Lavender-Basil Soap

For the past couple years I have hydroponically grown basil indoors during the winter months. 

I bake with it, put it in sandwiches, add it to omelets, and give plenty away. 

It is one of the easiest Herbs to grow indoors.

The one thing I never thought of using it for is SOAP! Not until I ran across Suzanne McMinn's blog, 'Chickens in the Road' ,did I have a 'Daaaaaa' moment! Why not Basil in soaps.....I have plenty of it!

So, that is where I am doing today! 

For my Lavender Basil Soap I used:

Coconut Oil

Cottonseed Oil

Olive Oil

Soybean Oil

Sunflower Oil

and 

Lard
&
Lavender Essential Oil

I also wanted to put some color into this soap.

I infused the Sunflower Oil with some dried, crushed Basil and Kelp Powder. 

 (color of the oils)
I wanted a nice green color, but you never know the exact color it will end up to be  until it goes through the gel stage. 
I left the Kelp power and the crushed Basil leaves in the soap
for a specked look.

I put some Titanium Dioxide in some of the batter to get a whiter
color for the top of the soap.

Here is what it looks like before I cut it.

This is what it looked like cut.

 

As you can see, the green went to a very pale green.

ValerieAnn