I've been testing out some fall fragrances to add this year, and here are some pics!
This is a blend I made using BB's Almond Biscotti FO, some coffee EO I had at home, and a little cocoa powder to make the base of the cupcake a bit more tan. This fragrance smells ah-mazing! I even keep one cupcake up in the living room while it cures so I can smell it whenever I want :) The blend with the coffee EO is so fabulous - I just wish the coffee EO wasn't so expensive. This is definitely a limited-production blend. (side note- I think I've finally figured out the right consistency to pipe soap designs. I am so impatient, I never wait long enough. I think I finally nailed it on these cupcakes).
Ok, this next one is not a traditional fall scent, but I wanted to show off this cool halo effect the woad powder gave these swirls in this Caribbean Coconut soap. We got married in the Bahamas last year less than one week after Hurricane Sandy passed through, so these colors and swirls remind me of a Bahamas hurricane.
Last year, I tried to make some Fresh Snow soap, but I ended up forgetting to scent the soap before I poured it in the mold. This design is just what I was going for, using BB's vertical mold. I love the scent, I love the colors, I love it all :)
And last, but not least, is my Gingerbread Cookie soap. This is such a delicious fragrance - it smells just like a gingerbread cookie! It's a nice, round fragrance that is not too sugar-forward. The soap batter was not quite thick enough to suspend the gingerbread man embeds, but I feel happy with how this soap looks and smells. I used a vanilla stabilizer to help prevent the soap from discoloring too dark.
I am looking forward to trying a few more fall fragrances coming up.
Have a great day!
~Chrissy
Beautiful cupcakes! I am curious how you figured out the right time to pipe. I am awful at waiting and usually my piping tends to be a little too loose...or sometimes I wait to long and it starts to set up!
ReplyDeleteI wanted to try 3 different scents and types, so I made a 3-lb batch of soap, and divided it up for my 3 designs. I made the Spiced Mahogany first, and while I was making that, the Berrywine was setting up for nice layers, and by the time the Berrywine was done, the soap was perfect for soap cupcakes. I think it helped that the "icing" was in a separate bowl and cooled a little bit because it was just a small amount?
DeleteI usually am too impatient, and pipe while it's still too soft, and the cupcake tops get really wide :) It was helpful to know the right consistency, so I wasn't scared of waiting too long and not being able to use that soap anymore.
Perfect piped cupcakes! And the gingerbread men are so sweet :) I love anything with cinnamon and ginger so the fall and winter FO´s are my favorite. But I did not know that there is coffee EO. Is it only made from coffee beans?
ReplyDeleteBeautiful soaps, Chrissy! I didn't know there was coffee eo either, mmm. All your fall fragrances sound just lovely and I think the piping is perfect too! :)
ReplyDeleteThanks, ladies! I had ordered a bunch of EOs in the past because I wanted to make a coffee soap for kitchen use. It's been quite a few months and I haven't made it as of yet. It was great in that cupcake almond biscotti soap :) Here's where I got it - warning, it's not cheap.... http://www.bulkapothecary.com/product/essential-oils/coffee-essential-oil/
ReplyDeleteLove the new look of your blog, Chrissy, so 'autumn'.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful cupcakes,the pipping is perfect, and the Bahamas hurricane soap is so special!
Thanks, Natalia - I had a lot of fun finding a fall blog theme :) I really like the owls.
DeleteI love them all, you are getting a great start on your holiday soaps Chrissy! I bet the cupcakes smell divine and the Bahamas soap is so pretty...and the gingerbread man is so CUTE, love it!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Cee! Sometimes, I like simple soaps, like the gingerbread man soap. Not too complicated, but still has a nice, clean look.
DeleteHard to believe it's time to start making autumn and winter soaps (especially when it's still 100 degrees outside), but the holidays will be here before we know it! All of your soaps look so pretty - I love those little gingerbread man embeds! Fresh Snow is one of my favorite FOs. It smells gorgeous and it is also so well-behaved. The Almond Biscotti smells amazing, too. Great job!
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