other pigments. I was very pleased to see that all of our information packets were taken and the seats were packed for both sessions.

Here's a look at some of the finished bars from the demonstrations. The charcoal is gorgeous swirled in with the uncolored neutral soap. My recipe included palm, coconut, olive, sweet almond, shea butter, and palm kernel flakes. That's some happy skin!

There were some really good questions and concerns about making soap from scratch. Some worried about the expense of making soap, but keep in mind, you can make a long-lasting, luxuriously lathering bar with only three affordable oils (I do it all the time!): Palm oil, coconut oil, and canola oil. You only have to invest in a good mold once, and there are many essential oils that are as affordable as synthetics. Orange Valencia Essential oil is only about a dollar an ounce! For more pictures and information from the Mother Earth News Fair in Puyallup, click here.

Father's Day Mustache Wax

2011-06-02T14:25:00.001-07:00

It's true, not all dads sport unruly facial hair. Still, this is a super easy project for Father's Day if the man in your life needs to tame those wild eyebrows or stylishly shape his cookie duster.

Father's Day 'Stache Wax Basic Recipe:

1/4 oz Castor Oil
1/2 oz Beeswax (white or yellow)
1 Stackable Clear Lip Pot (3 pots in one)
Add about ten drops of dad's favorite fragrance or essential oil to make it extra special. Or, split this little batch into three 1/4 oz sections and scent each one differently to customize each lip pot. Here are some great masculine scents. Warn dad not to eat the wax off his 'stache, or just put lip balm flavoring instead if that's a concern.

Process:

Melt the wax in a double boiler and slowly add the Castor oil and fragrance. Keep mixture warm-- beeswax cools fast, particularly in such a small quantity. Pour into lip pots and cleverly label.

That's it! Soooo easy and definitely a unique handmade gift.

Swirling on Sunday

2011-06-01T16:03:00.000-07:00

Hi everyone! I hope you had a great extended weekend. I taught an advanced swirling class on Sunday as a refresher for Sharon, a participant from last year's Soap Weekend Intensive. She is an experienced cold process soapmaker and loves taking classes and learning more about the craft. We made two batches to show two methods of swirling-- in-the-pot and linear, which was just taught in Miami at the Soap Guild Conference earlier a few weeks ago.

Using burgundy, yellow and black oxides and Star Anise essential oil, we made this great linear swirl in the 18 bar Birch mold. Sharon typically shies away from using yellow... so we used yellow. I like to encourage students to try colors outside of their comfort zone. You just might surprise yourself by stepping outside the box. These colors worked so well together and the yellow actually made this bar work. It added the perfect pop of brightness.

For our in-the-pot swirl, we used her favorite scent, lavender, and paired it with ultramarine blue and violet pigments to go with the theme of the scent. This swirling technique is very gratifying because the swirl pattern is formed by the actual pour-- you really do very little to manipulate a design. Plus, waiting to cut into that loaf is, for me, equivalent to Christmas Eve giddiness.

We had a lot of fun and I always enjoy helping Sharon out with her projects. She is a great melt-and-pour soaper as well. The best part is that she generously gives her soap out to family and friends as gifts with no interest in making money off of them. Soaps from Sharon just got a bit fancier. Thanks for the enjoyable afternoon.

~Kat

Ducks in a Row

2011-05-27T15:10:00.000-07:00

If you have kids that need a little encouragement when it comes to washing, this bar might just do the trick. What's not to love? Those ducks are too cute.

Here's what you need:

Clear melt-and-pour soap base
Rubber ducks
Cellini Blue Mica
Opalescent Green Mica
Vintage Gray Mica
12 Bar Silicone Mold (love this!!)
Glitter is optional
Rubbing alcohol
Knife
Fragrance of your choice. I used Fresh Bamboo.

To begin, melt about a cup of clear base and color with cellini blue mica. Pour a thin layer of soap in five or six squares. Melt a quarter of a cup of base and color with vintage gray. Pour a thin layer in two or three other squares. Slice these into strips when hardened.

Melt about 2 cups of clear base, add scent and teensy tiny pinch of opalescent green mica to add shimmer to the "watery" look. Pour a thin layer in six squares. Spray rubbing alcohol on both the layer and the cut soap strips and start throwing in those cut strips in with the clear/green soap. It doesn't have to be perfect, and I like have random pieces sticking out the top. The dark adds some depth and contrast, but most of the strips are blue. Keep filling with the clear/green soap until you've filled the cavity about 1/2 an inch from the top.

Now you can add the ducky! Spray its backside with rubbing alcohol so it will stick well to the wet soap. You might have to hold it in place as the soap cools and hardens, keeping ducky in place. Pour a touch more clear/green soap on the surface to really glue the duck in. Let harden, and that's it!

Another Fun Class at Otion

2011-05-25T14:58:00.000-07:00

On May 15th, we had a small group in to learn how to make soap from scratch with Kat. We made two batches of soap and everyone made four bars each, customized with scent and color of their choice. A few people used fun additives like lavender buds and various types of seeds for exfloliant. Check out some of these great color combinations:

Thanks for a fun class ladies! Your friends and family are going to love your new craft :-)

Thank You!

2011-05-21T08:31:00.000-07:00

I have checked out of my room at the downtown Miami Hilton and I'm now killing some time in the warm weather before heading out to the airport later today. As a first-time attendee and speaker at a Soap Guild Conference, I can truly say it was a flawless, successful event thanks to the amazing team behind it. Congratulations! I would like to say a special 'thank you!' to Feleciai Favroth and Robin Schmidt for all their hard work in coordinating everything. It has been so easy to arrange all the little details with both of you, and your positive and proactive attitudes have made this event even more of a pleasure to be a part of. It has been a memorable experience and I am looking forward to next year's conference in Portland, Oregon! Thanks a million.

Soap Guild Conference 2011

2011-05-19T11:05:00.001-07:00

Hello from Miami! We taught two classes on advanced swirling in cold process yesterday and have had such a blast meeting so many amazingly talented soap makers from literally all over the world. There are tons of vendors this year, amazing prizes, and the food is delish.

One of my favorite parts of the conference is the Soaper's Showcase featuring multiple categories including best scent and best appearance in both melt-and-pour and cold process. There are some fantastic submissions! There is a hand-knit cupcake in the packaging category that Anne-Marie would love :-)

Coming from Washington State, I don't think we have gotten used to such dreamy weather. Each time I leave the air conditioned hotel, I'm hit with 80 degree heat and realize, oh yes, I'm in Florida!

Of course, there was some colorful clean up duty afterwards.

Geometric Soap Project

2011-05-13T15:37:00.000-07:00

This bright, fun soap is built up in layers and embeds. There is no end of color combos, shapes and design possibilities with this project, so go for it and have fun!
To make this soap, start with a yellow layer on the bottom of your loaf mold. I used yellow mica in a clear base for the most vibrant color. Let it harden, spray really well with rubbing alcohol and pour a thin layer of opaque base on top and let that harden.
I went ahead and made some basic shaped layered bars for some color, then cut them in pieces to embed. Line them up however you like in the mold, but keep in mind you are cutting cross sections. Spray rubbing alcohol on everything! The embeds and the hardened soap in the mold need to be sprayed so they all stick together.

I finished up by double-pouring the rest of my opaque base on the top, split into two colors. Double-pouring is just pouring two colors side by side at the same time. It helps to have fairly cool soap at this stage so they don't bleed into each other too much. Spray the surface and let it harden. Then the fun part: cutting into bars and revealing your soapy masterpiece!

Pamper Mom this Year

2011-05-06T14:11:00.000-07:00

Mother's Day is this weekend! Running low on time? We can help you put together a collection of luxurious body products Mom is sure to love. Here are a few ideas:

Salt scrubs take only minutes to prepare-- just mix oil and fragrance with your choice of salt.

Grab a few handmade bars of natural soap made from scratch at our store, or some lotion made locally by Jill of Northwest Scents.

We have a huge selection of fragrance and essential oils that have a variety of uses. Put a few drops in some water in a spritzer bottle for a refreshing room or body spray. Peppermint feels great on feet!

Lip balm couldn't be easier with our pre-made base. Just melt the base, add your own flavor oil and color (optional) and pour into tubes or pots.

Make Mom some soap! We carry an abundance of vegetable oil glycerin soap bases, your choice of goats milk, shea butter, olive oil, honey, aloe, hemp, and more! Like the lip balm base, melt the soap base and add scent and color. Pour it into the mold and let in harden in the freezer for about 20 minutes.

Making products is the best! You can personalize everything based on Mom's favorite color and scent. Plus, that extra effort really shows you care. Have a wonderful weekend and Happy Mother's Day!

Soap Art Continued

2011-04-29T17:33:00.000-07:00

The best part of cutting into a loaf of soap is that every slice is a surprise. Here are a couple bars from this earlier post. Love the abstract patterns!

Soap Queen's Loofah Bars

2011-04-29T12:28:00.000-07:00

There is a new episode of Soap Queen TV and we have the scrubby bars from it at Otion! Learn how to incorporate two different types of loofah in melt-and-pour soap. We love the 12 bar silicone mold and the scent blend Anne-Marie uses in the pink and yellow bars. Absolutely perfect for Mother's Day!

Mother's Day Flower Bars

2011-04-28T15:08:00.000-07:00

This is a cute little melt-and-pour project that I'm experimenting with today using Sheer Freesia fragrance oil (new!). I used a dropper to free-hand a flower in the bottom of my oval mold and then filled the rest with opalescent green mica. The pink flower petals came out a bit faint, so I did a layer on the surface to pop out the color. The trick is to use very cool soap so that it stays in place where you put it.

Don't worry if free-hand designs aren't your thing-- roughness adds to the charm!

Soap Art?

2011-04-27T17:26:00.000-07:00

Hello everyone! This is Kat blogging from the Soap Bar. Funny thing happened this afternoon while making another colorful cold process loaf. My soap started accelerating slightly because my temps were a bit high, which sent me frantically dripping and layering colors until the mold was full. I pulled the colors through with a skewer on the top and came out with something fairly abstract. There was a rush of carefree madness to the whole messy process, which felt a lot more like making a painting than making soap. I think the line between craft and art is a fine one.

Certainly not a masterpiece like Jackson Pollock's famous large scale painting, Mural, from 1943. But I had a darn good time pretending!

Make Your Own Luscious Lip Balm

2011-04-21T16:23:00.001-07:00

Making lip balm is almost too easy! I made 48 strawberry lip balms from 8 ounces of pre-made lip balm base. The ingredients list is wonderfully natural and soothing: coconut oil, sweet almond oil, avocado oil and beeswax. I left mine uncolored, though you can use a lip safe mica or oxide for a pretty tint.

What you need:

Microwave safe Pyrex measuring cup
Lip balm base
Flavor oil
Lip balm pouring tray
Dropper
Lip balm tubes
Spoon
Knife or spatula
Scale

Step 1. Start out by weighing 8 ounces of base in your Pyrex dish and microwave for 1 minute increments until melted.

Step 2: Add flavor oil at 12ml per pound (16 oz) base. I used 6ml of flavoring for 8 ounces of base. Mix well.

Step 3. Pour into lip balm tubes that have been pushed into the pouring tray from underneath. Scrape up extra base that poured over and re-melt to fill more containers.

Step 4: Let sit and harden for about 30 minutes and then trim the tops with a knife or spatula. Cap, label and enjoy! Check out this great lip stick tutorial post for Mother's Day.

Easter Goodies

2011-04-20T15:28:00.000-07:00

Easter is coming up this weekend and SoapQueen has the perfect glittery egg soap project for your basket. Click here for the detailed tutorial on how to make these cute bars. Embed toys inside for a fun surprise!

For those of you who have visited us at our retail location, Otion, you know we are right across the street from yummy Rocket Donuts. Take a look at their doughnut of the month. They call it "The Nest." Cuuute (and delicious)!

New Fragrance at Otion!

2011-04-15T10:43:00.000-07:00

Our newest addition, Lavender Chamomile Huggies (Type), is powdery fresh and lightly floral. Back by popular demand, this fragrance is absolutely delicious in baby products. It's soft, sweet and just amazingly kissable. It starts out with top notes of Lavender, Chamomile and a bit of Orange and Eucalyptus. The blend is rounded out with Cedarwood, Musk and Hay, making it absolutely precious smelling. I paired it up with the adorable Hummingbird and Lily Heavy Duty Mold and the Low Sweat White Base.

Color Inspiration

2011-04-14T13:22:00.000-07:00

It's that time of year! Gorgeous tulips and daffodils are in bloom and the famous Skagit Valley Tulip Festival is the place to go for a country drive full of color. Make sure to bring your camera!

Ocean Rain Shell Soap

2011-04-13T13:55:00.000-07:00

This fun and easy melt-and-pour project is perfect for a beach theme bathroom. Ocean Rain is a clean, crisp scent that both men and women enjoy. It also blends really nicely with Lime. Here's what you'll need:

Clear Melt-and-Pour Base
White Melt-and-Pour Base
Cellini Blue Mica
Ultramarine Blue Pigment
Honeyed Beige Mica
Gold Sparkle Mica
Ocean Rain Fragrance Oil, 4ml per pound of soap
Guest Shells Mold

With some clear base, combine a scoop of gold sparkle and honeyed beige mica to create the shell layer. Remember to scent each layer of soap.

Use the white base and cellini blue mica for the second layer to pop out the detail of the shell. Make sure to wait for the first layer to harden and spray with rubbing alcohol before pouring a layer.

Finish the back of the bar with clear base and ultramarine blue pigment.

Let the soap harden at room temperature for a couple hours, or speed it up in the freezer for twenty minutes. These little guest bars make great gifts!

April 10th Basic Cold Process Class

2011-04-13T13:48:00.000-07:00

We had another fun CP class last Sunday with all beginners to soapmaking! Everyone made four bars of soap in class and enjoyed trying different colors and additives. Here's a look at our afternoon in pictures:

From Bellingham to Australia to Cambodia

2011-04-07T15:57:00.000-07:00

Photos above of children receiving bags with soap inside.

It may seem like a little bar of soap, but the difference it makes in the lives of those who have nothing is enormous. Thanks to our dear friend Kelly, some of the soap that we donated to aid Australia in January also made it to people living in poverty in Cambodia, specifically the Village of Aranh, 6kms from Siem Reap City. The SCC (Strengthening Cambodian Communities) Project through KidsCare is the amazing organization responsible for getting our soap to Cambodia. Please take a look at their site for more information and for ways you can help.

Got Monkey Love?

2011-03-31T16:51:00.000-07:00

We do! New arrivals at Otion include the banana-rific fragrance oil, Monkey Love, and a bunch of specialized extracts including aloe, avocado, evening primrose, mallow and green tea. Extracts are amazing in lotions, soaps and liquid soaps! Curious as to what the benefits of extracts are? Here are some examples:

Aloe Extract: Aloe is renowned for it's ability to heal, moisturize, and sooth irritated, inflamed, or sunburned skin. Our Aloe Extract is water soluble and is fantastic in soaps, lotions and shampoos. Suggested usage rate is 2 - 15%, a natural yellow color.

Evening Primrose Extract: Long known as a natural anti-inflammatory, Evening Primrose extract has traditionally been used in mature skin preparations, but also wonderful to soothe skin dryness, itchiness, and redness. A natural yellow, this extract is water soluble and can be used in handmade haircare and skincare products, including lotions and soaps. Suggested usage rate is 2 - 6%.

Carrot Extract: Carrot Extract is high in vitamins A and E and beta carotene. It is an anti-inflammatory, soothing chapped and uncomfortable skin. It is thought to bring balance to the moisture in both skin and hair as a conditioning agent. This water based extract will be beneficial in handmade hair conditioner and skincare recipes, especially for dry winter skin, aging or matured skin. Use at 5 - 10% for conditioners and 1 - 5% for skin care. Extract is yellow in color.

Mallow Extract: Mallow was cherished by the Ancient Romans for it's soothing and protecting properties to dry and sensitive skin. It is commonly used in skincare preparations to reduce inflammation. In hair care, Mallow Extract is said to hydrate and support moisture balance within the shaft of the hair. Use up to 5% of this oil based extract in your handmade skin and hair care recipes.

Risky Soaping

2011-03-30T14:13:00.000-07:00

What do you think of when I say the word, acceleration? For those who make cold process soap, this word is equivalent to doom or perhaps panic. Even though your fragrance oil may smell absolutely heavenly, it's behavior in CP may be quite the opposite. This is why you must check, check, check-- do your research first and make sure you are prepared to deal with a troublemaker scent. I try not to completely avoid using fragrances that act up; they smell too good!

Here's an example: Non-Discoloring Vanilla. Yes, it won't go brown, but read Bramble Berry's warning label: "This fragrance can be tricky in some cold process soap recipes. It may accelerate trace and/or rice so soap carefully." This means stir in your scent at the very end before pouring and try not to make any time-sensitive detailed swirls. I was feeling daring and tried a swirl to see what would happen.

The soap thickened and got very hot right away. When this happens, take a deep breath and try not too get too discouraged. Get your soap in the mold asap! Notice the bars are a bit rustic and uneven-- they almost look hot processed.

With a little trimming to even out the top, the bars and swirl actually came out great!

Spring into Soapmaking

2011-03-24T16:05:00.000-07:00

Spring means floral fragrances and beautiful bright colors! The joy of using melt-and-pour is being able to create fine detail by layering colored soap. I like to look for great springtime molds under the plants and animals section at Bramble Berry. Flowers, bees, birds, gardener bars, lavender, lilac, and daffodil molds are perfect choices. The list goes on and on! Bright colors are a must. Tip: make sure to use a white background if you want light colors to stand out.

As for fragrances, absolutely anything floral is delightful right now. If you're looking for something a little more unique, try Sweet Meyer Lemon, Tomato Leaf, Grass Stain, Sweetgrass, or Black Raspberry Vanilla.

What are your favorites? Happy Spring!

Basic Cold Process Class

2011-03-24T11:16:00.000-07:00

Saturday was another great basic cold process soap class at Otion. We had a full group of students that had never made soap before, and it was fun to see their confidence build with using sodium hydroxide. In fact, I find that most people who first read about making soap get a bit overwhelmed by the temperatures, using sodium hydroxide and lye calculators, which drives them to take a class. I am a definitely a visual learner and know that when I see something done first hand, it is way easier to try it myself.

Each person made four bars of soap and many used vibrant colors and fun scrubby additives. Now they will be able to make big loaves of soap and share with friends and family or give bars as gifts. Thanks to everyone who came!

Serious soapmakers at work mixing in color, fragrance and additives

Soaps were labeled with the date, fragrance and any other information such as color and additives. Date is most important because soap must cure for 1 month before using.

Swirl Madness!

2011-03-19T15:49:00.000-07:00

Wondering what's up with all these swirl posts? Well, I am really excited to announce that I will be teaching swirling at the Soap Guild Conference in Miami this coming May, which is why I'm swirling like mad. If you can't make it to the conference, please sign up for one of my advanced cold process swirling classes at Otion. I absolutely LOVE this technique and really enjoy having an opportunity to share it, particularly with those who already understand basic cold process soapmaking and want to add some pizazz to their bars. We do basic classes all the time at Otion. Keep an eye out for a post about the one tomorrow, with pictures of student soap creations.

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

2011-03-17T15:48:00.000-07:00

Wearing green today? Does it count to wash with green soap? From all of us at Otion, have a fun and safe St. Patty's Day!

Here are a few items from Bramble Berry's easy list of holiday goodies. It's all a click away.

Wow! Swirling Made Simple

2011-03-10T15:40:00.000-08:00

Did you know that your product can have personality? Well it can with color! In Kat's upcoming advanced cold process class, you will learn how to make in-the-pot swirls like these. This super fun class is open to those who understand the basics of cold process and are looking to add some pizazz to those basic bars, whether you've never used color before or have tried swirling but just never got the hang of it. Have fun and start swirling with confidence!

Essential Oil Spotlight: Star Anise

2011-03-09T11:31:00.000-08:00

This sweet smelling essential oil smells just like black licorice. It is often used as a flavoring agent cold and cough medicines, and used as a rub to relieve muscular aches and pains (when diluted with a carrier oil such as sweet almond or avocado oil). It can be used as a chest rub or in a vaporizer to relieve symptoms of colds and coughs.

Swirled cold process soap scented with Star Anise on display at Otion

Furthermore, this Chinese herb is said to aid digestion and has stimulating properties. It may help improve health in women and ease menstrual cramps. It is a great base scent for blending. Try combining Star Anise with orange, lavender, cinnamon or clove essential oils. Warnings: This essential oil is not intended for internal use without the guidance of a doctor. If ingested in large amounts, anise essential oil will slow down the circulatory system as it is a mild narcotic. Also, Anise essential oil contains 'anethole' which may exacerbate those with skin conditions. Do not use during pregnancy.

Best St. Patricks Day Soap

2011-03-02T11:26:00.000-08:00

I got so lucky finding St. Patty's soap goodies on Esty and want to share with you my favorite finds!

St. Patty's Day Irish Cupcake Soap by sunbasilgarden

These cute little cupcake soaps look good enough to eat and are scented with Irish Clover.

Paddy's Beer Bar Soap by DirtyDeedsSoaps

Handmade beer soap with Bay Rum and Lime. The perfect man soap!

Charcoal Soap with Irish Stout by BarSoap

This soap is not only packed with amazing cleaning power of activated charcoal, but is made with a full pint of Guinness. Need I say more?

Mint Tea Organic Bar by JenSanCandles

Talk about refreshing, this mentholated soap will wake you up in the morning! I like their all-natural approach, including ingredients and packaging material.

Lucky Shamrock Needle Felted Soap by FeltBugg

This gentle bar is unscented and made with soft Merino wool. Felted soaps are definitely works of art and make a great unique gift.

St. Patrick's Day Gift Basket by StaceyLeighDesigns

This beautiful bath and body gift basket contains 2 hand knitted wash cloths, a hand knit spa scrub cloth, and 2 hand made soaps, Carmel Porter, and Irish Oatmeal Stout. All wash cloths/spa cloth are made with 100% cotton.

Advanced Cold Process Class

2011-02-23T14:45:00.000-08:00

If you already understand the basics of cold process soapmaking and are looking to beautify your bars, this class is for you! Nothing sets your product apart from the rest quite like eye-catching swirls. Plus, it is truly gratifying and SO much fun! Kat will demonstrate both "in-the-pot" and advanced linear swirling techniques. Walk out with at least 2 bars of swirled soap, and the confidence and ability to express your creativity with color.

Class Offered:
Sunday Mar. 13th, 2pm, $35
Sunday Apr. 3rd, 2pm, $35
Sunday Apr. 17th, 2pm, $35

Sign up in the store, over the phone at (360) 676-1030, or online.

Maxed-Out Soap Bar

2011-02-19T14:36:00.000-08:00

Friday we had the pleasure of hosting a group from the Max Higbee Center at our melt-and-pour Soap Bar. They are a fantastic non-profit organization that provides recreational opportunities for people with developmental disabilities. Normally, we fit up to 8 people at the copper table, but we managed to get at least ten including helpers. We made soap with them last year and it was a huge hit! Everyone made two bars of soap and chose their own scents, colors and molds. The soap came out great and we can't wait to see them again.

A Sure Thing

2011-02-17T10:40:00.000-08:00

Out of all the hundreds of molds and fragrance options, you really can't go wrong with our best selling Oatmeal Milk and Honey fragrance oil paired with it's matching mold. I have yet to come across a customer who didn't fall in love with this scent. It is the perfect balance of sweet honey, creamy and soothing milk, and warm and toasty oatmeal. A truly comforting and mouth-watering aroma that makes me sigh a big "ahh" after smelling it. Plus, the mold is detailed enough to allow the most creative touches, or add your own ground oatmeal for a luxurious scrub. Try the goats milk or honey melt-and-pour soap base, or swirl them together. You won't be disapointed :-)

Sandalwood Swirl

2011-02-11T15:03:00.000-08:00

Take a look at this crazy swirl! It's kind of like making a funnel soap... only without the funnel :-) I simply split my batch and colored one half with brick red oxide (left the other half neutral) and alternated pouring each color in the very center of my loaf mold. The colors stack up and spread across, creating a unique pattern with each slice. Is it just me, or do these bars kind of look like bacon?

Sandalwood is just one of the many masculine fragrance oils that we carry at Bramble Berry and Otion, and it pairs so well with this "woodsy" swirl. For thinner, more detailed lines, pour at a light trace and alternate between each color as much as possible. The longer you pour one color, the more of a solid blob of it you will get, so quick pours work best.

Valentine's Day Inspiration

2011-02-10T16:41:00.000-08:00

Surprise your Valentine this year with some handmade aromatic gifts. Heart soaps are so easy with our melt-and-pour soap bases and wide variety of themed molds, colorants, and fragrances. I used dried rose petals to decorate the tops of my heart-embed bars and couldn't resist throwing in some iridescent pink glitter in my marbled soap project.

Create a fun "love potion" spray with Love Spell fragrance oil and water, or add Ylang Ylang essential oil to some warmed up Sweet Almond or Apricot Kernel oil for a romantic massage. Prepare a lovely bubble bath or salt scrub, lotion or lip balm just for the one you love. The possibilities are endless!

Soap School

2011-02-09T10:26:00.000-08:00

Last week we had a three-day soap training at Otion with Ralph, who traveled all the way from Lebanon. We spent three days covering everything from liquid soap to herbal infusions in cold process. Ralph was such a pleasure to teach because he picked up on everything instantly, which made it possible to get through a very packed schedule with no problems.

Above, Ralph and Anne-Marie are making the first stage of rock soap. Ralph had such a steady hand, which really came in handy when pouring layers in a 3D mold.

Jill Heuser from Northwest Scents came in to teach lotions and Kat taught colorants, melt-and-pour and cold process. Anne-Marie did some really unique soap projects (including Floap!) and put up a post with more pictures at Soap Queen.
Above is Ralph, the new swirl champ. Again, he really was a quick learner!

Lucky us, we had the fun of using a prototype vertical mold that hasn't even come out on Bramble Berry yet! You pour cold process soap on each side and pull out the middle divider to create a perfect layer. With this mold design, you can create a very interesting swirl in the center that appears in each cut bar.

Thank you very much for making the trip, Ralph. We had a blast teaching you and wish you and your family the very best with your soap business. Keep up the great work!

Go Vertical!

2011-01-28T11:18:00.000-08:00

Hi everyone, it's Kat, and I'm playing with some fun cold process layering techniques that are simple and very striking. You can do this a couple different ways; (1) Use a vertical loaf mold, or (2) customize your regular loaf mold with an insert piece. Above shows results from both methods. The yellow and pink swirl was made using yellow mica and fuchsia labcolor in a vertical mold.

A vertical mold is designed to stand up like a tower and you pour into it from the top. It is lined with hard plastic side pieces and has a removable divider insert that goes down the center, which you pull out after pouring colored soap on each side to create a layer. To swirl, simply dip a long stir stick to the bottom of the mold and give it a gentle turn. I really love how each side came out perfectly flat and uniform with zero soda ash.

The other bar is made using a blend of emerald and blue mix labcolors layered next to fuchsia again. This time, I used my regular loaf mold (lined of course!) and cut out a piece of cardboard that fit the length of the mold. I covered my cardboard piece with some freezer paper, which may or may not have been necessary, and placed it in my mold as a divider. Then I poured my two colors evenly at the same time on each side of the divider, gave it a shake to settle the soap and removed the insert. I ended up with a very crisp layer and it was super quick and mess-free. I used a tester fragrance in this batch and found out that it discolors very dark, which created that funky coloration on the outside where it oxidized. Wish I could say I planned for that!

Gel Phase in Testers

2011-01-26T15:34:00.000-08:00

I love testing new scents in cold process soap because I get to feel like a mad scientist. You never know what you're going to get-- some scents immediately seize or accelerate, others turn crazy colors, some over-heat and some go through gel phase, like the examples below.

What is Gel Phase anyway? According to Anne-Marie on the Teach Soap Forum, "Gel phase simply refers to a part of the saponification process where the soap gets extremely warm and gelatinous. Soap that has not gel-phased is still soap. There is nothing wrong if your soap does not gel phase. You will find slight color and shine variations in gelled versus ungelled soap. Some soapers prefer not to have their soap gel at all so do not insulate. Again, it is a personal preference."

Anything Helps

2011-01-22T11:41:00.000-08:00

Thanks to our good friend and customer, Kelly Ring of Vital Earth Traditions, we at Otion and Bramble Berry are helping her donate soap to the flood victims in Australia where approximately 200,000 people have been affected in an area larger than France and Germany combined. Thousands have been forced to leave their homes and some families have lost everything.

If you are interested in donating to help Queensland, please visit Premier's Disaster Relief Appeal for further information. You can donate by mail by making checks payable to:

The Premier’s Disaster Relief Appeal
ABN: 69 689 161 916

Checks should be posted to:

Premier’s Disaster Relief Appeal
C/O Department of the Premier and Cabinet
PO Box 15185
City East QLD 4002

Please do not send cash.

Your contribution is very much appreciated!

Mangosteen Fragrance Oil

2011-01-20T16:04:00.001-08:00

We're bringing in the New Year with new fragrances, and Mangosteen is already on my favorites list. It is absolutely bursting with fruity goodness and is a combination of mangosteen, guava, and green melon swirl finished with a succulent undertone of juicy yuzu nectar and coconut palm. In the bottle, it smells a bit like tutti fruitti or a fun bubblegum, but the fragrance does lose some of its tarty fruit notes in cold process soap. It discolors yellow in MP and light tan in CP soap and is great in lotions and sugar scrubs. Also, it tends to go cloudy in liquid soap. I think of it as a little vacation for my nose!

Here's a list of our most popular scents of 2010. No surprise at the #1 spot!

1. Oatmeal Milk and Honey (goes tan in soap)
2. Energy (not safe for gel candles)
3. Vanilla Select (discolors brown)
4. Lavender Fragrance Oil
5. Sensuous Sandalwood
6. Island Coconut (discolors brown)
7. Relaxing (discolors brown)
8. White Tea and Ginger (mutates in cold process soap)
9. Plumeria (accelerates trace in cold process)
10. Yuzu Cybilla

New Fragrance at Otion!

2011-01-19T13:22:00.000-08:00

We are excited to add Sweet Meyer Lemon to our selection of fragrance oils! This juicy new scent is more complex than your basic lemon and perfect if you are looking for something fresh and uplifting with fun floral notes. Over at Bramble Berry, this fragrance is affectionately referred to as ‘Sweet Tarts’ because it’s such a sweet, happy fragrance. Think of a lush, Caribbean garden bursting with the aroma of sweet lemons, horned melons, succulent kiwis, and ripe pineapple wedges. Sweet tropical florals complete this island wonder and some have compared it to the ‘Caribbean Salsa’ fragrance by Slatkin candles. We love how it performs in CP and MP soap.

The display soaps are made using a layered marbling technique with melt-and-pour soap similar to the Naid Soap Arts Snowflake Project at SoapQueen.

Doesn't Get Much Cuter Than This!

2011-01-14T16:06:00.000-08:00

The kids are going to love it! Here are all the molds you need to make your very own melt-and-pour soap farm:

Tractor Mold
Cartoon Cow Mold
Cowboy Boots Mold
Horse Mold
Farm Goat Mold
Rooster Mold
Farm Pig Mold
Sleeping Farm Cat Mold

Candle-Making: The Benefits of Beeswax

2011-01-12T16:59:00.000-08:00

There are many choices of wax for candle-makers; from inexpensive petroleum-based paraffin to vegetable-based soy or palm wax. With it's beautiful golden shade, beeswax is a popular choice simply because it is easy to work with, it's all-natural, and it burns longer and cleaner than candles made with most other waxes. Beeswax is a substance secreted by the worker honey bees used for the construction of their honeycomb. It has a wonderfully pleasant honey aroma when burned in a candle. After spending so much time around fragrance oils at Otion on a daily basis, nothing beats the natural scent and ambiance of a basic beeswax candle at the end of the day.

Also, this wax is very strong! Your candle might dent if you drop it, but it will not shatter. We sell our beeswax in granule pastille form for easy measuring and convenience. Give it a try, I think you'll like it!

Battle of Discoloration

2011-01-07T11:46:00.000-08:00

We've been busy testing lots of potential new fragrances in cold process soap, and I came across a yummy scent called Vanilla Hazelnut that I made in a four pound batch. Here's the thing, vanilla is the main ingredient so I know it is going to turn brown over time. This is true for most dessert -type fragrances because they generally contain vanilla.

To battle discoloration, you can add some titanium dioxide to lighten your soap. If you are swirling, it works even better to leave the scent out of just the titanium dioxide part for more of a true white color. Then swirl it in with the scented/colored soap so you at least get some contrast. Here's my creation after 24 hours:

I split my batch at a very light trace into three containers, one for each of the following colors:

1. About 1/2 teaspoon of Titanium Dioxide
2. About 1/4 teaspoon Brick Red Oxide blended with 1/4 teaspoon Copper Sparkle Mica
3. About 1/4 teaspoon Cappuccino Mica

Start stick blending your lightest color first so that you are not dipping any dark brown into your white. Hand stir the fragrance into each container of raw soap at the very end to keep the consistency nice and thin. When we test a new fragrance, we don't know if it could suddenly act up in our cold process batch and acceleration trace, so we add scent at the end.

Now for the fun part! Start pouring each color into your lined mold in a spontaneous manner. It does not have to be perfect. I start with white and then go across in an "S" pattern with one of my colors, then pour another strip of white, and alternate the "S" pattern again with another color until the mold is full. The most important tool you will need for finishing your swirl is a rubber spatula. Make sure it touches the bottom of your mold and create a figure-eight pattern from one end to the other without lifting the spatula. Done! Now, let's see how well the colors hold up at the end of the curing time in four weeks. I expect the white to end up at a medium to light tan color.

New Sale Items at Otion

2011-01-05T12:41:00.001-08:00

Welcome to the New Year! Here's a list of what's currently marked down at Otion:

10% Off

Vetiver Fragrance Oil
Creamsicle Cybilla Fragrance Oil
Soapy Clean Fragrance Oil
Milky Way Reptiles Mold

20% Off

Hollyberry Cybilla Fragrance Oil
Ginger Souffle Fragrance Oil
Berry Wine Fragrance Oil
Milky Way Guest Square & Round Mold

All "Oops Molds" are 3 for $10. We also have our new class schedule up here!

Celebrate with a Little Bubbly!

2010-12-30T16:53:00.000-08:00

Bring in the New Year with our favorite bubbly fragrance; Champagne! Perfect for that special occasion, this scent smells just like champagne or the fizzy bubbles in ginger ale. Plus, it is incredibly strong and long lasting in CP soap and behaves like a dream when soaping. Because it is so unique and versatile, it can easily be blended to make all manner of Italian iced soda scents or general pop scents that the kids will love (mix it with a berry for a yummy soda pop scent).

Last year, Soap Queen Anne-Marie came up with these adorable champagne scented New Year's Eve party favor soaps for celebrating 2010. Click here for the full tutorial.

Here's another project from Soap Queen that you can make for New Year's gifts
or get a head start on Valentine's Day: Champagne Bubble Bath!

Have a safe and fun New Year's from all of us at Otion. Cheers!

Fight the Flu with Essential Oils

2010-12-29T17:33:00.000-08:00

It's official, the flu is going around and we are especially prone to catching a bug after spending time with so many of our friends and family over the holidays. Here are some essential oils that will help you feel better:

Eucalyptus loosens mucus and helps heals the throat, nasal passages and bronchial tubes. It acts as a great decongestant with germicidal and anti-bacterial properties. Many people associate the scent of this oil with Vicks VapoRub. Try adding 4 drops of Eucalyptus to a carrier oil such as olive oil and use as a chest rub. Keep in mind, this essential oil is too strong for children under six years of age.

Lavender is not just a lovely scent, it stimulates the immune system and relaxes and soothes aches and chills. Lavender is a wonderful calming agent, particularly when blended with chamomile.

Tea Tree acts as an antiseptic and fungicide and also boosts the immune system. It works great when inhaled.

Rosemary is invigorating and aids as a pick-me-up oil when the flu has got you down.

Ten drops of any of these essential oils can be added to your bath water or to a bowl of hot water as a vaporizer. If you are sensitive to essential oils, make sure to use sparingly. Get well soon!

Sparkling Sunset Soap

2010-12-24T14:08:00.001-08:00

Another fun and easy project at the Soap Bar! Simply fill half of your scalloped mold with clear melt-and-pour soap. I used shredded glitter in this layer for a bit of sparkle. Let it set up while you melt down more soap and split it into three mugs for the sunset colors. I used yellow mica, red/blue mica, and blue mica. Now, spray that clear layer with rubbing alcohol so that your next layer will stick and start pouring your color on top, alternating between each one until the mold is full. Having a clear layer first softens and distances the background color for a gorgeous sky appearance.

Put it in the freezer for 15 minutes and DONE! So easy and so beautiful. Merry Christmas everyone.

Look What's New at Otion

2010-12-22T12:50:00.001-08:00

Cedarwood Essential Oil

New Toys!
Row 1: Firefly, Front Loader, Excavator,
Row 2: Chick, Circus Seal, Turtle,
Row 3: Little Car, Humpty Dumpty, Hedgehog,
Row 4: Butterfly, Bunny, Police Car

Heart Grid Mold & Beads on String Mold

Baby Onesie Mold

We also just posted some new classes here. The Valentine's Day class is going to be so much fun-- we're making heart-shaped soaps, bath fizzies and body scrubs!

Warm Vanilla Sugar Star Soap

2010-12-17T15:41:00.000-08:00

Christmas is quickly approaching and time has run out to start cold process soap gifts this year. No worries! Melt-and-pour is fun, easy and you can create some amazing customized bars like these cute embedded star soaps in no time.

Simply make some unscented stars using the flexible star mold with an opaque melt-and-pour soap base, grab that trusty loaf mold and your spritzer bottle of rubbing alcohol and get ready to make the bulk of the soap. Melt a clear base (honey melt-and-pour works great for this project), color with honeyed beige mica, and scent with Warm Vanilla Sugar fragrance oil. The loaf mold holds about 4.5 pounds of soap, so you will need to melt 4 pounds of clear soap and scent it with 4ml of fragrance per pound. Pour a layer about an inch thick in the loaf mold and let it set up. Line up your stars down the middle of the loaf and spray all over with rubbing alcohol. Now, fill up the loaf with the rest of that yummy scented background color and place it in the freezer. It will take about 40 minutes to harden. When slicing, be sure to use a sharp knife and aim for the center of each star so that each bar has a full star shape in the center. One loaf makes about 10 beautiful bars!

Happy Holidays Just Got Happier

2010-12-09T16:55:00.000-08:00

Free Holiday Parking Downtown!

To encourage shoppers to visit downtown during the holidays, the City of Bellingham is launching the Holiday Parking Program, December 13-25. Downtown shoppers can enjoy free parking in metered spaces all day every day.

“We offered free two-hour lunch parking between Thanksgiving and Christmas in past years,” said Clark Williams, Transportation Superintendent with Public Works. “It was confusing for shoppers,” he added. The Downtown Bellingham Partnership proposed longer hours on fewer days this season.

Although parking is free all day, drivers are asked to park responsibly by observing the time limits posted on the meters. Shoppers wishing to stay longer are encouraged to park on the ground floor of the Parkade.

For more information, contact the Transportation Superintendent at 778-7700. Or visit the website http://www.cob.org/services/transportation/parking/holiday-parking.aspx

Holiday Etsy Spotlight: Persnickety Pelican

2010-12-04T17:03:00.000-08:00

Whimsical Woolies Felted Soap by Persnickety Pelican, made entirely by hand! Felted soap acts as a washcloth while providing natural soapy suds and lasts longer than a normal bar.

These works of art are really felted soap and are made when ordered! Check out more from this talented mother-daughter team at their online Etsy shop, and their interview with the Soap Queen.

Scraps to Soaps

2010-11-27T12:34:00.000-08:00

With your trusty 12" Loaf Budget Mold and that growing pile of melt-and-pour soap scraps, you can create some amazing new bars and save the waste. There's no rhyme or reason to this easy and fun project. Just pour some fresh clear soap base (with sparkly glitter and your favorite fragrance oil) in with your scrap soap and spray everything really well with rubbing alcohol as you do it. The end product is unique and artfully abstract every time!

Get creative and have a fun time doing this project with the kids. These bars make great gifts!

Time to Celebrate!

2010-11-20T16:19:00.000-08:00

Yesterday and today have been SO much fun at Otion! We've been celebrating birthdays and making lots of fun melt-and-pour soaps. There was a group of 10 kids in yesterday, and we filled to capacity upstairs with 12 kids this afternoon! Let me tell you, they were the most well behaved and talented soapmakers at only six years old. It was a real treat to have them, and to top it all off, Bellingham is covered in a beautiful layer of fresh snow. It really feels like winter is here already and it's definitely time to start making those soapy holiday gifts.

Red Currant and Thyme

2010-11-17T14:34:00.000-08:00

New at Otion! A fruity, berry, citrusy, herbaceous type with top notes of orange blossom, grapefruit, mixed berry and lemon, middle notes of thyme, raspberry, and jasmine, with a powdery, fruity white musky base note. Red Currant and Thyme is a perfect fragrance for the holidays!

Soap Bar Experts

2010-11-12T16:09:00.000-08:00

Check out these incredible melt-and-pour masterpieces made the other day at our walk-in "Soap Bar." I love the seashells! I think someone must be dreaming of a tropical escape from this cold, winter-like weather we've been having.

Think you want to make soap but not ready to make the investment in supplies and equipment? Otion's unique "Soap-on-the-Fly" Soap Bar is the solution!

How it works:

* Just come by, or for a specific time, call ahead and make an appointment
* Cost is $7.75 for your soap making session and includes fragrance, coloring, molds and instruction.
* Ages 12 and under: soap base is included. Ages 12 and over: soap base is not included. (Soap base is available at Otion, average cost is $3.25 per pound)

No mess, no clean up for you and best of all, an experienced soapmaker at your side the entire time, ready to answer all your questions! Plus, we have a new "Soap Stamp" coupon for anyone who comes in to use the Soap Bar: a 20% off savings of your next purchase in the store.

Just in Time for the Holidays

2010-11-10T17:49:00.000-08:00

Last Sunday was our first cold process soapmaking class of November, and since the soap takes about a month to cure, students jumped on the opportunity to get some gifts started.

I am always impressed by the beautiful soaps made in class, and love seeing students pick up advanced swirling techniques so quickly. We had a great time and I am looking forward to another Gift Givers class and cold process class at the end of the month.

Thank you everyone for a great class! If you are interested in learning how to make soap from scratch, please visit our website and check for the next available class. Feel free to sign up online or call us at (360) 676-1030.

New Winter White Fragrance at Otion

2010-11-05T15:07:00.000-07:00

If you lived in the North Pole and walked out of Santa’s Workshop and took a deep whiff, what would you expect to smell? Winter White is designed to invoke a subtle twist on clean air mint with notes of Spearmint, Peppermint and exotic Water Mint. Of course, at Santa’s Workshop, you won’t be surprised to find a few notes of Chocolate and Hot Cocoa wafting out of the windows as well. This blend is finished up with a beautiful soft dry down of Vetevyr and delicate West Indian Vanilla. Because of the sweeter notes, this fragrance does discolor in all soap (though vanilla color stabilizer can decrease this). This fragrance performs beautifully in CP. Flashpoint over 200º.

Happy Halloween!

2010-10-30T16:55:00.000-07:00

Tick-or-treat! Have a fun and safe Halloween weekend everyone!