Union Street Soapworks

union street soapworks

Nate and Jen Whaley (aren't they cute?)

Union Street soapmakers

In one of my previous soap posts, I talked about simplicity in packaging and I have discovered a soap company that also successfully packages simply.  I have had the pleasure of testing a few of their bars.  My favorites are Toasted Coconut, Orange Peel and Sandstone.

  

Sandstone

Sandstone has an amazing texture.  It feels extremely exfoliating but with a fine sand-like texture.  I loved it!  I love exfoliating bars, and this one may be my favorite so far.  Small sandy pumice and ground apricot seed makes my skin sing, and it's softening because it's packed with shea butter to condition the skin.  I only had a tiny sample to work with, so I scrubbed on my whole body and used it all up.  Lovely!!

Toasted Coconut

I got a whole bar of this one - it was chunky and industrial looking.  I loved it.  The scent was not as coconut-y as I had hoped but it was still very smooth and tropical.  It was a dark brown and lathered beautifully.  Nice bar.  All gone.

Orange Peel

I had a little sample of this one, too.  Pure heaven.  The scent was as if I took an orange and sliced it freshly - it was the real deal as far as scents go.  They nailed this one perfectly with the scent and I recommend that if you like the smell of orange that you rush over there and get some.  

Their bars are hefty at 5 ounces a piece.

Strawberry Banana Soap

Final short bars

Strawberry Banana soap before curing

Last night I was determined to make a Summer soap.  I made strawberry banana soap, uncolored, with cranberry seed sprinkles.  I really like the way it came out except I made too little soap, so my bars are quite short.  I wish they had 2 more inches of height.  I smell Summer!

Recipe for this batch:

Coconut Oil: 12 oz

Palm Oil: 14 oz

Soybean Oil: 10 oz

Walnut Oil: 2 oz.

5% Superfat - 5.5 oz.

Water: 12.5 oz.

Banana fragrance

Strawberry fragrance

Cranberry seeds

Basic Packaging Serves Up Beauty

With all the fancy packaging that I've seen in the soap industry, sometimes the most simplistic, generic packaging makes the biggest statement of all.

Suzanne Graham For You makes handcrafted soap using real veggie purees, oils, spring water and botanicals - completely all natural.  Her packaging is on my list of favorites right now.  Here are a few examples.

She even has a mongo big bar for the mongrel in your life.

I wish she sold her beauty bars here in the States, but for now you can purchase them on line or getting them physically from a handful of Ontario locations.  I may have to break down and but the ki-lime or banana baby bars.  Don't they look good?

Ceci Cela Almond

I was sent Ceci Cela's products for review and I've had them for quite some time.  I am really having a hard time getting through all my bars of soap.  You see, when I love a bar of soap, it is hard for me to move on to the next one.  I like to linger a bit with them.

There are three products this company offers.  An Almond Moisturizing Body Bar With Oatmeal (with the cool nubbies on one side) and two Lip Balms - one in Almond and one in Spearmint.  That's it.

Let's start with the bar.  It had a delicious scent of Almonds when I opened up the packaging and looked like this, all nubby and smooth.  

It wasn't too sharp or strong of a scent, it was mellow and sweet.  A very nice bar to awaken the senses.  I tried the nubby side on the skin and then as a finger grip, but I was sort having trouble understanding the nub-concept.  I was seriously nubby challenged.  I looked like I should have been wearing a helmet and riding the short bus.  

After a few minutes of lathering and cleaning and fumbling about with the alien bar, I noticed that it became more exfoliating.  Mmm?  As I continued to rub a dub, I became more satisfied with the nubby side because I finally got the purpose of it.  With the exfoliating oatmeal exposed and the smooth side being, well, smooth I got into it completely.  I think I scrubbed and cleaned myself for a good 15 minutes before I even got to washing my feet or shaving my legs.  Oh, the feet.  Once the nubbies were worn down a bit and the exfoliator claws were out, I had a field day with my feet.   I really just needed someone ELSE to rub my feet with it so I could relax.  Can I get someone over here to rub my feet please?  

The lip balm was mighty smooth and creamy.  It didn't glop on or grit passed my lips, it glided with the grace of a ballerina.  I kid you not.   It is SPF 15 for sun protection and includes Vitamin E, aloe and beeswax among the ingredient list it comes with.  The Almond was sweet and sexy, while the Spearmint was wakey-wakey fresh and clean.

The only thing I noticed about the soap, which really didn't bother me, was that it kind of lost its initial scent.  It smelled clean with a hint of almond, but not so much Almond-y.

I do not think her soap is handmade, but it was still yummy and I give it a thumbs up.  I also think Ceci is a lovely person!

Blood Orange Basil Mint Sorbet

Sticky, Gooey, Creamy, Chewy is a food blog I discovered a few months ago and I can't help but drool just about every time I visit it.  Sharon writes about her food creations and shares recipes, too.  

I am trying to think how to make a soap that's tropical and gorgeous and colorful like the picture.  If I can figure out how to make similar colors in my soaps, I am going to attempt the blood orange minty yummy sorbet thingy.  If anyone else gives it a try, send pictures!

 

Product Radar :: Lily Bay Soap & Sundry

Lily Bay Soap - an Etsy find.  I'm glad I did because it is the eye candy, soap porn that I needed this morning.  These are some of my favorites.  She has plenty more where these came from.  Now it is 9:30 in the morning and I am ready for an ice cream.  Thanks Lily Bay for the extra calories I will now insert into my hips.

Ice cream cone soap - whipped cold process soap

Soap Stars - whipped cold process soap

Cerveza con cal  (Beer soap... made with beer instead of water!)

Orange soap with bentonite clay and shea butter

The Soap Dish Soap Making Supplies: 15% Off Sale

The Soap Dish is having a sale!!  15% Memorial Day Sale

They are a family owned soap making supplier that I highly respect.  They are super honest and they try to pass along savings to their customers when they get a break in price.  From Thursday, May 22, through the end of Memorial Day, get 15% off orders of $35 or more.

Sale ends Monday, May 26th at 12 am EST.

"We value the craftsmanship and quality of products and raw materials originating from the United States, and wish to encourage our local and national economy. With this in mind, The Original Soap Dish® strives to utilize as many local resources as possible in sourcing raw materials. From our custom manufactured soap boxes to our Emu oil and honey powder, we are proud to offer raw materials and products made in the USA."

Upcoming Reviews

Union Street Soap, toasted coconut...

Ceci Cela, almond body bar...

Almond Layered Playdoh Smelling Soap

Not sure I love them.  In my mind I thought they'd be much cuter.... and smell not like almond scented playdoh.

My recipe:

Soybean Oil 16 oz

Coconut Oil (76 degrees) 12 oz

Cocoa Butter 4 oz.

Beeswax 1 oz

lye 4.8 oz (superfatted at 5%)

Almond fragrance

top layer added blue and green soap colors (why is it pink?)

I think it is time to spring for some new Lab Colors from Brambleberry.  The ones I have work in bath and body but not soap, even though they are called "Soap Colors".  Hmmph.

My next batch will be a fresh scent with a beige-brown hue.  A request from a loved one.

"David Archuleta Makes Me Throw Up In My Mouth"

If you want to read a very funny take on last night's American Idol Finals Magic, read here.