Soap Testing

Positives--

The addition of olive oil and milks give the bars a gentler lather. It immediately made my skin feel smooth..there hasn't been an itch to scratch. It has not hurt my more delicate parts either.
The smells are pleasant.
They did not melt down..or leave a crazy film.
So far, Lavender; Rose-geranium ( goats milk); peppermint-tea-tree ( soy milk) are my favorites...I'm finding that less is more.


Negative--
The appearance of my soaps need to improve. A simple rectangle will suffice. I'm with others..it's just too chunky. Maybe I'm just pouring too much into the mold?
I think the fragrances should be kept simple, but appealing....what about an orange cream, or coconut cream, or blueberries and cream...I think true fragrance oils, used in moderation, would be fine...
I cannot use herbs in the soap unless they are ground, or powdered. Also, some of the herbs turn brown over time--lavender, sage, and oregano have been disappointments. I have researched that calendula will not do this. So ordered a small amount of it in powder form.
Tea tree oregano, and rosemary, peppermint, lavender were thrown away--smelled great..but they were crap.

If I don't test it..it doesn't get given to someone else...

Well this is different..

Hey there,

I've had a lot on my mind lately. I have always been a writer, and I tend to express my thoughts better this way. While my gears have been constantly spinning about where my future lies in my profession, I have found some comfort in the simpler things. For instance, today, my husband and I took a walk through the Huntington Gardens in San Marino. The smells, the sights, and the taste of jasmine tea made me forget about a lot of the worries that have been plaguing me for the past three years. This is my third layoff...I'm frustrated folks.

Walking through the Rose Pavilion, reminded me of when grandma and I would take walks down to a neighbor's house in the evenings-- I could smell the rose bushes in her front yard. Walking through the Asian gardens, reminded me of when Stuart and I shared an awesome weekend trip to San Francisco last summer. Also, traveling through the desert conservatory area, brought back fond memories of my visits to Arizona to see my parents. Everything that I saw today was inspirational..and well emotional.

I don't know where the future lies...but I know where my heart is. It is with those people and experiences that have made me who I am.