Discontinued Oils and Scent Reviews

One of the things that most of bath and body makers hate is when a supplier discontinues a fragrance that is a best seller for the bath and body company. That has happened for so long that most of us will purchase in bulk oils so that we don't have to miss out. My first brush with this was when Bramble Berry first discontinued Earth Musk. I had built one of my most popular masculine blends around this one. But thankfully they had Musk Cybilla that I was able to sub in. Now that one has gone the way of the Dodo. Okay, not to worry I just have to purchase 25 lbs. of it in order to be able to make 7 of my most perfect blends!!!! 😠😠 Grr!!!   😠😠 And then lastly, there was their Frankincense and Myrrh which was the epitome of perfect was changed in 2012 from their 2004 composition. Why?! No matter what that nice CO rep said 2012 is NOT as good as their 2004 FO.

Then back in October I discovered Lime Spritzer from Rustic Escentuals!! It smells just like the taste of Lime Skittles. Delicious! Okay, so I can add some Ginger FO to it and come up with a few fruit salad and fruit salsa blends! Last week I go to place a different order on RE's website and find that Lime Spritzer is being discontinued! Arrgghhh!!! 😠😠 Why?!?!??! Okay, okay, *smooths hair back into place, adjusts ruffled collar* fine I can handle this. I just had to purchase an additional 16 ounces and take something off of my list that I wanted. No worries. I normally encourage people to purchase no less than 5 lbs. I have done this with my tried and true loveable FOs and now I will see that once I have a grip on a new FO I will have to start purchasing in bulk in order to avoid this repeated irritation.

On to the fun stuff. I have recently received some freebies from Rustic Escentuals and want to give you a quick scent review. I will start soaping these in a few weeks.

Hipster - This is a hard one to peg. It is OOB masculine with a top note of pine, lime and a horrible chemical scent. I think this would be a one to blend with a Cool Water or Kentish Rain FO, or a Lime, Cedarwood EO blend. I am sure that this will make it into one of my Frenetic batches.

Fig and Cassis - Is a unisex scent with fig, papaya and baby powder. I like this one. It could be great on its own in a topical product or make a good blend with Lemon, Mango, Peppermint or a Honey scent. I think that I will make a blend with this one as well as use part of it I a frenetic batch.

That is all for today folks. Be sure to message me if you have any oil that you would like a review for or any questions about how a particular blend performed.

Soap Tester Updates

Hello, Rose Garden

I wanted to give you an update on the last testers. There have been some discolorations. The scent hasn't faded at all in any of them.

I can't locate the fresh cut pics of the soap below but I can tell you that the soap has only darkened by half a shade. I think with a few tweaks to the formula I will be able to make this into a really good blend. A non-discoloring blend.

 

 

As you can see there are quite a bit of discoloration since I first made this one back in August. True Banana from NG scented the top. The Vanilla content is high. The Monkey Farts from Rustic Escentuals scented the bottom as you can see it has changed the edges of the embeds. While I expected the True Banana to morph but not as much.

 

If the original color had been retained then I think that I would be looking to add it to my future blends. most disappointed. Will not be looking for any other banana FOs with which to make a Fruit Salad blend. I will stick to other non-discoloring fruits.

Pictures and Reviews

 

 

Hello, Rose Garden!!! How have you been? I have been creating, testing and reviewing. I have had some successes and some not so successes. I have also been practicing taking my own stock photos. Below are some of the pics. I will go over them briefly.

 

 

Journey to India is the flagship fragrance for the Journey/Traveler lines. It is the original blend that started it all. A fragrant spice that captures the subtleties of scented baths and oils. I wanted the colors to be bright and vibrant but alas, I didn't get the teal, vivid blue and bright orange like I wanted. It still smells great.

 

 

 

 

 

Up next is Journey: Giza's Fire. When people think of northern Africa they think of the pyramids of Egypt or the spice market of Morocco. Well, for me, I wanted to explore the imagery of some of the lesser traveled areas. As I was researching I found many pictures of camp fires with the pyramids in the background. I thought of the smell of smoke, leather from the saddles and arid desert air.

 

With this being the Journey line I thought including some late 1800's and early 1900's items like journals and itineraries. I am still working on getting it all down pat.

 

 

This neon gem is my next effort for the Pirate's Cove line. It is First Mate. I wanted a bright clean and sea spray. I almost made it. OOB it smells wonderful but once it has been soaped it smells like Windex so I have to go back to the drawing board on this one.

 

 

 

This lovely loaf is the Frenetic Batch #2 that has been cut. My frenetic soaps are what I make using the last little dribbles of many different FO's and EO's.

 

Test Soaps for New Blends

Good Morning, Rose Garden.


I am just going to jump into the pictures and reviews.


This is from the Journey line: Journey to India. This was created with half ounce of coconut milk, 0.75 ounce of Black Oxide mixed with Canola oil, 3 ml Teal gel lab color and 2 ml Bordeaux Mica from The Chemistry Store and 0.75 blend PPO. The scent doesn't discolor but it Accelerates slightly.

 

 

This was soaped at room temperature and I used a drop swirl with the Black Iron Oxide and Teal gel lab color. I saved the Bordeaux for the top swirl. Because of the peaked top I couldn't cover and force gel I could only wrap the sides. The teal at first faded to khaki and then turned a khaki green. It has been over a week so I am not sure how much longer it will take for the color to come back or if it will really will.

 

As you can see below the teal is valiantly attempting to get back to what it needs to be but I am not sure if it will. I do love the swirls though.

 



 

 

 

I really love how the tops turned out. I will be okay if the top doesn't come back to the correct color. I think this is great for the top. The scent was overwhelming has now mellowed but is not back to its full strength. After today I will place it in a box to finish out its time and hopefully the color will come back as well as the scent.

 

 

Traveler: Saddle Up!, this time I am working to get the best color scheme. I used 0.5 ounce of coconut milk, 0.75 ounce of Electric Blue from Gracefruit mixed with Sweet Almont Oil, 3 ml Vanilla gel lab color and 3 ml Copper Sparkle mica mixed with 1 ounce of Grapeseed Oil.  I soaped at room temperature and used the Vanilla as the base color. I remembered the fiasco from Giacomo's Touch and sought to embrace the fade. LOL

 

 

 

 

I used the drop swirl for this one as well but reserved the last of the Electric Blue and Copper Sparkle for the tops of the soap. At first I wasn't going to force gel but once I saw that I was loosing the blue I changed my mind. I was able to get most of the blue back but not the deep blue that I started with.

 

 

The Saddle Up! EO/FO blend was 0.75 PPO and I  now see that since it didn't rice or Accelerate that I can use 1 ounce PPO. The leather and lime scents have mellowed but are still there. I am super excited about this masculine blend.

 

 

Traveler: Leather and Lace #1. I soaped at room temperature and used half ounce of coconut milk, 0.7 ounce of titanium dioxide and 3 ml Canary Yellow gel lab color and 3 ml Blackstar Gold Mica with Grapeseed Oil from The Chemistry Store.  I saved some for the top because I wanted to give a lace-type look to the top of the soap. No Acceleration or Discoloration for this blend!!

 

 

 

I used 0.75 ounce of blend PPO. First, I mixed the TD throughout the entire batter. Then I did a drop swirl Canary Yellow gel lab color with drizzled Blackstar Gold over the top and used a chopstick to attempt to create a lace pattern on top.

 

The scent is perfect at 0.75 PPO of blend and this was a 2 lb batch of soap.

 

Dessert: Summer Spritzer.  I soaped at room temperature. I used half ounce Coconut Milk, 0.75 ounce TD that is water soluble, 3 ml Canary Yellow and Caribbean Orange and Coral gel lab color from The Chemistry Store. This time I used a TD drop swirl and then used ITP swirl with the Orange, and Yellow. I reserved the Coral for a pattern at the top. This Accelerated on me so I only really had about 2 minutes of play time for this.

 

 

I forced gel on this one and think that it really came out really well. The colors are bright like the Summer theme that I wanted. The scent could be stronger so I would say that it is safe to use 1 ounce PPO.

 

 

 

 

 

And lastly from the Romance line, Room 803. Soaped at room temperature. I used 3 ml Brick Red Oxide from Bramble Berry with 1 ounce Canola oil and 3 ml 24 karat Gold Mica from Crafter's Choice in Sweet Almond oil. I have used the Brick Red sporadically over the years because I have found that no matter how much batter I put the  colorant into only that particular batter becomes pudding in 2 minutes. I have tried whisking by hand, only pulsing the stick blender  for a few seconds and then swirling with the wand and nothing changes. I still love the color though.

 

 

 

The gold stuck beautifully. I think I may have finally found the proper ratio when it comes to that mica!!! The blend overall doesn't Accelerate or Discolor.

 

 

 

Final Thoughts:

 

 

Journey to India -  The scent is a wonderful light fragrance that would be best served in a shower gel, lotion, beard oil. Basically for topical usage. I wouldn't recommend it for CP or HP.

 

Traveler: Saddle Up! - Use 1 ounce PPO and the scent should come through fine in CP or HP soap. This would make a wonderful beard oil, shower gel or body butter fragrance for men.

 

 

Traveler: Leather and Lace #1 - This is such a kickass fragrance!! I will NOT be selling the recipe to this one!! LOL I would recommend keeping the ratio at 0.75 ounce PPO because it comes through so strongly!!!

 

Dessert: Summer Spritzer: I would recommend for CP using 1 ounce PPO rather than the 0.75 PPO that I used since it is kind of faint. This would be great in all topical products and bath bombs and fizzes.

 

 

Romance: Room 803 - I would recommend this one as a room spray, linen spray or car freshener. I don't really like it as a body product but you can be the judge.

 

 

I hope this helps you.

 

 

 

 



As Promised ... Pictures and Fragrance Oil Reviews

 

I have been soaping and testing up a storm for myself and you!!! So let's just jump in. Below are  Fairy Dust and Tahiti Sweetie. Crafter's Choice Fairy Dust accelerates. I had about 1 minute after adding it to get it into the mold. It discolored to tan. The scent is not very strong at 0.75 oz. PPO.

 

 

 

 

 

 

The next FO is Tahiti Sweetie. It was a dream to soap!! The Chemistry Store's FO allowed a full 3 minutes playtime. It doesn't discolor. At 0.75 oz. PPO the scent isn't strong.

 

 

 

 

Next is from my Dessert line: Charred Chocolate Pineapple. The idea is a backyard bar-b-que where you grill rock fruits and pineapple for dessert. After it comes off of the grill and you allow the juices to rest you dip the slices of pineapple in melted dark chocolate and set aside to cool once again. I used 0.75 oz. PPO. The scent isn't strong until you actually wash your hands with the soap and then the scent is thrown!!

 

 

I like to add coconut milk to my soaps to add some creamy lather and luscious bubbles to the mix. Unfortunately, the sugars can cause it to super heat like it did. But I am still happy with the overall look.

 

 

 

 

For color I used The Chemistry Store's Black Iron Oxide, 24 karat Gold Mica and Emerald Green Gel Lab color. The Gold and Emerald didn't really survive the gel process. But the hint of colors at the top are nice.

 

 

Next from the Traveler's line is Stateroom Turndown Service. The idea behind this one is you come into your room at the end of the day with the fresh sea salt clinging to your skin and smell a fresh clean room with a decadent chocolate on your pillow.

 

 

The colors are The Chemistry Store's Black Iron Oxide and Blue Lake Mica and TBK's Seafoam Teal Mica. Unfortunately, the Blue Lake didn't survive and turned the tan-ish yellow that you see. Also, again it superheated and cracked but, oh boy, does it smell awesome!!

 

 

Ah, my very first dedicated soap and fragrance line, Pirates' Cove. Last year I sold the recipes to all of the masculine blends that I had created and I realized this year I will need more when I open back up. So, I set about making one that I had already had in my mind. It is inspired by Captain Barbosa, played by and Englishman with no attempt to sound Spanish and whose garb is dubious at best. So here is Spanish Apple that doesn't at first sniff smell anything like an apple but once you wash with it the base notes of apples and apple spice hit you. LOL, love you Geoffrey Rush. ;)

 

 

 

The colors are TKB Coral Reef Teal and The Chemistry Store's Royal Blue Gel lab color. As I have lamented previously, if you do not force gel on TCS's blue gel lab colors they will morph to purple/gray. And that is what has happened here.

 

I had about 3 minutes of play time and it thankfully didn't super heat on me like it could have. I had the owner of High Seas, now renamed 'Aloha' try out the blend and she assures me that they do not smell similar to her. Whew! That is a load off of my mind.

 

 

And lastly is my Traveler: Giacomo's Touch. This is a love story set during 1935 between a young Italian journalist and an American heiress. The colors are The Chemistry Store's Vanilla and Black Cherry Gel Lab colors.

 

 

 

Unfortunately, the colors didn't stick. The Dark Cherry which looked purple-ish black in the bottle turned to a dark brown and the Vanilla did what it was supposed to do. I was hoping that the colors would bounce back over time but alas, they did not. This one will be remade with the same colors but this time a drop swirl effect.

 

Here is you squint hard enough you can kind of see where there is a hint of red where the dark cherry is supposed to be. LOL

 

 

 

 

 

This one superheated but it is okay. This is a love story and there is supposed to be heat and passion!!

 

 

 

 

 

Next up for the soapy cauldron are: Dessert: Dirty Blueberry Cobbler, Cherry Tart and Summer Spritzer, Traveler: Saddle Up! (again) and Leather and Lace, Pirate's Cove: First Mate and Romance: Room 803, Bodice Ripper and Sensual for Men, and Journey to India and Journey: The Silk Road.

 

 

FO: Bramble Berry's Yacht Club and Pumpkin Pie Candle and Soap, Nature's Garden Banana (True) and Rustic Escentuals'  Driftwood and Sea Salt, Cranberry Salsa and Three Wishes Tea. I might attempt to squeeze in Candle Pro's Absinthe.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Long Time, No Chat

Hello, Rose Garden!!!

I haven't posted in a while but to be honest I have been testing out my own blends and fragrance oils. I have not taken any pictures but I will. I will just like to chat with you about my findings.

Rustic Essentials

 Cider Barrel - Soaped cool but it Accelerated and Discolored the soap batter. The overall scent OOB is a spicy floral. Once it has been soaped it the slight spice note is gone and a mild floral is left. The loaf discolored to a slightly dark café au lait.


Crafter's Choice

Fairy Dust - Soaped cool but it Accelerated, Discolored and Superheated on me. The soap thickened within 15 seconds of adding the FO to the batter. This one only slightly turned brown but it still discolored. Retained it scent after soaping.

Fresh Ginger Lime - Soaped cool but it Accelerated and Discolored on me. The soap thickened on me it 15 seconds. The scent sticks after soaping and smells really good.

Acai Berries and Satin -  Soaped cool but it Accelerated and Discolored on me. This one over heated as well but didn't crack down the middle on me. The scent morphed. It doesn't smell as pleasantly fruity as OOB.


Cedarwood Sage EO/FO - Soaped cool but it Accelerated and Discolored on me. Turned the batter a bright yellow that faded to a slight brown. This one is nice and the smell stays true to the OOB scent.

These are the only ones that I have soaped so far. I have the newer line soaps curing right now. I need to do some product shots to get them ready for the website.

I'm Baaaaaacccckkkkkk!!!!!

I know that it has been a while but I have not been idle. I have started back to vlogging again and using Periscope to share some of my adventures. I have been making a lot of sample soaps. The Romance line, I feel, is coming along nicely.

 

 

This one below is one of my rematch attempts. I shredded the soap, covered with water and then let sit over night. You see the result below. I was not happy. So, I have decided to not attempt to rematch.

This picture below is a compilation shot of candles from Lisa's Candle Corner and soaps from the Pirates' Cove line. It was a fun shoot to see how things would work together. I am excited for the next few product boxes

 

 

Test Results for Several Fragrance oils and One Essential oil

Good Afternoon, Rose Garden!!

I don't quite have my soapy mojo back but I am working on it. Wednesday I made 5 batches of soap; 4 1lb batches and 1 2lb batch. All batches were created using: Palm Oil, Shea Butter, Mango Butter, Vegetable oil, Olive Oil and Grapeseed Oil. Also, I do NOT force gel on any of my tester soaps.

First up is Bramble Berry's Ginger Patchouli. Recommended max usage is 0.8 ounces PPO. No Acceleration or Discoloration. Soap set up 3 minutes after pour. The scent OOB is floral and sharp. In the batter after a day it is spicy and sharp. There hasn't been any color morph so I didn't day a Third Day picture.

 

Next is Crafter's Choice Cherry Almond. The maximum usage rate PPO is 0.16 and let me tell you that is way strong!!! This one I whisked into the batter and it set up fairly quickly. No ricing or soap on a stick or discoloration despite having 7% vanillin content. Since there hasn't been any change I didn't take a Third Day picture. I will say that the scent has faded to the point that it doesn't take over the entire lab. The loaf has taken on more of a Marzipan fragrance rather than Cherry Amaretto scent OOB.

 

 

The picture below is Crafter's Choice L de Lolita Lempicka 3 hours after pour. This one max usage is 0.8 ounce PPO. No Acceleration but you can see that there is a lot of discoloration. It set up 3 minutes after pour.

 

This is the L de Lolita 30 minutes after pour. The batter was originally the same color as the Cherry Almond and the Ginger Patchouli. Strangely enough, none of the Reviews mention the soap turning a mustard yellow.

 

Wandering Thistle Studio's Himalayan Cedarwood EO soaped like a dream!!!! No Acceleration and no Discoloration. The scent is now soft and  woodsy. No change so I didn't take any Third Day photos.

 

          Here you can see where

 From The Chandler's Rose Traveler's/Journey line: Saddle Up!. When created the scent was very masculine with notes of leather, tannin, lime and vetiver. Now that I have soaped it The scent is more lime than anything. So, back to the drawing board on this one. I used The Chemistry Store's Royal Blue and Vanilla gel lab colors but there was some serious morphing going on. The Royal Blue turned Purple and has stayed purple in some spots.

 

 

Third Day Photos of Color Morph

 

 

 

 

 the morph is attempting to right itself.

 

 

 

 This one has gone completely Mustard Yellow.

 No color was added to the base. This will be interesting to see what else happens.