essential oils Archives - Page 2 of 2

New! Natural Soap Kit for Beginners

June 7, 2016 Filed Under: Bramble Berry News

I know that just because you read my blog doesn’t mean you’ve made cold process soap before. In fact, I know many of my readers have never made soap, and given how much I love it, I wanted to find an easy way for you to start. Now this may sound crazy, but the truth is cold process soapmaking is easier than melt and pour. It’s true! Once you get past the fear of using lye (it’s just like driving a car – you need to take basic safety precautions) you’ll find that making cold process soap gives you more time to work on the design and a final bar of soap that lasts longer. Making and using handmade soap is a great way to eliminate harsh chemicals from your shower. The new Natural Soap Kit for Beginners was designed with the first time soapmaker in mind to learn how to make soap, but I think experienced soapmakers will love it too. The kit includes 100% pure essential oils, natural botanicals, basic soapmaking tools and a reusable mold.

From mixing your oils to labeling your bars, this kit will walk you through every step of the soapmaking process. The kit includes printed instructions, lye safety information and an exclusive how-to video that I made just for this kit. To keep the price of the kit down it doesn’t include all of the tools – you need to supply a stick blender, distilled water and a mixing bowl, but I was able to get a small digital scale (and, **free shipping**!) in the kit. Below are the basics that come with each kit and then I want to tell you about the essential oils I’ve chosen to highlight in each option:

Basic Tools & Ingredients
10″ Silicone Loaf Mold (flexible and re-usable)	1 pair Goggles (re-usable)
2 lbs. Sodium Hydroxide (Lye)	1 pair Gloves (disposable)
33oz Lots of Lather Quick Mix (pre-blended oils)	1 Bramble Berry Perfect Scale (digital for accuracy)
4 oz Sodium Lactate (soap hardener)	8 fl. oz Rubbing Alcohol in Spray Bottle (soap finisher)

\Each kit also includes FREE SHIPPING anywhere in the lower 48 United States. Free shipping applies to the kit only. If additional items are added to your order, those items are subject to normal shipping rates. The kit will be sent in a separate box from other items in the order.

Additional Instruction & Materials

Step-by-Step Instructions
Lye Safety Guide
Guide to Common Soapmaking Oils
Bar Soap Labels that follow FDA rules
Exclusive Online Instructional Videos made just for this kit

Shown above are the contents of the Natural Soap Kit for Beginners in Relaxing Lavender.

Once you purchase the kit, you will have access to an exclusive page featuring 10 soapmaking videos to get you started. First is the video I made with my friend Courtney, where I show her how to make the soap in the kit. We had so much fun, I think you might see her pop up in more of our videos! Several of the videos show you how to specifically create the soap in the kit, while some go over more general soapmaking knowledge important for the beginner and a great reminder for the experienced soaper.

You can choose from three different kit options: Energizing Orange, Refreshing Lemongrass and Relaxing Lavender. In addition to all the ingredients and tools listed above, each kit includes a different 100% pure essential oil, colorant and botanical topping. Check out each gorgeous, natural option below! Which is your favorite?

The Relaxing Lavender Kit features lavender 40/42 essential oil – which is just a blend of many different lavender essential oils to produce a consistent scent year after year. It also has dried lavender buds, which will turn brown if you put them in your soap but when sprinkled across the top add a lovely finishing touch.

2 oz Lavender 40/42 essential oil (scent)

0.2 oz Ultramarine Violet Oxide (colorant)

3 oz Lavender Buds (soap topper)

Click here to add everything you need for this project to your Bramble Berry shopping cart and get *free shipping* on this kit!

The Refreshing Lemongrass Kit features lemongrass essential oil, which is so lovely and fresh, and reminds me of warm noodle soups. This option includes black poppy seeds which look so striking in soap.

2 oz Lemongrass Essential Oil (scent)

0.2 oz Chrome Green Oxide (colorant)

3 oz Poppy Seeds (soap topper and exfoliant)

Click here to add everything you need for this project to your Bramble Berry shopping cart and get *free shipping* on this kit!

The Energizing Orange Kit features orange 10X (pronounced ten fold) essential oil, which is distilled 10 times. This is what allows that fresh citrus zing to shine through the soap. Topped with bright yellow dried marigold petals, this kit makes a soap that evokes summer.

1.75 oz Orange 10X Essential Oil (scent)

3 oz Orange Peel Powder (colorant and exfoliant)

3 oz Marigold Petals (soap topper)

Click here to add everything you need for this project to your Bramble Berry shopping cart and get *free shipping* on this kit!

If you’ve been thinking about trying soapmaking for the first time, the Natural Soap Kit for Beginners is the perfect way to start. Say hello to natural soapmaking and share it with your family, your friends and especially your skin. I can’t wait to see your projects!

How to Make Shaving Soap on Soap Queen TV

May 5, 2016 Filed Under: Cold Process Soap

This Cold Process Shaving Soap recipe creates thick and luxurious bubbles. The key is a combination of castor oil, combined with skin-loving butters like cocoa and avocado. It’s scented with a combination of spearmint and patchouli essential oils for a refreshing, yet earthy blend. Bentonite clay is added to give the soap “slip,” which helps prevent razor burn.

I poured this soap into short bail jars, which are the perfect size to use with the shaving brush. This recipe does contain a 15% water discount to help the soap cure while in the jars. If you prefer, you can use a different mold or container. But, I don’t recommend skipping on a shaving brush. It’s crucial for creating a thick lather.

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Natural Cleaning Recipe Roundup

February 1, 2016 Filed Under: Bath & Body Tutorials

While January may be over, there is still time to give 2016 a fresh start. For the past two weeks, the blog has been full of all-natural cleaning recipes. These recipes were designed to help eliminate some of the chemicals found in store bought cleaners from your home. These Soap Queen recipes contain common ingredients that you may already have in your pantry, including baking soda and vinegar.

If you’re interested in creating cleaning products but aren’t sure where to start, the Top DIY Cleaning Ingredients post highlights my must-haves. These ingredients include essential oils, washing soda and salts. All these ingredients can be used in a wide variety of projects.

The two areas of my home that seem to collect the most grime are the kitchen and bathroom. The Multipurpose Cleaning Spray works great for both rooms. It’s made with a combination of borax, vinegar, lemon essential oil and white thyme essential oil. To learn more about borax, click here. The spray smells fantastic and leaves non-porous surfaces clean. Keep in mind that if you have granite or marble countertops, you’ll need to steer clear of vinegar and citrus essential oils, as they can etch the surface.

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Top DIY Cleaning Ingredients

January 18, 2016 Filed Under: Tips & Tricks

I don’t know about you, but I’ve tried a lot of cleaning products. There are so many to choose from in the store. After countless tests, I find myself going back to natural cleaners I already have in my cupboard. They’re simple, effective and not full of unpronounceable chemicals. For the next two weeks, the blog will feature some easy handmade cleaner recipes for each room in your home.

These are some of my favorite ingredients to use when making natural cleaning products. They can be used for everything from cleaning the bathroom, kitchen and living room. If you’re looking for more natural cleaning recipes, check out this Spring Cleaning Roundup. The post includes recipes for laundry soap, wood polish and more. What is your favorite natural cleaning ingredient?

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How to Blend Essential Oils Safely

December 7, 2015 Filed Under: Tips & Tricks

Essential oils are a great option for scenting your products naturally. Based on the definition from the International Organization for Standardization, essential oils are defined as “a product obtained from a natural raw material of plant origin, by steam distillation, by mechanical processes from the epicarp of citrus fruits, or by dry distillation, after separation of the aqueous phase — if any — by physical processes.” Click here to read this statement, which is included in their vocabulary of aromatic natural raw materials (ISO/D1S9235.2).

If you prefer to keep your products as natural as possible, essential oils are the way to go. Just like fragrance oils, it’s important to use them properly. Each essential oil has a different usage rate, and depending on what you’re making you’ll need to use a different amount. If too much essential oil is used in a product, it can cause skin irritation. The easiest way to find out how much essential oil is to use the Fragrance Calculator. Simply select what kind of product you’re making, how much you’re making and which essential oil you want to use. The Fragrance Calculator will then give you how much you can safely use in your product. For example, below you can see how much lemongrass essential oil is safe for 48 ounces of cold process soap.

One important note about the Fragrance Calculator: For fragrance oils, the calculator uses the usage rates recommended by IFRA (International Fragrance Association). For essential oils, there is no official IFRA usage rate. When calculating usage rates for essential oils, the Fragrance Calculator uses rates dependent on our tests and crafting experience. Just like most ingredients used in bath and beauty products, the usage rates may vary on personal preference. If you like to err on the side of caution, I recommend using the “light” suggested usage rate for essential oils. Then, I recommend making small test batch to make sure you enjoy the scent, and it does not irritate your skin.

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How to Prevent Scent Fading in Soap

June 17, 2015 Filed Under: Tips & Tricks

The first time you smell a fragrance or essential oil out of the bottle is definitely memorable. A fragrance can immediately inspire designs, colors and additives for your next soap recipe. But, sometimes the fragrance and essential oils can fade or change in cold process soap. The pH level of cold process soap can attack components of the oil, causing them to smell differently. It can be very disheartening! All Bramble Berry fragrance and essential oils are tested to ensure the scent sticks to cold process soap for months after making the soap. That being said, there are tips and tricks to make scents last even longer.

How much fragrance or essential oil used in the recipe plays a big role in scent retention. For a strong scent, with regulations taken into account, you can add .8 ounces of fragrance or essential oil per pound of cold process soap. For melt and pour, you can add .25 ounces of essential oil per pound, or .5 ounces of fragrance oil. This number will vary based on the scent selection. For instance, Almond Fragrance Oil is on the stronger side. Just .16 ounces per pound of cold process soap will provide a hefty scent. To find out exactly how much to add to the recipe, check out Bramble Berry’s Fragrance Calculator. Find out how to use the calculator here.

The Bramble Berry Fragrance Calculator amounts are based on safety guidelines created by IFRA (International Fragrance Association) and RIFM (Research Institute for Fragrance Materials). Each fragrance and essential oil have a maximum usage rate that is deemed safe for bath and beauty products. The “strong,” amount of fragrance recommended by the calculator is based on this maximum usage rate recommended by IFRA and RIFM. Using more than this amount can cause skin irritation.

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Sunday Night Spotlight: Orange Essential Oil

December 14, 2014 Filed Under: Bramble Berry News

Produced from the peel of the orange fruit, orange essential oils are well known for their bright and fruity scents. Popular in a wide variety of projects, orange essential oil is commonly used in cleaning products. Bramble Berry carries four varieties of orange essential oil: Orange Valencia Essential Oil, 10X Orange Essential Oil, Red Brazilian Mandarin and Tangerine Essential Oil. All are fantastic, but have various properties that make them distinct.
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Learn Aromatherapy Basics & More at Otion!

October 7, 2014 Filed Under: Bramble Berry News

Aromatherapy is a form of therapy focusing on the use of essential oils to alter ones well-being. Recently, the popularity of aromatherapy has expanded tremendously. With a wide variety of applications both professionally and in everyday life, aromatherapy is a timeless and valuable ability.

For those wanting to take their aromatherapy education to the next level, Otion Soap Bar in Bellingham, WA is offering two “Intro to Aromatherapy” weekend sessions! These classes cover everything from basic safety information, proper usage in bath and body products and ethics for application in professional health care practices. Both classes include all materials needed, just bring a notebook for notes! To learn more about each class and reserve your spot, visit the links below or call Otion at 360-676-1030.

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Aromatherapy Shower Fizzies

August 6, 2014 Filed Under: Bath Fizzies

At the end of a long stressful day, nothing beats a steaming shower. The hot running water and soothing vapors create a great way to relax and unwind. If you’d like to improve your next shower, these Aromatherapy Shower Fizzies harness the power of aromatherapy to create a calming experience. Use the ‘Soothing Blend’ to unwind in the evenings and, the ‘Awakening Blend’ to perk up your mornings.

Simply toss the fizzy on the floor of the shower and let the aromatherapeutic vapors envelope you. The “Awakening Blend” below is the perfect way to get moving in the morning. The citrus essential oils are uplifting to the spirit and smell amazing too. Easy to make, these shower fizzies will make showering your favorite part of the day!

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Undiluted Aroma Oils + Plastic Don’t Mix

July 30, 2014 Filed Under: Tips & Tricks

Part of the fun of soap making is choosing from the many fragrance oils and essential oils available. From fruity to floral, masculine to clean, scents add personality and flair to your projects. All Bramble Berry fragrance and essential oils have been thoroughly tested for use in bath and body products, and are skin safe when used correctly.
Ever wonder why Bramble Berry ships fragrance and essential oils in fragile glass rather than plastic containers? See the photo below for the answer!
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Sunday Night Spotlight: Flavoring Oils

January 5, 2014 Filed Under: Bramble Berry News

With so many folks throughout the country right now in such extreme cold weather conditions, it is important protect your skin and your lips. In any weather, balm protection is key to keeping your lips hydrated and protected to avoid chapping and cracking. So why not have some fun in creating your own balms in your own style and flavors? When making lip products, adding a little (lip safe) scent and flavor can take your balm to the next level. Flavor oils are lip-safe fragrances and ironically, they don’t actually taste. Instead, flavor oils provide your lip products with scent. When using lip products from a store, the flavor you taste is actually a sweetener (commonly a sugar substitute like aspartame) that when combined with the flavor oil, tricks your brain into “tasting” the product.

Bramble Berry carries both sweetened and unsweetened flavor oils. For the unsweetened flavoring oils, Bramble Berry carries bleached stevia and lip smacking sweet flavor oil, which you can use to sweeten balms yourself.

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Bug Away Spray Bouquet

May 9, 2013 Filed Under: Home Crafts

I don’t know what it is, but it has been absolutely beautiful here lately! With record-breaking temperatures in the 80s this weekend (I know, what month is it again and in what state??), I’ve been spending lots of time outside playing with Jamisen, catching up on some reading outside, and even hosting a baby Sprinkle party for our new Bramble girl (more on that coming soon).

But unfortunately with our wet Pacific Northwest climate we get a ton of mosquitos, and bites can ruin summer fun pretty quickly (now imagine a two year old with mosquito bites… that’s DEFINITELY a fun-ruiner). That’s why I’ve come up with a few natural bug sprays to keep your summers bite-free.

Both contain a simple mixture of non-greasy, quick absorbing fractionated coconut oil and two different blends of essential oils that have been specifically selected for their bug repelling properties. Now onto our sprays — or as I’m calling them, our Bug Away Bouquets!

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