Pumpkin Soap 2006

From our Oct 2006 newsletter. We no longer carry Avocado oil but most health food stores do, or you could sub with more Olive oil and run it through a lye calculator.
We’ve brought in some pumpkin oil for those of you who want to try incorporating it into a pumpkin soap recipe. This recipe is for semi-experienced soapers. Here’s our new version of Pumpkin soap:

200 grams Avocado Oil

300 grams Olive Oil

100 grams Pumpkinseed Oil

396 grams Palm Oil

454 grams Coconut Oil


202 grams Lye

338 grams Distilled Water

100 grams each of canned pumpkin & cream mixed together


When your lye solution and your oils are both at 100 degrees, gently warm the pumpkin and cream solution to around 90 degrees. Add your lye solution to the oils and begin to stir, then add the pumpkin mixture. Bring to a medium trace and fragrance as desired.

(The Pumpkin Soap above is pictured with a couple of bath bombs.)

Pumpkin Soap 2004

Here's a rerun of a newsletter from 2004. Included is a basic recipe for Pumpkin Soap.
We’ve got some fun Pumpkin recipes in this newsletter for you to try. If you don’t make cold process soaps give the face masks a try. Both masks should make enough for you and a buddy- just make sure you have someone else to answer the door.


Pumpkin & Whipping Cream Soap (for those already familiar with making CP Soap)

This recipe is a variation of Cavitch’s Soap Essentials Bar from “The Soapmakers Companion”.

201 grams Sodium Hyroxide

269 grams distilled water

595 grams olive oil

454 grams coconut oil

397 grams palm oil

100 grams canned pumpkin

169 grams cream or milk


Mix sodium hydroxide solution and set aside to cool. Melt Coconut & Palm oils, add olive oil. When temps are just below 100F, mix the cream & pumpkin together & gently heat to around 90 to 95F. Add sodium hydroxide solution to oil, and begin to stir. Then get your warmed pumpkin/milk mixture into the pot and bring the soap to a medium trace. Fragrance as desired. We used Pumpkin Pie Fragrance (5 tsp) plus 2 tsp of Cinnamon Bun Fragrance. This soap takes about 4 weeks to cure.



What to do with the leftover pureed pumpkin- how about wearing it? Pumpkin contains enzymes that dissolve dead skin cells, and combined with an acidic fruit makes a great face mask. As with all face masks, please do a patch test before using.

Pumpkin & Honey Exfoliation Mask

2 tbsp pumpkin

2 tsp drained pureed pineapple (or papaya)

1 tbsp honey

4 tbsp cornmeal

Mix together and thin with approx ½ tsp of green tea or oil (sweet almond, apricot kernel, sunflower or sesame)

Add 2 or 3 drops of essential oil if desired

Massage into clean skin using circular motions gently buffing away dead skin cells. Leave a thin layer of the mask on the skin for 20 minutes. Rinse with warm water and gently pat skin dry. Apply a gentle moisturizer ( I don’t like applying creams with Alpha Hydroxy Acids etc right after using an exfoliating mask).



Pumpkin & Egg White Mask

For a gentler mask, wisk together 2 tbsp of pumpkin with 1 tbsp of pureed pineapple or papaya. Add 1 egg white and continue to wisk until well blended. Apply to clean skin and leave for 20 minutes before rinsing. Apply a gentle moisturizer.

Chocolate Milk with Caramel

Inspired by last year's Orange Chocolate Truffle, this soap has a delicious fragrance and fudge like appearance, so make sure you label it clearly! Recipe below.

For an 8 inch drawer organizer you will need 1.5 lbs of Goat Milk Melt & Pour.

 For the first layer melt 15 squares (.75lb) of soap. Stir in 1 tsp of Salty Caramel fragrance and 1/4 tsp of Honey Beige Mica. Spray with rubbing alcohol if the mica clumps. Pour into the organizer - I placed mine on a slanted board.

Melt the rest of the soap for the second layer and add 1tsp of Chocolate fragrance plus 1/2 tsp of orange essential oil (optional, I couldn't help myself). Colour this layer with 1/4 tsp of Cappucino Mica.  Your first layer should have a very thick skin on it by the time you have the second layer ready. Spray the soap in the mold with rubbing alcohol and pour the second layer on top. If your mold was on a slanted board put it flat before you pour.
If you have a 12 inch organizer you will need 1lb of soap for each layer, 2lbs total.

Melt & Pour soap is 10% off until Sept 30 so hopefully you will try this recipe!

Making a Clay Mask

Some interesting info on clay masks. Actually, the whole site (wholeliving.com) is pretty good!

http://www.wholeliving.com/photogallery/anti-aging-beauty-tips