Wednesday 14 July 2010

Alkanet Experiment 9

DIFFERENCE: This recipe has 5% less Shea Butter, slightly less water and I added the Castor Oil and Alkanet coloured oil at trace instead.

PHOTOS: I cannot believe what a fabulous example of photography and lighting this is. I present 4 different photos of the SAME SOAP and it looks like a different colour in each soap!





RESULTS: All I can say is that the real colour is a nice purplish blue. I really like it. It actually could be a good lavender soap... not perfect yet... but getting closer. I wanted to reduce Shea Butter in my experimenting, one reason - because of the cost! The top on this soap turned lighter, even though there was NO PEAKING... you may notice I did not even take the time to swirl it. I simply poured and closed... and the top is almost like matte velvety... Luxurious... I can’t stop touching it. This colour is one of the most authentic of all my experiments so far... I was getting really tired of the grey tinge... This is truer colour.

CONCLUSION – Since I changed three things I cannot say exactly what affected the colour but something has – maybe a mix of lowering Shea Butter quantities, lowering water & adding Castor Oil with colour at trace?

CONFESSION: A couple of you have mentioned my patience with this experiment... Well to be truthful... I am getting bored. I have enough Lavender EO for 1 more experiment I believe... I am waiting for my order from Fresholi to arrive. Then I am not sure if I will continue much longer for now... I am hoping for that perfect purple tomorrow... If I take a break from experimenting with this colour for now... would anyone else be interested in continuing?

TEASER... Next experiment will be increasing quantities of Castor Oil...

6 comments:

Amy W said...

I'm so glad you are getting close to your goal!! Reminds me of my experiments with purple mica for my "grape jelly" soap. It was part of the peanut butter and jelly soap I made. Anyway, I experimented with 3 batches before I decided I was done. Turns out the sun fades the purple to brown anyway...

Ambra said...

This one look really nice. I'm going to try Alkanet again soon, but not sure exactly what to do. So I need to think about it. But you've been great at this and it's been like reading a mystery novel :)

Jennifer Young said...

Oooooh Ambra... you would be the perfect chosen one to continue with the experimenting because I also believe you use no palm oil in your recipes! I will most likely do a few more... then would you like to begin with one of your basic recipes and see if it turns blue or purple... then do a few more tries changing 1 or 2 things each time? Maybe things I haven't tried yet and see how it changes? If we all pitch in a do a few experiments... maybe we can actually get to the bottom of this? Or maybe not... maybe Alkanet just remains a mystery..... hmmmmmm. Let me know if you are up for it. I still have a few tries left in me... xo Jen

Jennifer Young said...

Amy, love the idea of peanut butter and jam soap. Shame that purple turned brown! Some alkanet experiments have faded too... but some haven't... they mystery continues. Thanks for all your positive encouragement and comments. xo Jen

Michelle said...

The color is amazing! I'll be making soap shortly with Alkanet, will see what color I come up with. I'm sure you are ready to move onto something else but you came a long way, 9 experiments. :)

Splurge Sisters said...

I think this one is beautiful and I really like the dark dark purple in one of your experiments. It's been interesting to see what you come up with.