I tried 5 different versions. All of them have juice that I made from local prickly pear fruit. The first two have prickly pear oil in them, then I ran out so I used Argan Oil for superfatting the the last three.
The first batch had the seeds from the fruit in it and I don’t like it. It is WAY too scratchy, not like the nice exfoliation from poppyseeds or coffee grounds… The ABRASIAN from the prickly pear seeds is Not my thing.
For the last of the 5 experiments I froze the prickly pear juice and the soap has turned out rougher, slightly bumpy, not as smooth as I like, and the colour runs. So basically, I really liked versions 2, 3 and 4. The soap is wonderfully smooth, I love the lather and it leaves my skin feeling awesome!
I will continue my search for Prickly Pear Oil that I can afford, maybe include some other things from the prickly pear cactus, and continue making this soap. I may try a shampoo as well as Prickly pear is supposed to be fabulous for hair.
Scent – still have not come up with a signature scent for this soap yet… tried various but not impressed. Will keep trying!
I have had great feedback so far from this bar. Except... one customer got it as a gift for Christmas for her not-well-loved step mother solely based on the word Prickly and the idea of cactus … and one person that tried it, did not like it for her skin. Haven't figured out why yet but something to look into and must have more testing…
Happy Soaping everyone and Happy Happy Happy New Year!!!!!!!!! xoxoxoox Jen
You make such fun and interesting soaps. Very exotic! I love the colors on these!
ReplyDeleteI'm curious, how is prickly pear soap compared to your pomegranate soap? Which one do you prefer?
ReplyDeleteHolly, thank you! I am simply inspired by what the earth offers, right here in our area. So glad you enjoy my experiments!
ReplyDeleteShieh, I think I prefer the pomegranate soap, but I do love both. There is something so silky SMOOTH about these both and I am not sure why they are smoother than my other soaps??? Could it be temperatures? Didn't freeze, but kept the fruit juice cold when adding the lye, simply by having it in a bowl of cold water... Will have to investigate because I just love it. Makes me want to wash my hands over and over and over... Happy new year to you!!!! xoxoxo Jen
Looks creamy!
ReplyDeleteHappy New Year, Jen!
All the best to you and your family!
Hi Jen =)
ReplyDeletePear soap looks beautiful!
I love its light beige color.
I wonder what it smells like..??
Wish you a Happy Happy New Year!
Best wishes in 2012!
PS: Your smile makes everyone smile. Please keep your gorgeous smile in 2012 too! :)
My first experience with a prickly pear was on the coast of New Jersey and I was so excited I picked the fruit, completely forgetting why it is called prickly pear. Anyway, I ate it.
ReplyDeleteHave you tried adding the pureed fruit to your soap?
Alexandra, Thank you! Happy New year to you as well!! xo Jen
ReplyDeleteAyu, You are so sweet. The prickly pear soap has not found its scent yet... these were mostly experiments with Frankinsence and i don't like the blends so i will keep trying! Thank yor your comment about my smile!! Happy New Year!! xo Jen
Briny, Oh no. The thing that I didn't know, and I guess you didn't either is that the pricklies on the fruit are almost invisible!!! Ouch. I work with heavy duty gloves but still get stung. yes, I use the pureed fruit. All of these have pureed prickly pear fruit in them. The first one I left the seeds in, and it feels like a brillo pad exfoliation. The next ones, I strained. Hope you are well. Happy New year!! xo Jen
PS. I am falling more and more in love each day with the Pomegranate soap!!!! xoxoxoo to all, Jen
When I make prickly pear jelly I hold the nopal tunas (fruit) with tongs, cut them in half, then scoop them out with a tablespoon. It is good to have a decent pair of tongs. The scooped shells are tossed. The pulp gets a whirl in the blender then pushed through a strainer lined with nylon mesh. I squeeze the mesh to get the last of the juice out. Cook with sugar and pectin ... as with any other jelly batch.
ReplyDeleteNext project will be a batch of CP soap with chia oil and sage - both varieties of salvia along with the nopal tuna juice ... all are super foods of the Aztecs (and other native groups of the Americas).
Bamboo and grass scents both smell great with the pear. I like the fresh green scents since prickly pear has kind of a bell pepper taste.
ReplyDelete