I am already making my own lotions, solid perfumes, and exfoliants…why not my own soap?  That, at least, was my thought process the other day when I decided to try my hand at homemade soaps.  My explanation for this home bath and beauty adventure (warning: scroll down to the next paragraph to skip my soap box rant) is that I want to know what I put on my body and in my belly.  I find it disturbing when I read ingredient lists I cannot pronounce much less understand.  Why do I need preservatives that act like formaldahyde when absorbed by own body?  Why do I need fragrances and perfumes that are synthetic and disrupt my endocrine system?  I embrace the notion that knowledge is power- that knowing what you are consuming, absorbing, buying keeps you healthier and saves you from unnecessary risk.  So when I realized my last soap bar was just about kapoot, it was the perfect time for me to make my own using organic and simple ingredients.

I chose a glycerin-based soap to experiment with first.  I added Vitamin E, shea butter, beeswax, and essential oils to liven it up and, wah-lah!, I ended up with three batches (9 bars total) that all smell amazing and leave my skin soft and smooth.  So far the Cedarwood variation is my favorite and rustic enough (re: manly) for Aaron to like it, too.

My Lavender Soap

The moral of this tale is that making things yourself results in a superior product both in terms of quality and safety.  While it is true that homemade requires more time and effort than running to the store, I firmly believe that whatever exertion you to have to put forth is a small cost for the rewards you reap.  I am now stepping down from my proverbial soap box.  Happy Friday and enjoy the weekend!