Lemongrass Lavender Soap

For this project we (my fiancé and I) used

• 1 box ready-made goat's milk soap base. (We did this to avoid having to use lye. I checked the ingredients in our box and was satisfied.)
• 1 cup organic olive oil
• 1 package dried lavender/ approximately 1/2 cup
• 25 drops lemongrass essential oil
• 15 drops lavender
• 2 tablespoons honey (not intended, but my fiancé was all "milk and honey!"

The package said you could microwave the soap, but I don't like what the microwave does to stuff when you can use the stove, so we took the long route and used a make-shift double boiler.  You most likely could avoid using a double boiler if you used very low heat.  

Once melted we removed it from the heat and continuously stirred. If it sat it developed a hard film and we needed it to be smooth.  Once it cooled down to the point where it was warm to the touch (I wouldn't burn) that's when we started adding stuff.  You do not want to add essential oils to hot wax, soap, etc.  This will render the oils nearly useless.  We added the oils last allowing the other ingredients to cool it down further.

Then we poured it into our mold, set it in the fridge, and waited.

About an hour and a half later it was ready.  Ours made 9 big pieces.  If you wanted smaller pieces to give away, or had actual molds it would probably go a LOT farther.  But we made big 'ole hunks.  

After cutting it I took a shower and it was marvelous.  I had read online that one worry with the pre-made soup we bought was that it was not "soft" enough.  The olive oil really softens it out.  The lavender exfoliates, and the lemongrass smell is really complemented by that as well.  I was really happy with the product.  I highly recommend trying it.

For anyone who buys a kit this month they will get some free soap!