Caffeinated Soap

tim_n

I've seen a few articles on soap making in this forum... but I'm looking to start a little bit further along making a pointless fun soap.

I've found pure caffeine powder on ebay, peppermint essential oils and a basic caustic soda receipe for soap. If I make the soap and add the extras at the end of the process will this make a reasonable soap? I know that adding caffeine is pretty much been discussed as a placebo effect, however I'm trying to make this for christmas for a bunch of geeky friends rather than import it from America at $7 a bar plus P&P and import tax!

Any ideas of quantities would be good too! Cheers for any help - I'll probably repost this on downsizer.net when I can finally login there :- (

Katgoddess

It works by absorbing into the skin. :eek: This I have to try. :rotfl:

flufff

http://www.justasoap.co.uk/catalog/index.php/

Try here for skin safe fragrances there arent many good uk suppliers I used to import mine from US sadly no mores been heard of lady since hurricanes.
Glycerine soap is easiest,you'll also want a few molds.Glycerine simply heats over water/microwave and you can add colour and fragrance.Then theres hot and cold process which can takes week to cure.For a beginner I'd recommend glycerine these turn out like body shop soaps.
Have a look on ebay to get ideas what other people make and sell.Be warned its a very addictive hobby.Bath salts are very easy........
Glyverine clear unfragranced soaps can be bought from superdrug at around 65p each.....buy a few melt these adding a few drops of essential oil and youve got a customised soap.Liquid latex is good for making molds.
Ive not found a good UK group yet so if anyone else is interested pm me for my msn :-)

tim_n

hmmm still not sure about adding the caffeine... though sounds easier than setting caustic soap and probably better for me lol

any ideas why I can't just use peppermint essential oils? it looks like thats what they've got anyway and it's cheaper from ebay!

tim_n

Just been looking about and reading some faq's

Seems that essential oils is exactly what they use - about 1-1.5 teaspoons per 4 oz bar (I only work in grams, but that works out about 110g). The original 'shock' soap in america uses 200milligrams of caffeine per wash, 12 washes per bar, meaning each 4oz bar contains about 2.4g of pure caffeine. I've bought 2g of pure caffeine off ebay to mix into the soap with 10ml of peppermint oil and 500g of glycerine soap (rather than muck about in superdrug...)

I'm probably going to get some more peppermint oil, make two different bars (one with, one without) and do some home tests. If I can tell the difference then its worth putting in the caffeine but I suspect it's only really hte placebo effect.

flufff

just be careful......dont give this to anyone with sensitive skin.The soap may sound good but I personally wouldnt want to use that on my sensitive bits or smell of it.......each to their own.Bear in mind if your looking to sell it youll need insurance and soaps certifying.
You can use essential oils.Just be mindful of quantities and do your research you only need a few drops per bar.I'm a qualified aromatherapist and have been making soap 3 years.If you dont want my help thats fine.

tim_n

nooo I don't want to burn myself! hehe - definately looking for advice from you, just the receipe I found for glycerine peppermint soap called for 1 to 1.5 teaspoons of peppermint oil! Not looking to sell it but I'd like to have the invigorating feel that I get from the original source peppermint showergel/hair stuff and share with friends at their own risk... - for a 4 oz bar (110g) how much would you recommend?
Not sure about adding pharmacetical caffeine to my soap either, but I figure if its safe to ingest in 1g quantities then washing with a rough dose of 200g at 3% skin ingestion and the rest washing away it should be fairly safe. I shall use myself for a guinea pig anyway...

flufff

You wont need caustic soda,you can buy ready made glycerine "base".....I suggested superdrugs small glycerine bars as not everyone likes making huge quantities when they are learning plus its paying postage.If your making soaps with acids(oils) and alkali it can take weeks to set and neutralise.Your looking at thermometers and pans.
An old margarine tub can be used as a mold for glycerine soaps then simply slice.Simple to heat and melt sets quickly.
Did you want to colour your soap?
Peppermint is refreshing but can "tingle" down below lol
I would keep it simple....praps just a clear peppermint soap....
Greaseproof paper and ribbon makes pretty wrapping with a hand written sticker
Lime fragrance and green colouring makes a nice refreshing soap

patchwork_cat

Fluff if you use glycerine and slice can you put things in the middle of the saop. Would you make it in layers?I was thinking that this would make a good cheap gift for teachers. What else could you put with it that would be easy?

tim_n

flufff wrote:

You wont need caustic soda,you can buy ready made glycerine "base".....I suggested superdrugs small glycerine bars as not everyone likes making huge quantities when they are learning plus its paying postage.If your making soaps with acids(oils) and alkali it can take weeks to set and neutralise.Your looking at thermometers and pans.
An old margarine tub can be used as a mold for glycerine soaps then simply slice.Simple to heat and melt sets quickly.
Did you want to colour your soap?
Peppermint is refreshing but can "tingle" down below lol
I would keep it simple....praps just a clear peppermint soap....
Greaseproof paper and ribbon makes pretty wrapping with a hand written sticker
Lime fragrance and green colouring makes a nice refreshing soap

I've actually found a nice ebay mould but I can only make one bar at a time - great for testing and the design looks spliffy
(actually the mould says 'energy' and not 'ebay' in case you were wondering...)

So how many drops for a 4oz bar then? Or is 7.5ml too much?

flufff

7.5ml is far too much!
I'd use a few drops at a time and use your nose as a guide.Let the glycerine cool a little first or it will just vaporise the sent.
I sometimes add the essential oil into a little normal oil like olive to give it a better chance.
Yes you can put lots of different coloured layers or lay things in soap.I picked up some plastic fish and some small clear foodbags.......with ties we made goldfish in a bag!
Bath salts are easy and cheap.I make these for teachers at xmas.