Almond Cream Handcrafted Soap

Desert Sal Almond Cream Handcrafted Soap (click for link) is the most recent soap we've made. We used olive, coconut, and sweet almond oil, finely ground almonds, and pure almond extract. It's made using oven hot process method.

Desert Rose Whipped Soap

A new technique for hot process with rebatch and whip yielded this...

Desert Rose Whipped Soap (click for link)

Rose Soap

Simply Rose Soap by Desert Sal. Inspired by New Mexico Desert Roses.

Handknit Scarf in Chocolates

We have three more kinds of lavender soap on the way, as well as honey almond chocolate soap! In the meantime, we're knitting and sewing, embroidering and crocheting. If you have special craft pictures you'd like to share, please email us by commenting on the post. (Click here for link to Desert Sal)

Lavender Soap

Desert Lavender Handcrafted Soap

Lavender is one of my favorite essential oils. It's intoxicating! Here's part of a new batch, with more on the way. (Click above for link)

Vintage Lace and Velvet Necklace

While the soap cures, these little necklaces were fun to make! Wonderful wardrobe accents. (Click for link)

Honey Almond Oatmeal Soap!

We made this using hot process, then re-batching and whipping it. It's made from coconut and olive oils, with honey, ground almonds, and ground oatmeal, scented with Allspice fragrance oil and vanilla, and it comes with a "warning label": Do Not Eat!

Handcrafted Jewelry and Handknit Scarves

We have new soap on the way! Honey Almond Oatmeal, Lavender, and Chocolate Soap! While it's curing, these are some of the things we've created:

Suede and Vintage Bead Button Necklace

Black Boucle Scarf with Rose Kilt Pin

Handcrafted Soap, Bath & Body - Ideas for Packaging

If you are new to the handcrafted soap, bath and body products business, you might wonder how to package your products for gift or sale. If you're just starting out, or you are making soap, bath salts, milk bath, or other products as gifts, you can create wonderful packaging at little cost. If you've established a brand identity, but want to experiment with new lines or packaging, you can also do this without ordering in bulk.

Here are three different examples of branding, simply using labels, before you decide on boxes or other packaging.

Desert Sal Botanical Soap Shop. Paper bands, labels, and shrink wrap. These go in boxes or gift bags.


Amelias on Etsy. This is a terrific example of using labels to create brand image. Simple, elegant, classy. Amelia tells us she orders her boxes from Papermart.com


Amelias on Etsy. Amelia makes these envelopes herself, but well worth the effort. They create a unique look that is very flexible.


Deshawnmarie on Etsy. A perfect example of great brand image, and says everything about her product.

When considering soap packaging, first decide whether or not you are going to wrap your soap before you box or label it. I always shrink-wrap my soap, and this is not difficult! You can order a great shrink-wrap kit from National Shrink Wrap, relatively inexpensively. If you're not ready to do that, you can shrink wrap one bar at at time. You can buy shrink wrap bags or sheets (I initially got mine from a dollar discount store), cut them to size, and wrap one bar at a time. Shrink wrap is not self-sealing, so you will need to use tape or something to hold the edges together before you apply heat. I used very light packing tape (Henkel Duck Crystal Clear) as it is so light it does not show the way heavier packing tape or wrapping tape does.

Tissue paper, craft paper, scrapbooking paper, boxes, and bags.

Don't overlook your local craft store, although you can often find discount suppliers.

Wallpaper border labels and handmade envelopes.

A variety of bags, jars, and bottles. I don't use glass for bathroom items. You can save bottles and jars from items in your home to see how you like the look and feel before you purchase in bulk.

On left, seam binding...very inexpensive as ribbon, with translucent craft paper. On right, handpainted paper cut to make bands. Once you have a look you like, you can scan and print, or have it printed.

Hand painted paper bands, computer-printed labels, to see if I like the look and feel of it.

Dollar store white boxes, approximately 15 cents each, with raffia and scrapbooking paper. The white flower petals are actually soap! made with glycerin and cornstarch.

Soap Packaging Links
World's Easiest Way to Shrink Wrap Soap - National Shrink Wrap
Papermart - Paper, Boxes, More
Steps-To-Memories.com - Bags, Organza, Tulle
India Handmade Paper
Idea Ribbon - Organza, Tulle, Acetate
Paper Addict
Handmade Paper Online
1-800 Gift Box
Bags & Bows
Bayley's Boxes
Box and Wrap

Or, see the Sidebar for Soap Packaging Links.

Coconut Oil Soap

Tropical Traditions Coconut Oil - Product Review, Part I

A few weeks ago, I received 32 oz of Tropical Traditions Gold Label Standard Virgin Coconut Oil. Today, with some new essential oils I acquired, I put it to the test. Of course, it will be 4-6 weeks until the soap has cured, but so far, I like this coconut oil!

I also used olive oil in the recipe. This coconut oil was very easy to scoop out and measure. It is pure white, and smells faintly, not overwhelmingly, of coconut. I added beet root powder (for a faint, pink color, as I love roses!), and my own blend of rose absolute and lime essential oil. I'll let you know how the soap turns out!

Coming Soon....

I'm working on a post about packaging soap and bath & body items. It's almost ready! I've been taking pictures, and getting the links, content, and examples ready. For now...one picture of new botanical soap, and two hints of packaging tips to come!

New Desert Sal Botanical Soaps

Beautiful creative packaging by Amelia's Soap Co. at Etsy

Desert Sal Wallpaper Border Packaging

The upcoming packaging post will be primarily for the smaller handcrafter who is developing brand packaging, but not quite ready to commit to bulk order packaging. It also helps if you have an established brand image, but want to experiment with a new look or packaging before you order it in bulk.

"Oh, the Easter Soaps!"

What beautiful, creative egg soaps by Annie's Powder Room at Etsy!

(click captions for links)

Easter Egg Soap by Annie's Powder Room

Sophisticated Egg Soap by Annie's Powder Room

All Things Handcrafted!

My mother taught me to knit and sew when I was five years old. She was from England, and believed that every little girl should know how to knit, sew, embroider, and crochet. My sisters and I grew up with a love of these things.

Now the question is....to bead, or not to bead?

I love to create pillows, quilts, and handcrafted items from vintage lace, trim, and fabric remnants. These are pillows in the works!

First the deco pillows, then on the to fiery desert reds and yellows....

Create and enjoy!

"Oh, the Soap!" Photo Gallery

A Photo Gallery of Beautiful, Creative Soaps!
(click caption for link)

Natural Lavender Soap by Athena's Olive Tree

Sweet Bay Rose Soap by Athena's Olive Tree

Pink Chocolate Heart Soap by Bubbles Variety Shoppe


Pink Cupcake Bath Bomb by Bubbles Variety Shoppe

Peppermint Chocolate Swirl Soap by Aunt Nancy's Soap

Mint Chocolate Chunk Soap by PixieSoap

Mini Mulled Cider Handsoaps by Amber's Ambry

Sophisticated Egg Soaps by Annie's Powder Room

Easter Egg Soaps by Annie's Powder Room

Milk Bath & Bath Salts

Life is good. While I walk/jog, do Pilates, and exercise religiously, my friend can down two pints of mint chocolate chip ice cream (1420 calories), after eating a pound of pasta alfredo. He’s tall and lean, and never exercises.

I’ve been experimenting with fragrance combinations recently. I love rose, light citrus, and spicy scents, and wondered if a combination of all three would work. I combined Rose Absolute, Lime Essential Oil, and Allspice Fragrant Oil in a 3:2:1 ratio, and it was wonderful! I added this to milk bath and bath salts, and my bathroom smelled like a tropical resort!

I add my essential oils to dendritic salt first, as this helps prevent the oils from spoiling, and helps the fragrance last longer. I need to add a lot more fragrance to milk bath and bath salts than I do to a batch of soap…after all, the milk bath and bath salts will be diluted in a tub of water!

I wasn’t able to find dendritic salt locally, but I did find it and other great products, prices, and service at Arkieannie. Arkieannie has most of the basics I need to make bath and body products, including Kaolin and Bentonite clays. I purchase essential oils at New Directions Aromatics but of course there are many suppliers out there. Dendritic salt is about 5% of my recipe, and I add the oils and fragrances to this first.

Milk Bath:

2 cups non-fat dry milk; 1 cup cornstarch; 1/2 cup baking soda

Bath Salts:

2 cups Epsom salts; 1/2 cup sea salt; 3 TBL baking soda

I combine ingredients in a large stainless steel bowl, mixing well. (I do this in a clean, safe, designated area of my workshop, and I wear disposable vinyl gloves and a headcover). I measure and take out the amount I want to color and scent, and put this in one of those plastic self-locking containers with a lid. I add powdered, FDA-approved soap colorant, and shake until the color is evenly dispersed. I then add my scented dendritic salt, and shake well.

I package my Milk Bath and Bath Salts in the plastic candy “treat bags” I buy at my local craft store in the candy-making section. I label it according to FDA specifications, seal it using a sealer, and add raffia or ribbon. Ready as a gift or an item to sell!

You can see more at DesertSal.etsy.com

Birthdays, Soapmaking, The Weather, New Mexico, and a Spice Cake Recipe

Ah, yes. Today is my birthday! I won't say how old I am, it's enough that I'm a Pisces. We're romantic and sensitive, you know. I had dinner with my "Sunday Girlie Group"...five or so of us get together once or twice a month, on Sunday, just "us girls." We gossip, listen to music, and eat potluck dinner. We each bring a different dish, so we could end up with black bean chili, antipasto, shrimp dip, and blueberry ice cream, you just never know. Last night we grilled steak, chicken, and shrimp, though, and there was a cake with candles (yikes).

Well, today I spoke with a friend in Albuquerque. He told me that the winds there, which had reached 40-50 mph gusts over the past few days, were finally dying down. Temperatures where I am right now have been in the 30s for most of the past month, so I had no sympathy, since temperatures in Albuquerque have been in the 50s and 60s.

He has daily adventures of his own, and many of them remind me of "Confederacy of Dunces" (by John Kennedy Toole) meets "Ship of Fools" (by Katherine Anne Porter)...two of my favorite novels.

Last night I watched "Juno" for the first time...what an amazing film!! It was not at all what I expected in terms of story line. The photography, music, casting, and script were perfection. This movie is now on my all- time favorites list.

I started my adventures in soapmaking with melt and pour, as do many handcrafted soap makers. Desert colors have always been my inspiration, in painting, jewelry, pillow cover and quilt designs, and in the soap I make.

(You can see more of these at http://www.desertsal.etsy.com/)

My favorite scents are rose, lime blossom, and clementine (lightly sweet citrus orange...just heavenly!). I often add a hint of spice to the floral and citrus, and I've blended a new fragrance using combinations of these, which I added to Milk Bath and Bath Salts. The bathroom is filled with a sweet, spicy, citrusy fragrance, just intoxicating!

My next project will be to add desert organics to cold and hot process soap, but to keep the light, delicate colors and desert-inspired designs...pale yellows and pinks (like the roses at The Lodge), sunrises, bold skies, and the million shades of turquoise, jasper, and other desert stones you find in New Mexico. The high desert is where the true importance of moisturizing really hit home for me, so I add extra ingredients for this. There are some really great natural and organic elements for soap, too, and I'm working on incorporating these into my new soap recipes.

In the days and weeks to come, I'll post a bit about my daily life, include my favorite soap recipes and designs, and keep you abreast on my progress with oven and double-boiler hot process soaps, which I find to be creamier than cold process soaps, although, of course, not as easy to work with. I think I've found a way to create melt and pour design elements into this! Let me know if you have wonderful soap designs you'd like me to post, and if space permits, I'll do it. I'm looking for the really exceptional!

Now it's time to make Pennsylvania Dutch Spice Cake. It's really good, my Albuquerque friend loved it. Here's the recipe:

2 1/2 cups sifted flour

1 1/2 cups sugar

1/4 tsp baking powder

1 1/2 tsp baking soda

1 1/2 tsp salt

1/2 tsp cinnamon

3/4 tsp nutmeg

1/2 cup butter

1/2 cup water

2 cups apple butter

2 eggs

1 cup raisins

3/4 cups walnuts

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Sift dry ingredients together, put aside. Cream butter, add water and apple butter, mix until blended. Add dry ingredients 1/3 at a time, mixing well after each addition, about two minutes total. Add eggs, beat two more minutes. Add raisins and blend; fold in nuts. Bake in greased 13x9 inch pan, bake 45-50 minutes or until cake pulls away from sides of pan. Cool. Frost with cream cheese frosting: Whip one 8 ounce package of cream cheese until fluffy; add 1 tablespoon of sugar (or to taste) and 1/2 cup light cream; whip together until fluffy. You'll need to refrigerate the cake if you use the cream cheese frosting.

I'll be sure to include pictures with my next recipes.