Sunday, October 17, 2010

Soap & Fragrance

A nice long talk with my friend Margie (of Hill Country Haiku fame) Friday evening got my soapmaking batteries re-charged. I love talking with Margie; she gets me thinking about fragrances and soap formulas, and beautiful colorations in soap. I needed some oomph so badly.

Before I talked to her Friday, I made a batch of Lavender Coriander soap, and it smells so good. She sent me a photo of the batch she and her assistant made Friday - White Tea and Ginger, with a triple swirl. Margie's swirls are amazing, and I know I'll never achieve anything near her swirl perfection. Of course, she seems to admire my nose for scents, so we have a pretty good mutual admiration society going.

Between that and the trip Thursday afternoon to Oils by Nature, I'm all fired up and ready to start making lots and lots of soap before the holidays. I, of course, have all the old favorite stand-bys to make, but I also love to play - try new scents, make new blends, etc.

Right now, I'm off to make the Pumpkin Pie and Lavender blend that Margie mentioned. I don't know what proportions to use, but I do trust my nose, and I'm going to see if I can concoct that man-luring scent. However, I'd love, love, love to know what your noses are telling you these days.

Leave me a comment please? Tell me your favorites for any season, tell me what you've sniffed lately that you can't get out of your mind, tell me what you've been seeking for years and can't find. And fellow soapers - what trends are you seeing? Let's talk fragrance - I miss it so.

14 comments:

Debra said...

My favorite is still the bergamot tangerine that you made me last year, and Satin Gown, of course. I catch the scent of either of those and it makes me instantly relax and feel good.

JudiA said...

First of all, I'm delighted to hear the excitement and motivation in your words!
A caveat on scents - I know NOTHING about soap making, but I know what I like, LOL. I don't care much for strong florals - they are too sweet to my nose. I prefer herbal-y green-y smells best in soap, along with citrus. My favorite soap is a blend of lavender and lemon with little scrubby things in it that manages to smell both alming and energizing at the same time.

Sue said...

I replied to Judi privately, but I want to say here that this is just what I want! I want to hear what soap *consumers* really love. I want to hear about the scents you love - emotional triggers, calming effects, just stuck in your head - all of it.
Today I made the Lavender Pumpkin Spice, and that years old favorite - Tomato Leaf!!

Daryl Jackson said...

Mmmm Almond almond and more almond.
Pumpkin spice sounds like something I would really like too!

Judi W. said...

I love the citrus too - grapefruit. I especially love that soap you make called Heartsong (I think). I need MORE of it, lol.

Hill Country Haiku said...

Sue, I was so energized from our phone visit that I wanted to blow off my week end travel plans to be able to stay home and work!

I wish we would make a point to talk more often (maybe Gerry wouldn't object if we promised to set a timer?)

d.a. said...

I like bergamot, lemon grass, verbena, rosemary... more herbal & citrus-y scents. The scent has to stay low-key, however, as too much will give me a headache! My needs are in the minority in this regard, I'm guessing :-).

Sue said...

I'm so encouraged to see so many fresh and herbal preferences here! That's the way I tend to lean, as well, but always felt I was in the minority. I have a couple friends who love food scents - which just don't do it for me. How about you guys - do you want to smell like a sugar cookie??

d.a. said...

I don't personally dig the food scented soaps, but others may feel differently!

Unknown said...

Depends on the food scent. Notes of chocolate (cocoa butter), vanilla, sweet orange, cinnamon and lime are always popular wherever I go. But I prefer the sharp fresh herbals (rosemary, sage, eucalyptus, any of the mints) and warm pungent spices, especially this time of year (clove, nutmeg, ginger, cardamom, and bay) to name a few. I'm a major EO HO but love me some Margie, so I wanted to say Hi. Lavender Coriander sounds amazing...

Anonymous said...

Ok, I'll be your lonely "food scent" lover. I love vanilla scents (as long as they don't morph into smelling like playdough) and Applejack n' Peel is always a favorite of mine (especially in the fall). I also lean toward "gourmand" fragrances like HOT by Ralph Lauren, and I've got Angel fragrance oil as well as Mayan Gold in the soaping closet.
I really love the fruity herbals; my nose doesn't like strong florals or straight herbals though. Until I typed this I didn't realize how opinionated I am about fragrance! Too funny!

Sue said...

Hmmm... I'm not familiar with HOT, I'll have to do some shopping.
Judi W - we have Heartsong (Lovespell). It comes out of the mold today!

hoppa said...

Sue,

So good to see you excited about soapmaking again. Not into food smells but do like peppermint sometimes. But like more of the scents that have a spice to them but not like old spice.Just dont know the scents guess I need to wait till I go back home and see what some of those scents are that I bought marked for men.

Bear said...

oh heck Sue
I am just a dissappointment in aall of this - I read the comments baack and forth and I a such a drudge mine is the old standards I adore Lavender and Vanilla, what canyiu do with me so boring arenet I??
mind you I love the roses in my garden I have many roses and the perfumes arae so different beteween themm all but they are all gorjus as well
love n hugs bear xoxoxoxo