Monday, December 12, 2011

A Jolt of Java





I still remember the firs time I used coffee in my soap.


As naive (and ignorant) as a newbie can be, I was completely unprepared for the stink that was about to assault my nose as I poured my lye into my freshly brewed coffee.  The fragrant coffee aroma quickly turned into what I'd like to describe as the smell of deep-fried shrimps.   Not that I know what deep-fried shrimps (with shells!) smell like, but interestingly enough, some of my fellow soap friends all come up with the same description.  Deep fried shrimps.  With shells.





I stop adding coffee into my soaps after that horrible first attempt, but I never stop dreaming of soaps with natural coffee aroma (without using any fragrance oil).   With this recent attempt, I think I've got it!


I call these my Triple Shots - the oils are infused with fresh coffee grinds for 4 months, the water is replaced with super concentrated frozen coffee, and before the soap is pored into the mold, more coffee grinds!







The end result is this chocolate-like soap with a mild coffee scent - not the popular coffee fragrance, but the subtle smell of coffee grinds.   I love it!  Now I only hope that the scent stays and that I don't get brown suds with all these fine coffee grinds in the soap. ;)










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19 comments:

  1. Two Blooms Design StudioDecember 12, 2011 at 4:04 PM

    These look and sound delicious.

    Michelle

    ReplyDelete
  2. JuliaDecember 12, 2011 at 4:12 PM

    I love coffee smelling, but I don't drink, so your soaps are perfect for me. Congratulations.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Amy@10th Ave.December 12, 2011 at 4:27 PM

    Mmmmm! They look like lovely chunks of dark chocolate....

    ReplyDelete
  4. Jennifer YoungDecember 12, 2011 at 10:45 PM

    Love the look of these soaps... LOVE LOVE LOVE the photos. I think you are a wonderful photographer. Let us know how the natural soap scent lasts... and how these perform. xoxo Jen

    ReplyDelete
  5. Amy WardenDecember 16, 2011 at 5:07 PM

    Now that is a labor of love!! And your photos just make them look absolutely perfect. :)

    ReplyDelete
  6. MaggieDecember 17, 2011 at 5:54 AM

    To Michelle,

    Thank you!

    To Julia & Amy from Tenth Avenue,

    I'm quite happy with the way they turn out. It never hurts to have
    something that looks and smells like food!

    To Jen & Amy,

    Sometimes I find it difficult to take soap photos and I usually run
    out of ideas as to how to position and present the soaps. I'm glad
    you like what I did this time!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. My Planet Earth SoapsFebruary 25, 2012 at 8:57 AM

      Wow Maggie your soaps and photography are amazing! Canadian Soap Makers Rock! :p It is great that your coffee soap worked out...working with liquids other than water can be challenging sometimes but so worth it! Mike :)

      Delete
    2. My Planet Earth SoapsFebruary 25, 2012 at 9:26 AM

      This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

      Delete
    3. MaggieFebruary 26, 2012 at 9:27 AM

      Thanks Mike! You're right about Canadian soap makers, there are so many talents out there! We're just all being our Canadian selves, humble and all. :)

      Delete
  7. Anne-MarieDecember 20, 2011 at 12:21 PM

    Haha, fried shrimp with shells! I think it's great that you were able to reach the goal of coffee scent without a fragrance oil, congratulations! =)

    ReplyDelete
  8. MichelleDecember 25, 2011 at 5:43 PM

    Ewww, stinky shrimp. LOL! I luv the scent of coffee in soaps. Your soap looks awesome!

    ReplyDelete
  9. ZoeyJanuary 8, 2012 at 12:00 PM

    the soap looks lovely!
    I also plan to do a coffe soap but I am afraid of mixing the naoh with the coffee, how do you know that everything dissolves...?
    love louisa.

    ReplyDelete
  10. MaggieJanuary 8, 2012 at 12:13 PM

    To Anne-Marie, Michelle,

    I'm still in love with that faint scent of coffee in these soaps. I can't wait to bring them with me to the shower so I can see if hot water does anything to encourage the aroma. :)


    To Louisa,

    The only tip I have for you is to be patient and careful. Make sure you scrap the bottom of your mixture to check if any lye crystals are left undissolved. Have fun with your coffee soap!

    ReplyDelete
  11. ZoeyJanuary 9, 2012 at 2:37 PM

    Thank you! Yes maybe I should stir just extra long to make sure everything dissolves properly. well at last I will see if everything is ok, which will be the time when i will cut the soap ^^

    ReplyDelete
  12. plumbing fittingsJune 16, 2012 at 7:09 PM

    Imported soap all around the world. I think the effect of this is still based on your skin type.

    ReplyDelete
  13. UnknownOctober 4, 2012 at 1:45 AM

    So beautiful!

    ReplyDelete
  14. UnknownApril 4, 2013 at 6:02 PM

    I have bookmarked it and I am looking ahead to reading new articles. Keep up the good articles.
    handmade soap

    ReplyDelete
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    ReplyDelete
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