| If you've had trouble finding a soap that's just | | | | as they arise until the mixture begins to appear a |
| right for you, and have struggled with cleansers | | | | bit smoother. Once the soap looks a bit thinner - |
| with overpowering scents or artificial ingredients, | | | | nearly like pudding - pull the measuring cup from |
| then perhaps it's time to learn a thing or two | | | | the water. |
| about creating your own brand of hand-milled | | | | In a separate bowl, mix together one tablespoon |
| soaps. You'll first need two to three bars of plain | | | | of olive oil, a half a cup of water, a quarter cup of |
| white soap. Grate the soap into flakes - enough | | | | palm oil chips, twenty or so drops of your |
| to make two cups. | | | | favorite botanical scent, and two to three drops |
| Grab a couple of soap molds, which are sold at | | | | of soap dye if you wish to add coloring. If you |
| most craft retailers, and coat them with a small | | | | would like your soaps to have a weaker scent, |
| amount of petroleum jelly. Pour one half a cup of | | | | add only about fifteen drops of the fragrance. |
| water into your measuring cup filled with the soap | | | | Pour the bowl of mixed ingredients into your soap. |
| flakes, and set the whole cup into a sauce pan, | | | | Gently fold in the mixture until completely blended. |
| which should be filled with about two inches of | | | | Fill your molds with the soap and allow them to |
| water. Turn the burner on to medium heat, and | | | | cool before you remove them. Let your soaps |
| bring the water to a simmer. With a wooden | | | | rest on a baking rack for about three weeks |
| spoon, occasionally stir the soap mixture, which | | | | before you use or wrap them. Be your own |
| should at this time be slowly melting. The soap will | | | | botanist! |
| appear chunky at first, so break up any chunks | | | | |