Classy Candle Glass

We are all so excited about the brand new candle glass we just brought in!  It is heavy and durable and comes with a black lid that also fits into the bottom of the glass as a base.  This glassware is conveniently packed 9 to a box that contains dividers for support, great for re-use if shipping your finished candles out or just for storage.  The beautiful soy candles pictured above were made in a couple hours following these simple instructions:

1.  The new glassware holds 8 oz (or 230 grams) of wax.  We recommend using the EcoSoya CB Advanced wax for container candles.  Melt the wax in a double boiler until it reaches 155 degrees Fahrenheit.

2.  Add your candle dye.  Take one of our vegetable-based Candle Dye Pads and shave off small slivers until the desired colour is reached, stirring frequently.  Hint: Candle wax is always quite a bit darker when it's a liquid so if you aren't sure if the colour is the right shade simply dip a spoon into the wax, put it in the freezer for a minute or two, then when it has hardened you can see the colour it will turn out to be.  After you've reached the desired colour take the wax off heat and stir it gently, allowing time for it to cool.   

3.  Add your fragrance (I chose Peppermint Essential Oil for the layered candle and Cranberry Fig Fragrance Oil for the red candle) and stir to incorporate.  EcoSoya soy wax can handle a fragrance load of up to 12%; if you are using your candle as a room scenter we recommend using between 7%-9% fragrance which would be 15 to 20 ml of fragrance per candle.

4.  Set up your wick.  For this particular container the HTP 1212 x 3.5" wick works perfectly.  Center your wick in the middle of the container.

5.  When the wax reaches about 120 degrees, pour your wax into the candle glass.  For smaller candles you would want to pour them at about 140 degrees as they lose their heat faster.

6.  Re-position the wick if needed.  I usually stabilize it in the middle of the jar with two pens on either side.

7.  Trim the wick to 1/4" and wait 24 hours before burning.  

It's that simple!  These candles are great for holiday decorations around the house, for gift-giving, or for a fun activity to do at home.

Tawnee & the Voyageur Team

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October Warmth

With fall in full swing we thought it very fitting to make some cozy soy candles.  Great as decoration around the house or as gifts for the upcoming holiday season, these candles are incredibly inexpensive to make (especially considering their retail value can be between $15-$20!) and are just as easy.

In fact, we have calculated that one of the glass jar candles only cost about $2.66 to make!  The cost is reduced even greater when purchasing your ingredients and supplies in large quantities.  The beautiful fall candle colours were created by using Voyageur Candle Dye Pads, added when the soy wax is taken off heat. All you have to do is shave small amounts of the candle dye into the wax until the desired shade is reached, keeping in mind that the wax will always be darker as a liquid and will lighten considerably once the candle has set up.  We used our newest fall fragrance oil, Pumpkin Chai, and do they smell heavenly!  Packaging options are limitless, try putting a trio of tea lights into an organza bag, you could use 6oz deep tins for a sleek, modern look, or try a cute takeout box!  For full instructions on how to make a soy candle click here.

With Halloween right around the corner we also experimented with our newest plastic soap mold from Milky Way.  Check out these cute soaps, great for teachers' gifts or for fall birthday favours!  The stony look of the tombstone was created by using a little black iron oxide in a white melt and pour base, then adding a teaspoon of Oil Soluble Titanium Dioxide for a speckled effect!

To view our selection of Halloween soap molds click here.

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Shimmery Snowflake Soaps

It's only the end of September but before you know it Halloween will creep up on us, then it will be November, and then it will already be crunch time for Christmas!  Now is the time to start planning ahead for gift-giving season while still enjoying day to day life.  With so much talk about the economy many of us are very conscious of trying to make every dollar stretch further, a great way to help do this is to make your own gifts this coming holiday season.  A great gift idea are these beautiful and inexpensive snowflake soaps that are sure to be enjoyed by anyone who receives them.

We think that GLITTER is under-used in melt and pour soap making.  Glitter adds so much pizzazz, making incredibly eye-catching and decorative soaps, and it can be used in small amounts to give a slight sparkle or in greater quantities for some racy razzle-dazzle!  Glitters can be blended for custom shades and it incorporates well into melt and pour soap.  I used many different shades of glitter in the photo above and I also took a dry paintbrush and dusted the soap with glitter after I un-molded it, using the Guest Snowflakes Milky Way Mold and both White and Clear Natural Melt and Pour.  I think our Sleigh Ride fragrance oil would go perfectly with this mold!  

When packaging your soaps think outside the cellophane bag!  Try different options such as Voyageur's 16 oz Clear Plastic Jar with a decorative ribbon and a homemade gift tag, or an organza bag for individual soap giving.  It's never too early to start thinking about the holiday season!

Sincerely,

Tawnee and the Voyageur Team

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Shimmering Body Parfait

Many of our customers might not be familiar with our Body Gel Base but its benefits are numerous. It makes the perfect crystal clear base for body glitter, absorbing easily into the skin and only leaving behind razzle-dazzle sparkle and no residue, also containing Aloe Vera Extract, Glycerin, and Silk Amino Acids to nourish and moisturize the skin.  Get creative, try adding 2%-5% Multifruit Extract to the gel and use it as a specialty serum around the eyes and on the face!  Multifruit contains a natural source of Alpha Hydroxy Acids and acts as a gentle exfoliate, sloughing off dead skin cells without abrading delicate facial tissues while cooling and refreshing the skin.  You can even add in our Muscle and Joint Essential Oil blend to create a soothing Muscle Relief Gel!  To showcase the possibilities of the Body Gel Base we have come up with a visually stunning recipe for a body parfait below.

This recipe for a do-it-yourself Shimmering Body Parfait is really easy to make and can be presented beautifully in our clear plastic jars, as well as being easily customizable to create a unique parfait every time.  What's even better is that the cream layer provides moisture to the skin while the gel layer delivers nutrients and vitamins, all while shimmering and glittering!  Here is a guide to making one 4 oz jar:

Part A - Cream Layer

Weigh out 80 grams of our Cream Starter Base, or about a third of a cup, and place into a small bowl for mixing.  Slowly add the following one by one:

1. One teaspoon, or 5 grams, of your favourite carrier oil such as Sweet Almond, Grapeseed, Sunflower, or Apricot Kernel.

2. Half a teaspoon, 3 grams, of a specialty oil like Evening Primrose, Squalane, or Calendula.

3. Half a teaspoon, 3 grams, of Aloe Vera Extract.

4. A quarter teaspoon, or 2 grams, of both Vitamin E D-Alpha Tocopherol and your choice of protein: Panthenol, Silk Amino Acids, Phytokeratin, or Cromoist Oat Protein.

5. A quarter teaspoon, or 2 grams, of preservative such as Optiphen, Germall, or Citricidal Grapefruit Seed Extract.

6. Optional - your favourite Fragrance or Essential Oil drops at a time until desired scent level is reached.

Part B - Gel Layer

Weigh out 80 grams (or a third of a cup) of Body Gel Base.  To this stir in half a teaspoon of your choice of Polyester Glitter. 

The rest is easy, simply spoon about half of the cream onto the bottom of your jar, leveling it out with your spoon.  Then add half of the body glitter gel, then the rest of your cream, then the rest of your gel.  The finished product will go on smoothly and penetrate the skin quickly for a super soft skin feel. 

Variations

Here are some unique variations to the recipe to help you feel inspired:  If you're feeling lazy or short on time and can't make the cream using all the ingredients, try substituting the cream starter base for our already finished Shea Butter Body Cream.  If you desire a more subtle product then leave the glitter out of the body gel but add a quarter teaspoon of mica to the cream layers and you'll be left with a very delicate shimmer (my favourite was the Pearly White Mica - very angelic!).  Happy experimenting!

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After Sun Moisture Spray

As the sun gets hotter it's time to start thinking about proper summer skin care. This recipe for an After-Sun Spray will deliver important vitamins to the skin while providing a protective barrier against skin dehydration.

Makes approx. 4 x 8 oz Bottles

Part A

40% Boiling Purified Water - 400 grams

1% Incroquat TMS-50 - 10 grams

Part B

46% Cold Purified Water - 460 grams

10% Aloe Vera Extract - 100 grams

1% Cromoist Oat Protein - 10 grams

0.5% Panthenol - 5 grams

0.5% Germall Plus Preservative - 5 grams

1% Fragrance (optional) - 10 grams

-OR-

0.5% Essential oil - 5 grams pre-mixed with 10 grams of Polysorbate 20

Instructions:

1. Measure out the Incroquat TMS-50 into a mixing bowl.  Add the boiling water of Part A, whisking to fully dissolve the Incroquat.  

2. Gently stir in the cold water to cool the spray, then add the rest of Part B. Stir to combine and package into plastic bottles with trigger misters.

If desired, you can leave out the preservative keeping in mind that the shelf life will be reduced to 1-2 months. Remember, keep hydrated and stay cool!

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And the Winners Are....

Thank you to everyone who participated in our Springtime Soap Contest, we had only dreamed that it would be as successful as it was. We have picked 3 lucky winners:

First place goes to Karen Pettinger with her soap Vicki's Daydream. Karen says "This is my favourite springtime soap this year. I call it "Vicki's Daydream" in memory of my sister-in-law, who passed away on March 7th from a malignant brain tumor. During her illness, she wore a beret and scarf set, knitted by my mom, in the colours I used in this soap. I mixed my micas with the skein of yarn beside me. I think the colours speak of new grass, spring flowers, and blue skies, and it is meant to be a cheery,happy soap.". What a wonderful sentiment! Vicki's Daydream is fragranced with a blend of florals, teas, and rain, refreshing and fresh. Karen swirled the soap in the slab using 4 colours. Thank you so much Karen, for your wonderful interpretation of springtime! Visit Karen's Facebook page, Plum Creek Soapworks, for more soap and information.

The second place winner is Heather Brubacher with her Oats & Lemongrass soap! "I wanted a new

flavour of CP soap that smelled crisp and vibrant, to go with all the new blossoms and open-windows weather we were having! I also wanted it to be a mild exfoliant, but kind to dry hands that have been playing in the garden." Heather used crushed oats as an exfoliant scented with lemongrass essential oil, adding nourishing calendula oil, shea butter, and jojoba oil to moisturize and protect. Its colouring is strikingly similar to real lemongrass, way to go Heather! We all thought her soaps embody the crispness of spring. Visit Heather on Facebook at
BeetleBitz.

Our third place winner is Sheila Ritter for her lovely melt and pour creation. Embedded in it is a slice of loofah to exfoliate and lovely dried pansies as decoration. This particular bar is longing for summer with a tropical fragrance. Sheila sells her hand-made soaps at her local summer markets and winter fairs. Congratulations, Sheila, on your creative technique!

To celebrate the success of our first soap contest we are giving all our contestants 10% off their next order! This is just a small thank you for your hard work and for taking the time to send your picture in. We now know there will be many contests to come!

To all those who didn't rank in the top three, your soaps were still appreciated around here. Take a look at all the amazing entries:

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It's Almost That Time Again....

Summer is coming. Fast. For parents this means the end of school, report cards, and teachers gifts. We would like to suggest a few great gift ideas that are both cost efficient and easy to make so your children can help as well.

Bath salts are always a well-received gift. We recommend mixing one part Epsom salts to one part Sea salt. The Epsom salts penetrate the skin to soothe sore, achy muscles and joints while the Sea salt softens skin for a luxurious bathing experience.

Another simple gift idea is a milk bath. Simply mix together 1 1/2 cups Whole Milk Powder with a cup of Epsom salts and 2 tablespoons of refined Shea Butter. You can add fragrance or essential oils, dried florals, or substitute the Shea Butter for another butter, such as cocoa or mango. Milk baths are designed to moisturize the skin and soothe the soul. We enhanced the skin care benefits of the homemade milk bath by including shea butter as an emollient, and Epsom salts to mimic the therapeutic effects of the renowned European mineral baths and spas.

If your child's teacher isn't keen on bath products, try making them a lotion or cream with our Cream Starter Base. Easily customizable, this base has already been emulsified so it needs no heating. You can add in whatever additives you'd like and all you have to do is stir. For a light Green Tea Face Lotion try the following ingredients:

50 g (¼ cup) Cream Starter Base

50 g (¼ cup) Floral Water

15 g (1 tablespoon) Aloe Vera Extract

3 g (½ teaspoon) Panthenol Vitamin B5

3 g (½ teaspoon) Silk Amino Acids

2 g (½ teaspoon) Preservative of choice

0.5 g (1/8 teaspoon) Green Tea Extract

All you have to do is mix the ingredients together in the cream base. So simple!

Other ideas would be our Sweet Sugar Scrub recipe or our dreamy Mineral Muscle Soak.

Keep in mind that all of these gift ideas would make fantastic last minute Mother's Day presents too!!

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Spring Inspired Soap Contest!

Spring is in full bloom! Enlived by the sunny afternoons and bright greenery we felt motivated to hold a contest; we want to see your spring-inspired soaps!

Our Spring Soap contest is open to any Voyageur customer who receives our newsletters, reads our blog, or is a fan of our Facebook page. We want to see your BEST spring-inspired soap, be it cold process, melt and pour, rebatch, hot process, any kind of soap that YOU made with your hands. The requirements are:

• The soap must have been made by you
• It must represent an aspect of springtime (it could be the scent, colour, special additive etc)

Please take a picture of your springtime soap bar and email it to service@voyageursoapandcandle.com along with any information you would like to include, such as a special technique used, what you used as a colourant or fragrance, or information about your company and where your products can be found. Please include your full name and telephone number in the email. The soap pictures will be judged by our wise and expert soap panel on their creativity, technique, and overall look of the soap.

I'm sure by now you must be wondering what the prizes are! The first place winner of the Springtime Soap Contest will win a $75 gift certificate to Voyageur, the second place winner will receive a $50 gift certificate, and the third place winner a $25 gift certificate. The winning soapers will also gain exposure by mention on our Facebook page, Blog, and newsletter. This contest is a great opportunity to get your name out there and connect with other businesses, or just to win some cash to use on your next Voyageur purchase!! Feel free to call or email if you have any questions, our toll-free number is 1-800-758-7773.

The deadline for the contest in is in exactly two weeks, Monday May the 16th, so be sure to email the photo of your soap by then! Good luck to everyone!

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Spring Cleaning

The next few months are those of crisp, sunny days with gentle winds occasionally peppered with the mild rainstorms we are accustomed to here on the west coast. During those rainy, indoor days what better to do with your time than make some natural cleaning products and tackle those winter cobwebs and dust bunnies! We have formulated a few great recipes for cleaning your home naturally without toxic chemicals. Here are a few recipes we'd like to share:

Natural All-Purpose Citrus Spray Cleaner

Ingredients:

3 tbsp D-Limonene
3 tbsp Polysorbate 20
1.5 Cups plus 2 Tbsp Water - Warm
3 tbsp White Vinegar
3 tbsp Liquid Castile Soap
2 tsp Borax Powder
¼ tsp Citricidal Grapefruit Seed Extract
10 drops Essential Oils of choice

Directions: In a large measuring cup, mix together the d-Limonene and Polysorbate 20. Slowly add all the other ingredients with gently agitation, making sure the borax is fully dissolved. Then pour into 2 x 8 oz spray bottles (try our Aluminum Bottles) and spray onto appliances, counter tops, and any other dirty surface! This recipe is super simple to make and works great!

Environmental Deodorizing Room Spray

Instead of spending money on brand-name air fresheners and odour eliminators, you can make your own at a fraction of the cost! This recipe uses 0.5% natural Tinosan to not only preserve your spray, but to help kill the bacteria in the air causing bad odors. Use as a bathroom or household air freshener, and an anti-bacterial spray for smelly shoes, pet bedding, sports gear, garbage cans, or musty closets.

Ingredients:

Part A
71.5%   Purified Water            343 grams
25.0%   Denatured Alcohol     120 grams
0.5%   Tinosan                      3 grams

Part B
2.0% Polysorbate 20                   10 grams
1.0% Essential Oil or Fragrance Oil   5 grams

Directions: Measure out Part A into a measuring cup and stir to mix. In a separate container mix together Part B and stir fully to combine. Add Part A to Part B, stirring gently, then package into glass or aluminum bottles with misters. This recipe makes 4 x 4 oz bottles of room spray.

Natural Veggie Wash

This recipe is one of my favourites because I eat a ton of vegetables and I really don't enjoy finding critters in my lettuce or that waxy coating on my apples. Our natural fruit and veggie wash recipe helps remove the water-resistant wax on your fruits and vegetables, as well as any surface pesticides, chemicals, bacteria, and dirt that may be remaining. Simply spray the natural cleaner on your produce, rub, and rinse with fresh water.

The citric acid solution used in the recipe lowers the pH and helps to break down wax and other surface contaminants. To make the citric acid solution, simply add 2 tbsp citric acid to ¼ cup warm water and dissolve. (Use our pH test strips to test the pH of any product you are making to ensure the highest quality and recipe accuracy.)

Directions: In a large measuring cup mix together 800 ml Purified Water with 200 ml Amphosol Surfactant. Then add your citric acid solution drops at a time until the pH is lowered to 3.5 or 4. Add 1/8 tsp Potassium Sorbate natural food preservative and stir until dissolved, then pour into 2 x 500 ml Cleaner bottles with trigger misters.

For more Natural Household Cleaning Recipes like these ones, take a look here!

Tawnee

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New Fleur-de-lis Mold!

Nous avons décidé de rapporter ce moule savon à cause de la grande popularité de nos autres moules fleur-de-lis. On peut créer des savons délicats et compliqués facilement avec les outils corrects et une peu de patience.

We decided to bring in this soap mold because of the huge popularity of our other fleur-de-lis molds. You can easily create delicate and intricate soaps with the right tools and a little patience.

Here's what you'll need:

1 lb Natural White Melt and Pour Soap base

8 oz Pre-Coloured Melt and Pour Soap in various colours and/or

Micas or Iron Oxides of your choice in a Clear Melt and Pour Base

Denatured Alcohol for spritzing

Fleur de lis Tray Milky Way Soap Mold

1 tsp Fragrance Oil of your choice

Soap Injector Tool

Soap Detailing Tool

Here's a quick how-to:

Start with a large, clean workspace lined with newspaper or paper towel. You’ll need at least one glass measuring cup or microwaveable container and smaller containers for different colours of Melt and Pour if you so choose. Decide how many colours you would like to use and melt about an ounce of melt and pour for each cavity’s fleur de lis. Colour the soap base with mica, such as heavy metal gold, or iron oxides.

Take your soap injector (we recommend cutting the tip of it so the opening is about 2 mm wide) and suck up some of the coloured soap. Squirt the soap very gently into the recessed fleur de lis, being careful not to push down on the plunger too hard. Keep a glass of hot water handy in case the soap starts to solidify in the injector and to rinse it out in between colours. If you have any bubbles forming on the tops, spritz the mold with denatured alcohol. If you’d like to get the “outlined” look of the soaps on the left and right of the picture above, only squeeze the soap into the deepest parts of the fleur de lis, tracing a layer of soap around the edge. If there is any over pour, simply take the soap detailing tool and clean up those areas. Repeat until you have coloured all the fleur de lis, then let the layer harden fully or approx. 10 minutes.

If you desire a background behind the fleur de lis, such as the soap at the bottom of the picture above, melt an ounce of melt and pour per cavity and colour it with the desired colourant (we used black iron oxide). Spritz the bottom layer with denatured alcohol then pour the soap over top until it reaches the bevelled edge. Hint: Be sure that the temperature of your soap is no higher than 160 F before pouring (you can comfortably hold your hand against the bottom of the measuring cup), otherwise the colours might bleed into each other.

Melt the 16 ounces of white melt and pour soap, then add your fragrance. Wait for the soap to cool slightly, and then pour it into the tray. Spritz the top with denatured alcohol if you see any bubbles forming. Wait 24 hours then gently de-mold your soaps. If you find they are sticking, place the mold in the freezer for 5 minutes before trying again.

That's all there is to it to create these beautiful soaps that are adorned with a culturally and historically rich emblem!

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Mommy and Me Natural Baby Products

Baby fever is in the air! Now is around the time when we start seeing more expectant moms and dads and we would like to share a few recipes that will help cut down costs while caring for baby's new skin and mommy's belly.

Here is a fantastic recipe for an all Natural Baby Shampoo and Body Wash:

Ingredients:

96% Natural Bath and Body Soap Base - 576 grams

3% Glycerin - 18 grams

0.3% Silk Amino Acids - 2 grams

0.5% Panthenol - 3 grams

0.2% Citricidal Grapefruit Seed Extract - 1 gram

Essential Oil or Fragrance Oil to scent if desired

Directions: Simply combine all ingredients in a bowl and stir well to combine.  Add any scent if desired (try soothing Chamomile or Lavender essential oils) and package into bottles.  This recipe makes 600 grams (or 500 ml) of shampoo, which is such a gentle, nourishing cleanser it can be used as a daily baby body wash too!

Another great, natural recipe is our Non-Petroleum Baby Jelly. So simple, this natural jelly provides a protective barrier to the skin which holds in moisture and helps prevent irritation and chafing. This recipe makes 500 grams of baby jelly. 

Ingredients:

94% Castor Oil - 470 grams

5% Beeswax - 25 grams

1% Vitamin E MTS-50 Antioxidant blend - 5 grams

Directions: Melt the beeswax in a pot on the stove then remove from heat. Microwave the castor oil to just above body temperature, then whisk in the castor oil and Vitamin E to the beeswax. Keep whisking gently, allowing the product to cool into a jelly-like consistency. Once cooled, package into cosmetic jars or tottle bottles.

Check out our other baby product recipes, such as our fantastic zinc ointment and belly balm for mom, on our website here.

For a limited time we have a sale on many of the ingredients used in these baby products like castor oil, beeswax, and zinc oxide powder. Click here for a list of what's currently on sale!

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Perfect Polka Dots

I love the new mold that we just got in from Mold market, it inspired me to make some creative polka dotted soaps! They were so easy to do and they look so sharp, I just had to share the idea.

Here's what you'll need:

15 oz Natural White Melt and Pour Soap Base
2 oz Pre-Coloured Melt and Pour Soap in various colours and/or
3 x .15 cc scoops of Black Iron Oxide
Denatured Alcohol for spritzing
Polka Dot Mold Market Soap Mold
1 tbsp Fragrance Oil of your choice
Soap Injector Tool


Instructions:
1. Prepare your work area. You’ll need at least one glass measuring cup or microwaveable container and smaller containers for the different colours of Melt and Pour, and a large clean workspace lined with newspaper or paper towel.
2. Decide how many colours you would like to use and melt about ¾ of an ounce of coloured melt and pour in total for each cavity’s polka dots. For example, if you are just doing black dots then you would melt 1.5 ounces for all three cavities in the mold, then scoop the iron oxide in and mix well. If you are doing many colours like the rainbow soap above, you will only need about a teaspoon of melted soap base per colour.
3. Take your soap injector (we recommend cutting the tip of it so the opening is about 2 mm wide) and suck up some of the coloured soap. Squirt the soap very gently into the recessed dots in the mold, being careful not to push down on the plunger too hard. Keep a glass of hot water handy in case the soap starts to solidify in the injector and to rinse it out in between colours. If you have any bubbles forming on the tops, spritz the mold with denatured alcohol.
4. Repeat until you have coloured all the dots, then let the layer harden fully or approx. an hour.
5. Melt the 16 ounces of white melt and pour soap, then add your fragrance. You’ll need to pour this soap at as low of a temperature as possible so the coloured dots do not melt and bleed into the white soap. Stir the melt and pour frequently to cool it off, pouring just before it starts to solidify. Spritz the coloured dots with denatured alcohol before pouring the white melt and pour soap to help the layers adhere.
6. Wait 24 hours then gently de-mold your soaps. If you find they are sticking, place the mold in the freezer for 5 minutes before trying again.

Have fun with this project, try using different colour combinations or micas for pearly soaps!

Tawnee

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Cream Soap Project Ideas

You may or may not be familiar with our Cream Soap Base... In a nutshell, Voyageur's Cream Soap Base is an all-natural product, made with a unique soapmaking technique that is a blend of natural cold process and liquid soapmaking to yield a wonderfully creamy soap that is both gentle and moisturizing for the skin.

Sound good so far?

We think so!

But wait... there's more!!!

Voyageur's natural cream soap base can be used on its own or in combination with other skin nourishing ingredients to make luxurious facial soaps, natural shaving creams, garderner's or mechanics hand cleansers, and much, much more. Customizing is extremely easy and let's face it, it is rather fun to get creative AND practical!! I know my skin certainly has reaped the benefits of this wonderfully moisturizing product -- the cool, dryness of winter plays havoc on the skin, robbing it of vital moisture -- so I kind of like to think of this as my own little magic defense buddy, lol.

In all seriousness, though, cream soaps are so easy to work with. They do not have a tendency to go rancid, so it is perfectly acceptable to leave out preservative if you are simply making small batches for personal use. That being said, we recommend adding preservative in any recipes that incorporate the addition of water to thin the soap base as a preventative measure to resist the potential for bacteria growth.

If you like what you've read so far, I'd love to share one of my favourite recipes for a Luxurious Facial Soap. As pictured above, the finished product is a rich, whipped facial soap that can be used as an every day cleanser. The addition of AHA or Lactic Acid, sloughs off dead skin cells while the Australian Pink Clay provides gentle exfoliation to contribute to creating a brighter complexion and more even skin tone.

Here's what you'll need:

1). 50 grams Cream Soap Base
2). Water if required
3). 1/4 to 1/2 tsp Australian Pink Clay
4). 1/4 tsp AHA (Lactic Acid)
5). 1/8 tsp Preservative of your choice
6). Fragrance or Essential Oil (optional... I'm a scent girl!)
7). One 2 oz Container or Two 1 oz Container (perfect for a little gift)

INSTRUCTIONS:

1). Measure out the cream soap base into a glass measuring cup.
2). Add water to create a smooth consistency one tsp at a time, gently stirring in between. This step can be omitted if the desired finished product is a stiff cream.
3). Add AHA, preservative, and desired amount of clay. Stir gently to combine.
4). Add fragrance or essential oil if desired... stir to combine.

I really love the finished product -- it works amazingly, it's pretty, and it smells great!! Hope you will have fun trying it out too. It's a good feeling knowing exactly what we are putting on our skin, and if the end result product works great, then it's a win/win situation in my books :-)!!

We have posted additional recipes on Voyageur's website... Here's the run down:

Pump Hand Soap -- cleanses and moisturizes at the same time!!

Exfoliating Gardener's Soap -- Perfect for all that Spring Time Yard work --Can't wait to get out there!!

Mechanic's Hand Cleanser -- Utilizing the natural grease cutting properties of d-limonene, together with fine pumice and french red clay, this soap will get rid of the grime and dirt without drying out the skin.

Natural Shaving Soap -- A great alternative to store bought shaving creams!!

Well, we hope you have fun checking out the recipes and decide to give it a go. It really is just that easy... and we think you will love the gentle, moisturizing properties of our wonderful Cream Soap Base. Have fun! Your skin will love you back :-)

Happy Thursday... hope you are having a wonderful day!

Joanna

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Rebatch Project Ideas

Rebatch soap is a fantastic way to make rustic, artisan soaps by hand without using lye. It gives you the freedom to incorporate whatever additives you'd like because the saponification process has already been completed. Certain ingredients that would otherwise react to the lye in cold process soapmaking, such as dried florals and herbs, can be used without fear that their colour or characteristics might be compromised. Any fragrance or essential oil can be used without potentially speeding up trace or your soap seizing, as well as any colourant! The additions of nourishing nutrients can also be incorporated such as vitamins, proteins, and specialty skincare oils for extra benefit.

Above are pictures of 3 beautiful rebatch soaps we've made: Lavender, featuring Lavender Flowers, Lavender Essential Oil, and Ultramarine Purple as a colourant; Lemongrass soap with Lemongrass Essential Oil, Calendula Petals, and Annato powder; and Green Tea soap containing Green Tea Fragrance and Green Tea Leaves.

To make these amazing soaps yourself click here for the full project sheets.

The instructions for rebatch soap are easy:

1. Fill a large pot with water and bring to a boil. Place desired amount of rebatch soap in a large, heavy zip lock bag, then place inside a second zip lock bag, ensuring that both are sealed.

2. Place the grated soap bag in the water, reduce heat to medium-low, then cover and gently boil for 1 hour. During this time, prepare your molds and any other additives you may be using.

3. After an hour, using oven mitts take the bag out of the water and place on a towel on the counter. Gently knead or mush the soap around until an even consistency is reached. If you can still see grated soap chunks, place the bag back in the pot and boil for another 20-30 minutes. Carefully remove from water and repeat kneading.

4. If desired consistency cannot still be reached, add 2-4 tbsp of water per pound of soap base and put back in the hot water for another 20-30 mins.

5. Once the soap has reached the smooth consistency of thin mashed potatoes, add any essential or fragrance oil, floral, colour, or other additive and knead well to distribute.

6. Snip off the corner of the bag and pipe the soap into your mold, making sure you fill the sides and corners. Cover your mold with plastic wrap or freezer paper and let sit until hard, then remove from the mold. Depending on how much water and other liquid has been added, the soap may need to cure for up to a couple weeks to create a hard bar with great longevity.

Keep in mind that rebatch soap produces a more rustic-looking bar than cold process with lots of character. The possibilities are virtually limitless!

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New Organic Peppermint Lip Balm

To fend off the cold weather we've been having lately we formulated a new lip balm with all Certified Organic ingredients, the result being a super rich balm that penetrates dry, chapped lips. We'd love to share the recipe:

16% Organic Beeswax Pastilles - 40 grams
8% Organic Refined Shea Butter - 20 grams
6% Organic Cocoa Butter - 15 grams
40% Organic Extra Virgin Olive Oil - 100 grams
16% Organic Jojoba Oil - 40 grams
14% Organic Castor Oil - 35 grams
Organic Peppermint Essential Oil to taste

The instructions are simple: melt the ingredients in the microwave using a glass measuring cup or on the stove in a double boiler. Remove from heat and stir until all parts are dissolved. Add peppermint essential oil to the desired flavour level, for a noticeable minty tingle we would recommend using 50-60 drops or more. Pour the lip balm into lip tubes or slider tins.

This recipe makes 250 grams or over 50 lip tubes. You can keep the balm in a sealed plastic container for melting at a later date if you don't want to use all of the mixture at once. Keep in mind that many of these ingredients and packaging options are on sale right now for our Customer Appreciation Sale!

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Beautiful (& Easy) Cameo Soaps

Today we are incredibly excited to show everyone about our newest project idea: these beautiful Victorian Cameo Soaps!  My mind raced with possibilities when I saw this mold and soon I knew I had to do something with it.  Here's what you’ll need to create 5 soap bars:

6 oz Natural White Melt and Pour Soap base

2 oz Natural Clear Melt and Pour Soap Base

2 x .15 cc scoop of Heavy Metal Gold Mica

2 x .15 cc scoops of Black Iron Oxide

Denatured Alcohol for spritzing

Guest Cameo Milky Way Soap Mold

Fragrance Oil of your choice (we used Pear Flower)

Instructions:

   1. Prepare your work space. You'll need at least one glass measuring cup or microwaveable container, a large clean workspace lined with paper towel or newspaper, a dry paint brush, and a small paring knife or carving tool.  

   2. Start by melting an ounce of white melt and pour soap in the microwave, starting at 10 seconds and stirring frequently. When fully melted, use a soap syringe, transfer pipette, or even a Dixie cup to pour the white soap into the recessed bottom of the mold. This will be the head of the cameo. Be careful not to pour too much soap into the mold otherwise this will overflow onto her backdrop. Spritz the white soap with denatured alcohol if you notice any bubbles. When the layer has fully hardened, take the knife or carving tool and clean up the edges of the cameo if you need to so the lady's profile is fully visible.  

   3. Place the iron oxide in a Dixie cup or small container and add about a teaspoon of water to fully dissolve the powder. Melt another ounce of white melt and pour and add the black iron oxide, stirring until the desired colour is reached. Spritz the layer of white cameo soap with denatured alcohol to help the layers adhere, then pour the black soap into the mold being careful not to over pour into the border. Let the layer fully harden and if you need to, use the knife or carving tool to trim up any over pour.

   4. Melt 2 ounces of clear melt and pour soap in the microwave, then dissolve the heavy metal gold mica in a small container with water the same way as the iron oxide. Add that to the clear melt and pour and blend in. Spritz the cameo mold with denatured alcohol then pour your gold soap in; you'll want to pour a layer that fully covers the border around the edge.

   5. When that layer has hardened, melt the rest of your white melt and pour and add your fragrance oil (about a teaspoon) and stir. Pour the final layer of melt and pour soap until it reaches the top of the mold and spritz with denatured alcohol to get rid of any bubbles.

   6. Wait 24 hours to allow your soaps to harden, then take them out of the mold. If they stick, place the mold in the freezer for 5-10 minutes before trying again. Grab your container of heavy metal gold mica. Using your dry paint brush, gently pick up some of the mica off the cap (a little goes a long way!). Gently dab the paint brush around the gilded edge of the mold to create that extra pop! of gold. You can also highlight the lady's hair and shoulders with the gold mica, this gives an effect that is stunning and inspiring!




Feel free to take creative liberty! Try using different coloured micas and iron oxides for the backdrop, or use Sparkle Gold or Vintage Grey Mica instead of the Heavy Metal Gold. I had a ton of fun making these soaps and the end results are breathtaking!!


- Tawnee and all of us at Voyageur

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Welcome to our blog!

Well, it's time. We've been in the business of making and providing ingredients for soap, candles, skin, and hair care products for our fellow soap makers, crafters, and colleagues for close to 20 years. We've gained so much knowledge and experience, we're nearly overflowing.

So that's what we're going to do! We're spilling over all of our expertise into our website, giving you lots of recipes and resources for you to make your own soap, candles, skin care products, make-up, home cleaners, and loads more. And we're going to use this blog as an additional overflow tank!

We'll be giving you all kinds of great recipes and project ideas for you to try out at home, featuring unique ingredients and telling you about all the ways you can use them, and sharing some of the things that inspire us around here!

It's all about supporting each other, learning new things, and making your own beauty - with products that we feel good about using.

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