The Evolution of Swiss Rolls

Hubby's co-worker is expecting a baby girl in four months, and what gift is better than 100% olive oil handmade soap?  

Since I've been planning on making swiss roll soaps, I figured that I could give it a try.  It should be easy, right?  After all, it's just rolling up CP soap.    

Oh I couldn't be more wrong!

This is my first attempt.  My original plan is simply to make 2 layers and roll them up - one with cocoa powder ("chocolate cake") and one with pink clay ("raspberry cream").   But they're both too thick for rolling, and the end result doesn't look like a swiss roll at all.  Rather, it looks like ... I can't even describe what it looks like.

And then there's my second attempt.

I've learned my lesson: keep the layers thin and wait for the soap to set up properly before rolling.

They look a lot like swiss rolls this time, but rolling is still not easy.  I have a hard time keeping the whole thing round, and the surface is not as smooth as I'd like to see.  I'm happy with my second try though.  At least I know what I can do next time to make it even better!

My First In-the-pot Swirl

I found this great video about swirling, and the video had been replaying non-stop in my head ever since.  I had to try the swirl to get it out of my system!  Unfortunately, the result isn't quite I expected.

I was hoping for more fine lines and more curves, but this is what I got.
Sometimes I wonder if "good" swirling requires a large mold, either a long and narrow log mold, or a wide and flat slab mold.  All my molds are small, the largest one can only take up to 800g of oil.  I've been wishing for a nice wooden mold, but it's so hard to find an affordable mold here in Toronto!

I n g r e d i e n t s :
Olive oil, Lard, Coconut oil


Made on 2010-06-09

Is it the way they smell?

First of all - Happy Birthday, Canada! How old are you now, 143? It's amazing to think that you're still so young that I bet some of the trees in the park nearby are older than you.

These soaps are know to my dentist as the Peppermint Soap, and so are some other ones I've made before. Whenever I visit her, she'll ask for peppermint soaps. I've used different formulas, but the scent has always been Peppermint EO, and she seems to be happy each time she gets them.

Hubby has a colleague who always asks for Orange Soap. I have a friend who only likes Lavender Soap, and my mother doesn't even care what the scents are, she just calls them "the soap that smells nice". The scent has become my soap's identity, like a flavour, a tag.

Sometimes I wonder whether they love the soaps for the way they smell or the way they pamper the skin. To me, I've stopped scenting most of my soaps because I know I'll be curing them for at least 4, 5 months before I use them. But sometimes I do enjoy that extra luxury the wonderful smell can bring to the shower. In fact, I just made Lavender Soap not too long ago, and I'm going to save them for one of those "Me Days"!

Olive oil, Coconut oil, Castor oil, Sweet Almond, Cocoa Butter

and Peppermint Essential Oil!

Made on 2010-06-02

The one that got away

Last year, a friend shared a great book with me on how to be happy, genuinely happy.  One of the great way to stay happy, according to the book, is to write letters of appreciation. 


I then started to write a few letters to those I'm truly thankful to, and I also made these soaps as a token of my gratitude. 


Now I wish I had made more because I just gave away the last one from this batch and I haven't had a chance to try them yet!


This doesn't happen very often.  Usually I try my soaps before I give them out, it's my kind of way of saying "I know this is good for you!".  

Olive oil, Coconut oil, Palm oil

Castor oil, Sweet Almond oil, Cocoa Butter

Made on 2009-09-13

Olive Oil Soap

Taking out an old bar of soap to use is like unwrapping a long-awaited present.

The anticipation starts when I pick up the soap from my soap room and quickly builds up during my short walk to the shower.

The feeling then gets replaced by the excitement as soon as I turn on the water.



And, the grand unveil!

I made these soaps more than two years ago, and now I only have one left.  I would've kept the last one a little longer if it's not for the tiny DOS on one side of the bar.  I guess that DOS is my signal to start enjoying the soap.


This soap has everything an old soap has to offer, and taking a shower now is like getting a quick home spa.  Unfortunately Hubby doesn't share the same passion with me.  To him, it's a "good soap", and that's it.

The original gel marks have long gone.  I hope this is of some comfort to soapers out there who wonder if these marks will ever disappear.


In fact, I think I love this bar so much that I think I'm going to make the same one and let them sit for another 2 years!