Friday 21 October 2011

Soap Experiment - Prickly Pear Soap (Jabón de Chumbo)


A friend of mine gave me a little bottle of Prickly Pear Oil from Morocco and told me that was supposed to be even better for the skin than Argan Oil. 


Then on the way home from the farm where I get my fresh goat milk, I was captivated by these… so I began creating a Prickly Pear soap in my mind.




Difficult to work with! I didn’t realize how many invisible little cactus pricklies are in the fruits! They even went right through the rubber gloves into my fingers! Next time I will soak the fruits in warm water first… as I have now been told.


Blended up the fruit with some water to make the juice and used the juice as the water part of the soap...


Superfatted with Prickly Pear Oil.  I have since learned that the most valuable Prickly Pear Oil is Prickly Pear Seed Oil.  Trying to buy some of this valuable oil, the best quote I got so far was €650 per litre!!  I don’t think I will be able to work with that oil any time soon…


Batch One
The first batch has an interesting Essential Oil blend (haven’t decided if I like it yet… but it intrigues me) of Rosemary, Frankincense, Cedarwood, Fennel and Grapefruit.  This batch ended up with the seeds in it, which might be kind of exfoliating. 


The seeds all settled to the bottom.  If I wanted do re-do this batch but have seeds throughout, I think I would bring the soap to a thicker trace.  Not sure if I like the seeds yet as I am still impatiently waiting for the soap to cure to try it out!


Batch Two
The second batch I strained the juice, and it turned out a really nice colour, rich and thick almost like a milk soap.  The Essential Oil blend is Bergamot, Cedarwood, Frankincense.


Can't WAIT to try them out!!!

Happy soaping and experimenting everyone!
xo
Jen

30 comments:

miscellanea said...

The second one looks georgeous and the Essential Oils sound interesting.
Petra

Nitya said...

I love that the seed color wasn't attacked by the lye! Look forward to seeing your next batch with those lovely seed speckles all over. Oh and Jennifer the last pic is just amazing!!

Jennifer Young said...

Miscellanea, Thank you! xo Jen

Jennifer Young said...

Hi Nitya, Thank you. I like that last photo as well. I don't know when I can do another batch as I need to get some more Prickly Pear Oil!! xo Jen

Jabones de Casa said...

Un experimento precioso, y el resultado promete ser excelente. Ya nos contarás
Besos

Tierra Verde Handmade Soap said...

Oh my goodness Jen, so jealous.You know prickly pear are near and dear to my heart. I love the both bars-such a pretty color, but the bar with the seeds. <3 <3 i really love.

Ginger said...

Your blog is AMAZING!! I follow several and I absorbed everything you said like a starving child!! I LOVE it!! I will be looking for daily posts, more please!!

Jennifer Young said...

Maku, Muchas gracias. Estoy deseando probar el jabón! xo Jen

Jennifer Young said...

Michelle, Would you try it out for me if I send you one? I don't think I will sell these ones as they are precious to me and I only have 8 of each. So i may send you 1 half-size bar of each for you to try. Can you can Prickly Pear Oil or Prickly Pear Seed Oil in the States? Or maybe imported from Mexico? xoxo Jen

Jennifer Young said...

Ginger, Wow your enthusiasm is contagious!! Thank you so much!!! Can you point me to a blog... do you have one? xoxo Jen

Jaboning said...

Just amazing! Love your soaps!:))

Jennifer Young said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Jennifer Young said...

Jaboning, Wow! Acabo de mirar tus jabones tambien y son preciosos! Muchas gracias, xo Jen

Donna OShaughnessy said...

Go Jen Go ! I too so love to experiment and seems whatever I don't like someone in my little store does like so it rare for me not to sell even the bars I think are not so pretty. Love the smooth misty color of the second bar but the seeded one would be great for feet !

Jennifer Young said...

Donna, Thank you for your comments, always! xo Jen

Two Blooms Design Studio said...

How interesting and cool looking. The seeds look like they would give a smooth exfoliation which sounds lovely. Does it the Prickly Pear oil smell at all? I just got my Argan oil this morning.

Michelle

Jennifer Young said...

Thanks Michelle! Prickly pear oil doesn't seem to smell at all. The seeds remind me of tomato seeds. They got really hard and black during saponification though! Can't wait to see your posts about Argan Oil experimenting... xoxo Jen

Amy Warden said...

Now this sounds fun & different! What a great experiment! Wish I could smell them...

Jennifer Young said...

Amy, yes it was fun and different. I really enjoyed this experiment and the scents are unique, attractive and slightly odd... i think I would pretty them up a bit next time. xo xJen

ANA said...

Es fantástico, Jennifer. Hace sólo unos días que supe de la existencia del aceite, porque de higos chumbos ya sé, que los llevo comiendo toda la vida.
Espero ansiosa que cuentes cómo es ese jabón tan especial.
Un beso

Jennifer Young said...

Ana, Muchísimas gracias. El aceite que use no es el mejor mejor. Se supone que el mejor es el de las semillas pero quien puede gastar ese dinero en un aceite y luego ponerlo en un jabón!! Asi que use Aceite de Chumbera. ¿Tu sabes donde conseguirlo aqui en España? Me lo habian regalada de Marruecos...
xoxo Jen

Soapchick said...

Hey Jen fabulous experiment, I await the results with great interest, I love the one with the seeds in, we have lots in Portugal so if they work out well I can make some too!!

Bianca said...

Soap testing has begun using number 1 at the moment!!!!!!!! Ha you were right on the dates for the fairs, I must have had my brain in my shoes today, 6th for vera 12th for bedar.

Jennifer Young said...

Soapchick, Thank you! I will be experimenting with these soon and posting... As the oil is difficult to get and expensive, I may just make this soap again with prickly pear juice (free of course! we just need to be careful when we pick them!) and argan oil. Will let you know! xo Jen

Jennifer Young said...

Thank you Bianca. Just about ready to post about the 4 different olive oil soaps... xo Jen

Tara said...

Prickly pear soap?! how genius! I actually like the look of the seeds settled at the bottom of the first batch. I haven't yet tried frankincense in soap yet but I love it in my facial oil. The second scent blend sounds wonderful.

Jennifer Young said...

Tara, Thank you! I am really liking this soap. Frankincense is new for me too. With each order of EOs, I order a small quantity of 1 new one and then try it out. Inhaling Frankincense oil on its own reminded me of Church! but it is very intriguing in blends. It comes through strong in soaps. xoxoxo Jen

Soaps and Bubbles said...

Oh my god Jen;
its amazing how much with time you grew and perfected your knowledge.
Amazing and beautiful and so original.

Bravo!

Jennifer Young said...

Thank you yo!! These Prickly Pear soaps have turned out very nicely. I will have to post about trying them out xo Jen

Jennifer Young said...

Thank you yo!! These Prickly Pear soaps have turned out very nicely. I will have to post about trying them out xo Jen