Egyptian Inspired Handmade Soap
Published On: 11-14-2011 08:46pm
Comments: 0 - Hits: 79
Category: Egypt
The Ancient Egyptians were expert record keepers, and it is thanks to these notations, and letters between Pharaohs and dignitaries, that we can get a glimpse of what life on the Nile was like. We know what they ate and drank, and what scents perfumed everyday life for Egyptian nobles. With the right combination of fragrances, one can be instantly transported to the world of Nefertiti or Cleopatra.
My favorite Egyptian indulgence is soap by soapstar. Like most handmade soaps, the bar is beautiful to look at, with a light dusting of golden mica, and hieroglyphic impressions. But the real magic is in the marvelous, warm and exotic fragrances of black myrrh, amber, vanilla, lavender and a hint of Egyptian musk. And with the natural skin-friendly ingredients, it is truly soap fit for a queen.
I’ve been a big fan of soapstar products ever since I tried Golden Girl. As a parent, I especially love the pure and unscented Looking Good Naked olive oil bar, which is perfect for sensitive skin. As an artist, I adore the creativity that goes into each formula - the combinations of ingredients, scents and colors are just as inspiring as they are beautiful.
I asked Vicky - the artist behind these amazing soapstar treats - to share some insight into l’s Egyptian allure, and the benefits of using handmade, natural beauty products.
Mortira: How did you first get into the art of soap making?
Vicky: I've always been a bit of a natural bath & beauty product junkie - I love the idea of harnessing mother nature's finest instead of using harsh chemicals - but it was only after watching a reality TV show in England (of all things!), that involved a team challenge where they had to create a bar of soap along with all the packaging, marketing etc, that inspired me to do it myself!
Mortira: What’s your favorite thing about creating your products?
Vicky: I think I'd have to say the 'moment of truth' - when I remove a new creation from the mold (by mold, I mean a recycled juice carton!) and take that first slice. Hopefully a beautiful interior is revealed, although there's no guarantee!
Oh, and blending the essential oils is also a fabulous perk of the process, all those evocative aromas - heaven...
Mortira: How were you inspired to create the formula?
Vicky: I've always been fascinated by the ancient Egyptians - the mystery surrounding the great pyramids (a true wonder of the world), their rituals & preparations for the afterlife, their beautiful & sacred hieroglyphs and of course, all that gold buried in desert valley tombs...
I fulfilled my childhood dream of traveling to Egypt a few years ago - that journey inspired 'golden girl'. I wanted to capture the amazing myriad of scents that embrace you when you wander through the bustling souks in Cairo & Luxor - spices, exotic oils & incense. Visually, I hope 'golden girl' is evocative of a mysterious, decadent yet noble woman such as Cleopatra or the goddess Isis.
Mortira: What’s your favorite fragrance or ingredient combination?
Vicky: Oh, it's almost impossible to narrow it down to one, I have a new favourite every time I create something new! But I guess the combination of ginger & lime essential oils (Yonge & the Restless for example) is one I always come back to ... it's my own personal 'happy rejuvenation' tonic!
Mortira: Any tips for choosing the right soap and beauty scents?
Vicky: It's a good idea to start with your skin-type - soap often unfairly gets a bad rep for drying out skin, but in fact handmade soap made with natural ingredients without harsh chemicals can work wonders. For instance, olive oil based soaps (castille) are great for sensitive skin as they are gentle & can help alleviate skin problems such as eczema and psoriasis, and coconut oil based soaps have a rich, moisturizing lather which works for all skin types.
Also some fragrance oils can iritate sensitive skin but that doesn't mean you have to follow the 'unscented' route - look out for essential oils that have multiple skin benefits such as tea tree, chamomile or lavender, as they also come with the obvious & very fabulous aromatherapy bonus!
Using a gorgeous handmade soap is a guaranteed mood enhancer - nothing beats a zesty burst of citrus to wake you up or indulge yourself with a warm rich, cocoa based aroma - pure bliss...
I’ve been making my way through all of the glorious scent combinations at soapstar, and gathering up quite a collection of art postcards along the way - each scent has it’s own unique card! Next to Golden Girl, my personal favorite is Z bars - a wonderful lemon and charcoal formula. Vicky also makes body wash, hair care, body scrubs and butters. No matter what kind of soaps and scents you like, you’re sure to find a soap that fits you at soapstar.
-Mortira
Copyright 2011 The Sage's Cupboard ---- Follow This Blog
Find me on: Facebook and Twitter
Like Handmade? Join ArtFire to get your own store and built-in blog!
My favorite Egyptian indulgence is soap by soapstar. Like most handmade soaps, the bar is beautiful to look at, with a light dusting of golden mica, and hieroglyphic impressions. But the real magic is in the marvelous, warm and exotic fragrances of black myrrh, amber, vanilla, lavender and a hint of Egyptian musk. And with the natural skin-friendly ingredients, it is truly soap fit for a queen.
I’ve been a big fan of soapstar products ever since I tried Golden Girl. As a parent, I especially love the pure and unscented Looking Good Naked olive oil bar, which is perfect for sensitive skin. As an artist, I adore the creativity that goes into each formula - the combinations of ingredients, scents and colors are just as inspiring as they are beautiful.
I asked Vicky - the artist behind these amazing soapstar treats - to share some insight into l’s Egyptian allure, and the benefits of using handmade, natural beauty products.
Mortira: How did you first get into the art of soap making?
Vicky: I've always been a bit of a natural bath & beauty product junkie - I love the idea of harnessing mother nature's finest instead of using harsh chemicals - but it was only after watching a reality TV show in England (of all things!), that involved a team challenge where they had to create a bar of soap along with all the packaging, marketing etc, that inspired me to do it myself!
Mortira: What’s your favorite thing about creating your products?
Vicky: I think I'd have to say the 'moment of truth' - when I remove a new creation from the mold (by mold, I mean a recycled juice carton!) and take that first slice. Hopefully a beautiful interior is revealed, although there's no guarantee!
Oh, and blending the essential oils is also a fabulous perk of the process, all those evocative aromas - heaven...
Mortira: How were you inspired to create the formula?
Vicky: I've always been fascinated by the ancient Egyptians - the mystery surrounding the great pyramids (a true wonder of the world), their rituals & preparations for the afterlife, their beautiful & sacred hieroglyphs and of course, all that gold buried in desert valley tombs...
I fulfilled my childhood dream of traveling to Egypt a few years ago - that journey inspired 'golden girl'. I wanted to capture the amazing myriad of scents that embrace you when you wander through the bustling souks in Cairo & Luxor - spices, exotic oils & incense. Visually, I hope 'golden girl' is evocative of a mysterious, decadent yet noble woman such as Cleopatra or the goddess Isis.
Mortira: What’s your favorite fragrance or ingredient combination?
Vicky: Oh, it's almost impossible to narrow it down to one, I have a new favourite every time I create something new! But I guess the combination of ginger & lime essential oils (Yonge & the Restless for example) is one I always come back to ... it's my own personal 'happy rejuvenation' tonic!
Mortira: Any tips for choosing the right soap and beauty scents?
Vicky: It's a good idea to start with your skin-type - soap often unfairly gets a bad rep for drying out skin, but in fact handmade soap made with natural ingredients without harsh chemicals can work wonders. For instance, olive oil based soaps (castille) are great for sensitive skin as they are gentle & can help alleviate skin problems such as eczema and psoriasis, and coconut oil based soaps have a rich, moisturizing lather which works for all skin types.
Also some fragrance oils can iritate sensitive skin but that doesn't mean you have to follow the 'unscented' route - look out for essential oils that have multiple skin benefits such as tea tree, chamomile or lavender, as they also come with the obvious & very fabulous aromatherapy bonus!
Using a gorgeous handmade soap is a guaranteed mood enhancer - nothing beats a zesty burst of citrus to wake you up or indulge yourself with a warm rich, cocoa based aroma - pure bliss...
I’ve been making my way through all of the glorious scent combinations at soapstar, and gathering up quite a collection of art postcards along the way - each scent has it’s own unique card! Next to Golden Girl, my personal favorite is Z bars - a wonderful lemon and charcoal formula. Vicky also makes body wash, hair care, body scrubs and butters. No matter what kind of soaps and scents you like, you’re sure to find a soap that fits you at soapstar.
-Mortira
Copyright 2011 The Sage's Cupboard ---- Follow This Blog
Find me on: Facebook and Twitter
Like Handmade? Join ArtFire to get your own store and built-in blog!
