This latest batch of soap was inspired by the wonderful fragrances I remember from when I was a child growing up on our farm. I distinctly remember the Alberta wild roses were in full bloom between the old farm buildings and I remember the scent from the old barn wood heated by the sun on that hot summer day. I remember there were a few dim incandescent bulbs inside near the front of the taller of the two buildings that were used to provide some illumination, making it quite challenging seeing all the way to the back. At the back of the building, there were some old horse harnesses hanging from an old wooden peg fitted into a square timber log that formed part of the rear wall of the barn from a time long past. I honestly don't know if I simply imagined the smell of leather (I like to think I did) or whether it was actually there. I also remember being intrigued by how my great grandparents, grandparents used absolutely everything; nothing went to waste. On one of the old, dusty shelves were old tobacco cans that were filled with now-rusted nails, screws, assorted nuts and bolts and old cotter pins. I remember the distinctive yellow can of the old Sportsman tobacco, the blue Player's Navy Cut tobacco and the green Export 'A' tins. Nothing was ever wasted; everything was saved in case there could be another use for that item.
I wanted to create a soap that was reminiscent of that day, so long ago. I don't know why that particular day stayed with me and why I took the time to make a mental note of the blue sky, the brown cracked leather, the gentle summer breeze and the mingling of different fragrances. Something about that day stuck with me for some reason - maybe this was the reason.
Putting it all together, I've scented this soap with top notes of wood, leather along with just a hint of tobacco to round out this bar soap. I've included five different oils plus cocoa butter as well as three exfoliants: colloidal oat, ground walnut shell and extra fine pumice. It's great at keeping your skin moisturized and with the mild exfoliants keeping your skin fresh, you'll be wanting to keep extra on hand.
It is my hope when you use this soap that the scent will bring you back to a time long past; imagine what it might be like walking on an old farmstead on a lazy summer's day with the old barn wood buildings leaning over and almost but not quite collapsing on itself. Think about the farmers tilling the rich, black soil with horse and plow. Think about the wildflowers growing next to the buildings such as Alberta wild roses, rose hips, long grasses, clover and alfalfa and the buzz of honey bees stopping to collect pollen from those fragrant flowers. Enjoy!
Ingredients: Olive Oil, Canola Oil, Coconut Oil, Cocoa butter, Avocado Oil, Grapeseed Oil, Water, Sodium Hydroxide, Colloidal Oat, Extra Fine Pumice, Powdered Walnut Shell, mica powder, (color), fragrance.