In my soap-making odyssey, sweet almond oil was my first "fancy" oil experiment. The silky feeling it contributes to soap lather amazed me, as did its nice, light, moisturizing effect. I'm a convert now! It's a good choice for winter weather, when you risk freeze-drying your skin when you wash, before going out. Sweet almond oil absorbs quickly into your skin, without any lingering greasiness. To get the moisturizing benefit, just lightly rinse off the lather, lest you wash all the goodness down the drain. Pat dry, and don't rub, with a towel. Your invisible armor is on! As the name suggests, sweet almond oil is pressed from sweet almonds; the kind you eat. Should you be allergic to tree nuts, you might prefer to use soap enriched with avocado oil, instead (blog post about that, in the works). Enjoy the benefits of sweet almond oil soap with the Lovely Lavender and Innocent Allure bars, available from this very website. You can also try the Shabby Chic bar, available at On The Fly Country Market in Bralorne. #almondoilsoap #handmadesoap
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The Willendorf Woman (aka Venus of Willendorf) dates back tens of thousands of years, to an Old Stone Age site in Austria. Mystery surrounds her origins, but I've created my own story about her. Unrobed, the Woman steps out of her favourite bathing pond. Her full figure evokes prosperity and fertility. Above and beyond her personhood, she is a talisman of the continuation of her tribe. And the future of her tribe may well depend on her; for life is dangerous, and fate is fickle. She cares for herself like the grand woman that she is. Spreading her deerskin robe over the ground, she seats herself comfortably. Reaching for juniper branches, she scrubs her skin until it glows. She dabs pine pitch on stubborn cuts, to help them heal. Scooping from a dish of tallow mixed with ochre, she works the unguent into her skin. Soon she is shiny and reddish, the colour of life. Last of all, she rubs buds of lavender and clary sage on her face, to keep their fragrance near. Lavender is always good for what ails her. So is clary sage, which also makes her desirous. She rises refreshed, resplendent, and ready to reckon with the fates. We don't know whether the Willendorf Woman's culture used soap-like substances. Yet, the beauty routine described above, doesn't seem improbable. You can enjoy a soapy version of the Woman's toilette, with the 13th Fairy's Woman of Willendorf soap bar. Its herbal scents are also juniper, pine, lavender, and clary sage. Like the Woman's ointment, the base is tallow, while walnut oil adds further conditioning and moisturizing qualities. Ochre and cosmetic clay give colour. All of this bar's ingredients were likely available to the Woman's culture, in some form. #venusofwillendorf #handmadesoap A. Me. Hello, my name's Regan. I got hooked on handmade soap years ago, standing in front of a display at a local store. Essential oils gave the bars such inviting, uplifting fragrances. There were so many colours to choose from. I picked the colour and scent that matched my mood that day. Using the soap, I could actually feel the difference that the special added oils made on my skin. Imagine making washing an actual pleasure! What a difference from the plain, stale fat-smelling soap that I was raised with. I've never gone back to it. Later, I learned how to make soap. In the summer of 2020, during the covid epidemic, I offered my soap to help fill space in a tiny shop, off the beaten path. It sold well! The soap's popularity encouraged me to forge ahead, perfecting my favorite formulations. I love playing with scent, colour, shape, and texture. This experimentation makes each variety of the tried-and-true, fresh and interesting. And now, during these times of extra handwashing, I'm sharing the best varieties, with you. Please take your time to explore the site, place an order, or even request something made just for you. |
AuthorThe 13th Fairy is the voice behind the muse. Regan is the voice behind the 13th Fairy. Archives
March 2021
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