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Why Use Yogurt and Powdered Milk in Soap Making

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Why Use Yogurt and Powdered Milk in Soap Making
Have you ever thought about using powdered yogurt or powdered milk in soap making? If you haven't heard, you can use both milk and yogurt to create some fantastic soap recipes. So, you can use the nourishing properties found in milk and yogurt to care for your skin. These two soaping ingredients are perfect to include along with other luscious cosmetic ingredients available from Natures Garden. This will allow you to create handcrafted soap recipes that are even more conditioning and skin loving! If you are interested in trying out either milk or yogurt in your cold process soap recipe, then check out our soap making tutorial using powdered buttermilk and powdered yogurt.Using Yogurt and Powdered Milk in Soap Making: Clean and SanitizeBefore you get started making this handmade soap recipe, you are going to want to clean and sanitize your soaping equipment. In addition, you will want to gather your soap making supplies. Also, you will need to collect and wash any other equipment that you are going to need to create this bath and body recipe. Further, you will want to give yourself enough space to work comfortably. Giving yourself a good work space will make the process easier and even more fun!Using Yogurt and Powdered Milk in Soap Making: Prepare a Bottle of VinegarAlso, you will need to prepare a bottle of vinegar before you start making this cold process soap recipe. This vinegar will be useful for cold process soap safety, as it can be used to deactivate the lye. Also, you can use the vinegar for cleaning your work station after making cold process soap. So, you will want to fill a bottle with vinegar and set it aside until it is needed later during the process.Using Yogurt and Powdered Milk in Soap Making: Soap Making InformationIf you have never made handmade soap from scratch before, then you will want to check out a soap making class that we have on cold process soap safety. First, you will definitely need to be familiar with soap making safety, which you can find in our Soap Making Safety Class. Also, you may want to look at our Basic CP Soap Making Class. We definitely recommend having some soap making experience before trying this type of recipe. If you feel like you are ready to make a luscious soap making recipe, then you will want to continue reading this blog! Using Yogurt and Powdered Milk in Soap Making: Ingredients Available at Natures Garden -Lye - Sodium HydroxideApricot Kernel OilCastor OilMango ButterPalm OilCoconut OilShea ButterSunflower Oil6 Cavity Flower Silicone Soap MoldSafety GlovesNatures Garden ApronSafety MaskThermometerSafety Glasses8 oz. Clear PET Bullet BottlesBlack Fine Mist Sprayers 24/410Using Yogurt and Powdered Milk in Soap Making: Other Needed Ingredients -Distilled WaterPowdered MilkYogurtMixing BowlsMixing SpoonsRubber SpatulaScaleKnifeStick BlenderVinegarMeasuring SpoonsIce Cube Tray (We used the 24 hearts silicone mold)Using Yogurt and Powdered Milk in Soap Making: Milk Soap Making Amounts -8 ounces of Distilled Water1 ounce of the Powered Milk53 grams of the Lye26 grams of the Apricot Kernel Oil49 grams of the Shea Butter14 grams of the Castor Oil63 grams of the Sunflower Oil53 grams of the Mango Butter57 grams of the Palm Oil113 grams of the Coconut OilUsing Yogurt and Powdered Milk in Soap Making: Yogurt Soap Making Amounts -8 ounces of the Distilled Water1 ounce of the Powdered Yogurt53 grams of the Lye26 grams of the Apricot Kernel Oil49 grams of the Shea Butter14 grams of the Castor Oil63 grams of the Sunflower Oil53 grams of the Mango Butter57 grams of the Palm Oil113 grams of the Coconut OilUsing Yogurt and Powdered Milk in Soap Making: Creating Frozen Milk Soap -In order to begin making soap you are going to want to prepare the milk for your cp soap recipe. So, you will want to weigh out the powdered milk and the distilled water to create the milk solution. You will need to use eight ounces of the water and one ounce of the powdered milk. You will want to mix these ingredients together well to create the powdered milk solution.Using Yogurt and Powdered Milk in Soap Making: Creating Frozen Yogurt Soap - Alternatively, you can create this soap making recipe using powdered yogurt instead of the powdered milk. Of course, the yogurt will provide your skin with all kinds of benefits. The powdered yogurt is just another great soap making ingredient that you can include. So, you are going to want to prepare the yogurt solution, which includes eight ounces of the water and one ounce of the powdered yogurt. You will create the homemade soap in the exact same way.Using Yogurt and Powdered Milk in Soap Making: Freezing the Milk or Yogurt Solution -Now that you have created either a milk solution or yogurt solution, you are going to need to fill up your mold. You can use an ice cube tray or even a small soap mold. We decided to use the 24 hearts silicone mold. After you have filled up your chosen mold for the buttermilk solution mixture, you will want to transfer your soap mold to the freezer. You will need to wait for your milk solution to completely freeze before moving on to the next step. So, make sure that you have solid, frozen pieces before moving onto the next step.Using Yogurt and Powdered Milk in Soap Making: Preparing the Oils for Your Soap RecipeNow, you are going to want to weigh out all of your cosmetic oils. You will want to add 26 grams of Apricot Kernel Oil, 49 grams of Shea Butter, 14 grams of Castor Oil, 63 grams of Sunflower Oil, 53 grams of Mango Butter, 57 grams of Palm Oil, and 113 grams of Coconut Oil. Then, you will want to completely melt your cosmetic ingredients. After melting these ingredients you will want to wait for your melted oils to room temperature.Using Yogurt and Powdered Milk in Soap Making: Mixing Up the Lye Solution -Next, once the temperature of your oils has dropped to room temperature, you are ready to prepare your lye solution. For this cp soap recipe, we will want to soap at the lowest temperature possible. So, we will prepare our lye solution and soap right away to keep the temperature as low as possible. Soaping at a low temperature will prevent the milk from overheating and creating an unpleasant smell.Once your buttermilk or yogurt has completely frozen, you can remove it from the mold. Now, you will want to measure out 144 grams of your frozen yogurt or buttermilk. Also, you will need to weigh out 53 grams of the lye in a separate bowl. You are going to want to mix up your lye solution in a well ventilated area. Of course, you will want to make sure that you wear a face mask and protective clothing. Now, you are able to add the measured amount of lye to the frozen milk. Make sure that you stir your mixture as you are adding the lye. Using Yogurt and Powdered Milk in Soap Making: Continue Creating the Lye Solution -As you continue to mix the lye the frozen buttermilk or yogurt, you will notice that it will begin to melt. Since this mixture will include milk, we don't want the temperature to reach levels that will create a sour smell. This is why we needed to freeze the milk prior to creating your lye solution. So, you will notice that your lye solution does not reach a temperature that is too high. This will allow you to add powdered yogurts or milks to your soap while maintaining the integrity and quality of each bar.Using Yogurt and Powdered Milk in Soap Making: Combining the Lye Solution and Cosmetic Oils - Now, combine your soaping oils and lye solution. After combining these two mixtures of soap making ingredients, you will need to blend all of these soaping ingredients together. You will want to use a stick blender to do this. Once you hit trace for your soap batter, you are ready to move on to the next step of the soap making process. This means that you are ready to pour your soap into the mold.Using Yogurt and Powdered Milk in Soap Making: Filling Up the Soap Mold -Now that all of your soap making ingredients are mixed together, you are ready to fill the soap mold! Once you have used all of your soap batter to fill up your soap mold, you will want to place the soap in the freezer for about 24 hours. This way the temperature of the soap batter will remain low. Finally, remove the soap from the soap mold. Then, you are going to want to wait for your soaps to cure before using your finished bars of soap.Using Yogurt and Powdered Milk in Soap Making: Using Your Finished Yogurt Soap and Milk Soap -Once your cold process soaps have completely cured you will be ready to use your skin loving cp soap recipe! So, after a four to six weeks, you can use your skin nourishing soap bars. Also, the beneficial properties of the yogurt and milk in this cold process soap recipe will add to the benefits of your soap bars. So, you can use these cosmetic ingredients in your lovely soap to nourish and care for your skin. We hope that you enjoy the nourishing properties of milk and yogurt in this luscious soap recipe for your skin!Using Yogurt and Powdered Milk in Soap Making: Benefits of Using Milk in Soap -If you are interested in learning more about the benefits of adding milk and milk based products to your body, then you will definitely want to check out Top 5 Skin Benefits of Raw Milk & Beauty Tips from Bellatory. First, milk can be used as a natural cleanser for your skin, as it can be used to clean out clogged pores. This is perfect for helping to prevent future breakouts. Also, this potential soaping ingredient has fantastic moisturizer and exfoliation properties. Further, adding milk or yogurt can provide you with even more wonderful benefits for cold process soap as well as your skin! If you want to learn a bit more about all the benefits these products can have for your body, then you can learn more about this possible soaping ingredient in this beauty article.Using Yogurt and Powdered Milk in Soap Making: Reach Out to Us -We hope that you have enjoyed all of the benefits of adding milk and yogurt to your homemade cold process soap! If you have any questions about these cosmetic ingredients, then feel free to reach out to us. You can find us on our HUG Line, in the store, and online. An easy way to find us online is to reach out to us on social media. You can find us on the Natures Garden Facebook page. Also, you can use the handle @ngscents to find us on both Instagram and Twitter. Not only can you use these social platforms to reach out to us or ask us questions, but you can share your own experience with adding milk or yogurt to your cold process soap. So, we hope that you enjoyed the benefits of this soaping ingredient and that we hear from you soon!
Candle Smoking?

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Why Is My Candle Smoking?
Whenever something is being burned, there will be some amount of smoke. Naturally, when you limit the amount of oxygen, you will see more smoke than when ample oxygen is supplied. However, you can prevent your homemade candles from excessively smoking by making your candles the right way in the first place. There are a few reasons as to why a candle may smoke once lit. The first check point to examine is whether or not the correct amount of fragrance oil was used in the process. Using more than the recommended amount of fragrance oil per pound of wax may sound like it is a good idea to have extreme scent, but in the end it is only wasteful (and costly), and can cause your candles to smoke. Wax has a fragrance load limit. Since it is a porous object, once each and every pore has been filled, there is no more area for the fragrance to go.The second reason your candle may be smoking is the wick. Using the proper wick for the diameter size of the candle is the best way to ensure a clean and even burn in the candle. Go here to read a very interesting blog post on the science of candle wicks. A smoking wick will occur if the wick of the candle is too large for the container. To view a wick suggestion chart for your sized candle container click here for Natures Garden s wick recommendations. Avoid allowing the debris from wick clippings from entering into your melted wax, and keep your wicks trimmed to 1/4".Finally, your colorant may cause your candle to smoke. It is important to know that pigments can clog your wick and can cause increased smoking when burning your candle. That is why only candle dyes should be used to color the interior wax of candles. Never use crayons to color your candles as they contain pigments instead of dyes. When using candle dyes, understand that using alot of candle dye may also cause your candles to smoke more.How to Solve It!When it comes to fragrance oil percentage, never use more than the suggested amount of fragrance oil per pound of wax. Remember, using more may result in a candle with a fragrance oil slick that is a fire hazard.Do your research first. In order to know which wick to use in candle making, you must first know your candle's diameter. You can figure this out by measuring the bottom of your candle container with a ruler. You will want to measure horizontally across the center. Once you have this information, simply look at the wick suggestion chart and select which kind of wick you need. Keep wick trimmings out of your melted wax, and keep wicks trimmed to 1/4". Also, avoid burning your candles where there are fans or drafts. This can cause your wick to move around and burn too quickly; potentially smoking more.In candle making temperature is very important. Many waxes offer a range in temperature for their key steps (melting temperature, scenting temperature, pouring temperature). It is a very good idea to monitor these temperatures with the help of a testing notebook and thermometer. Within a few times of making candles, you can have your temperatures down to a specific degree. With well taken notes, it is possible to have your candle making process replicated exactly time and time again.Lastly, you always want to avoid using pigments in the interior of your candle. Only candle dyes should be used to color the interior of your candle wax.
Why Does M&P Soap Sweat

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Why Does M&P Soap Sweat
Melt and Pour Soap Bases contain high levels of vegetable glycerin. Glycerin is a natural byproduct of the saponification process. The ingredient glycerin is a humectant. A humectant is a substance that can retain and preserve moisture, therefore also preventing loss of moisture as well. Humectants are very important in bath and body products. Having a moisturizing aspect to your products is especially crucial for the dry skin type products.Sometimes, during the manufacturing process of melt and pour soaps, extra glycerin is added. Glycerin is a key ingredient for making clear soaps. Some types of melt and pour soaps even have up to 20% of pure glycerin in them (this would be why glycerin is listed so highly on the ingredients label). But remember this glycerin is what gives melt and pour soap some of its highly sought after qualities, easy to color and mold, skin loving nature, mild and gentle soap (good for children and sensitive skinned), and very highly moisturizing naturally.In fact, it is believed that in theory when you wash your hands with glycerin soap, there will be a thin layer of glycerin that is left behind after you rinse off the lather. This layer of glycerin then does its humectant job and pulls moisture from the air, keeping your hand moisturized until the next wash. But, it is also this same ingredient which is causing your melt and pour soap to sweat. Some people believe that m&p sweat is inevitable, but there are some steps you can take to help avoid and reduce sweat.Because glycerin is a humectant, the sweat that is produced after m&p soap in unmolded is actually condensation from the air that the glycerin drew out unto itself. This is a very important element to remember if you live in an area with high heat and high humidity, or if you are soaping while it is raining outside. Humidity is the number one cause for sweat.How to Reduce M&P Soap Sweat:One of the best suggestions that we have for reducing the amount of sweat on your soaps is to have a dehumidifier in your soaping area. You also want to keep the temperature of the room where you are soaping constant. Drastic changes in temperature will also enhance soap sweat.The first option in reducing sweat on m&p soap, especially if you live in a very humid area, is to store unmolded soaps in an airtight container. By doing this, you are eliminating any extra moisture to be retained by the glycerin. One tip we have learned from our customers is to spread a thin layer of aroma beads into the bottom of the air tight container. Since aroma beads absorb liquid, this will also better your chances of having an air tight moisture free environment for your soaps to dry and harden.In addition to the aroma beads, you will want to use drying racks in your containers if possible. Setting your soap directly on top of the aroma beads for long periods of time will also dry out your soaps. The time limit that the soaps can be in the air tight container is 2 hrs. The soaps should also be checked and rotated every 30 minutes.Some soap crafters use muslin bags to lay their soap out to dry, rotating them once a day. This however will only work if you live in an area that does not have high humidity.Although there is some debate as to when you can wrap your soap to avoid sweat, the general consensus is to wrap your soaps immediately after unmolding, if you are not storing them in an airtight container. Regardless of whether you are using, plastic wrap or saran wrap (sealed with a heat gun), or shrink wrap, the sooner you get the soaps covered, the less chance glycerin has to draw moisture to the outside of the soap.Another way to reduce sweat forming on the soap is to allow the soap to cool and harden naturally. You want your soaps to harden at room temperature (70-72 degrees). Even though you can speed up the hardening process by placing your molds in the fridge/freezer, it should NEVER be any longer than 15-20 minutes depending on the size of your mold. Also, this step should never occur right after you poured the hot melted soap in the mold. Wait until your soap has already started to harden. The drastic temperature change from piping hot to freezing cold will lead to soap sweat. And, you never want to completely freeze soap. When the frozen soap thaws, you can almost guarantee soap sweat.On a closing note, soap sweat does not affect any of the soap's abilities. Soap sweat happens naturally in humid environments that the soap is in. Although using the preventative measures listed above will help to reduce the amount of soap sweat that occurs on your bars of soap, soap sweat may still appear. The humectant agents in your soap are just doing their job, collecting moisture from the air, just as it will to moisturize your skin.
What is Passion Flower Used For

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What is Passion Flower Used For
You may be wondering what our passion flower botanical herb is. Also, you may wonder what is passion flower used for. This second question is especially important for making homemade bath and body recipes! If you are curious, then this is the perfect cosmetic blog for you to use and find out! Of course, Passion Flower from Natures Garden Candle and Soap Supplier is perfect for creating bath and body recipes. Plus, there are all kinds of other cosmetic and medicinal benefits that this herb can provide you. So, there are all kinds of ways that you can use this herb. In this blog, you can learn all about the different benefits that you can have from this botanical herb.What is Passion Flower Used For?: Growing ConditionsAlthough the passion flower looks beautiful and exotic, it is can actually be found in the United States. Since this unique floral herb can be found in many parts of this country, it is able to survive the colder conditions of winter. Specifically, this delightful plant will survive best in Hardiness Zone 6. If you are interested in growing this plant for yourself, then check out the link below this blog to a map for areas of the US where this plant thrives! Although these plants can survive the winter months, they will lose their leaves. However, you can bring your plant indoors to bloom all winter long. Passionflowers like to be put in an area with either indirect sun or full sun. Also, these climbing vine plants prefer soil that is well draining and make sure that the soil is not too wet. So, keep the soil moist but try not to make the soil soaking wet. It is important to plant your passion flower close to something that the vines can climb, like a fence, trellis, or wall. Though your plant won't require any pruning, you can prune after flowers emerge to keep the desired shape.What is Passion Flower Used For?: Industrial UsesThere are many ways that you can use passion flower to create fantastic recipes. First, you can include this lovely cosmetic herb in all kinds of bath and body recipes. Also, there are scrumptious passion flower tea recipes that you can make with this wholesale herb. Furthermore, this botanical herb has all kinds of medicinal benefits that you can utilize. So, there are all kinds of ways that you can utilize the wonderful properties of this pretty herb flower.What is Passion Flower Used For?: Bath and Body UsesOne way that you can use this wonderful cosmetic herb is to create all kinds of wonderful bath and body recipes. This cosmetic herb can provide your products with all kinds of benefits for your hair and skin. So, you can either add this herb whole or you can create an herbal infusion with our skin loving passion flower herb. Either way, you can add this herb or infusion to your recipe for the benefits. If you are interested in using this herb for making cosmetic recipes, then check out some of the benefits for your body!What is Passion Flower Used For?: Bath and Body BenefitsOf course, the benefits of this cosmetic herb make it a fantastic cosmetic ingredient! For your bath and body recipes, you can use this skin nourishing herb to create skin care products that will soothe the skin. So, you can use this cosmetic herb to help reduce redness and skin irritation. Also, this herb is known to reduce inflammation. So, this herbal cosmetic ingredient may be useful for treating minor rashes, eczema, and burns as well as many other inflammation based issues. Also, there are those that use the passion flower herb topically to reduce hemorrhoids and burns. Plus, this herb can be useful for helping keep the skin moisturized.Another great quality of this cosmetic herb is that it is safe for both sensitive skin and sensitive scalps. So, this is an herb that can be used in all kinds of different cosmetic recipes!What is Passion Flower Used For?: Passionflower & Acai Berry Fragrance OilA great fragrance to pair with this nourishing herb is the Passionflower & Acai Berry Fragrance Oil. This fragrance is a perfectly feminine blend of floral and fruit scents that is unique and absolutely gorgeous. This scent has a perfect blend of island passion flower, red currant, mandarin, acai berries, sweet plumeria, green leaves, Hawaiian jasmine, and orange flowers. Further, the scent finishes with a touch of amber that really brings this sweet, tropical aroma together. So, the refreshing aroma of this herb is truly enhanced by this wonderful passion flower fragrance oil.What is Passion Flower Used For?: Food and BeveragesOne way that you can incorporate this herb into your diet is to create an herbal tea. This tea is said to have a sweet, grassy aroma. Also, the tea is said to have an herbal taste that has notes of grassiness and toasted oats. While the tea doesn't actually use the flower portion of the plant, it does include other parts of the plant, like the leaves and stems. This part of the plant has the fantastic benefits that are perfect for gaining the calming beneficial properties that this herb is known for.Although you can create an herbal tea with this plant, it is more common for people to eat the freshly ripened fruit of this plant. These scrumptious fruits will ripen in late spring or autumn and are a yellow-orange in color. The flesh inside the fruit is said to have a taste that is both sweet and slightly tart. While the yellow pulp is the flavorful part, the seeds are edible, too.What is Passion Flower Used For?: Medicinal UsesOf course, you can create passion flower recipes to provide yourself with some medicinal benefits for your body. You use this wholesale herb can create an herbal tea, an infusion, or even add the extract to a smoothie extract. Regardless, you can add this cosmetic herb to your typical diet to potentially promote your health. Also, you may even be able to use this herb to relieve symptoms of certain ailments. Traditionally, this herb has been used as a sedative, so the herb is sure to have calming properties for the body. If you would like to find out how these properties can benefit your body, then check below to find out all the ways that this herb could possibly help you!What is Passion Flower Used For?: Medicinal BenefitsThis fantastic herb has properties of cooling, calming, and soothing that are fantastic for helping with many different issues. First, this cosmetic herb is able to help promote a certain hormone, GABA, that may be useful for dealing with many issues, like insomnia, depression, anger, and hormone related headaches. Anyone that is seeking a more natural alternative to hormone therapy may want to give this herb a try!Another wonderful property of this medicinal herb is that it can be useful for calming the body. First, this cosmetic herb has been used by some to help reduce symptoms of anxiety. Not only can you use this herb to calm your body during the day, but this herb can be used to promote better sleep. So, some people will use this herb to reduce symptoms of insomnia. Further, the passion flower herb has the ability to reduce spasms, twitching, or muscle tension, as it will slightly repress the central nervous system.Plus, this cosmetic herb can be useful for dealing with physical pain and easing head aches. Further, this herb has been useful for dealing with menstrual cramps as well as premenstrual symptoms. Also, it is thought that you can use the GABA promoting benefits of this herb to lower your blood pressure. Further, some find that this herb can be useful for helping reduce issues with irregular heartbeats, heart failure, and heart palpitations.What is Passion Flower Used For?: Other UsesSome people have found that this calming herb can be used as a natural remedy for ADD and ADHD. So, including this herb in your diet is thought to help reduce some of the symptoms brought on by this disorder. According to WebMD, this botanical herb can be as effective as a low dose of a prescription drug. So, this may be a nice, herbal alternative to test out for those that may be wary of medication.Another benefit that some people have found for the passion flower herb is that it can be useful for dealing with menopause. This is because passion flower is promoting the hormone gamma-aminobutyric acid, which is also known as GABA. So, this botanical herb can help you with some of the symptoms that come along with menopause. Specifically, this herb can help with menopause issues that are related to the vasomotor system. So, it may be useful for you to try this medicinal herb for dealing with either hot flashes or night sweats.What is Passion Flower Used For?: History of Naming the Passion FlowerAlthough the name "Passion Flower" may suggest that this beautiful flower would be an aphrodisiac or have a romantic origin, that isn't actually how the flower got its name. Instead, this flower was named for its unique characteristics and symbolism. Christian Missionaries in Peru found quite a bit of symbolism in the flower and named it for the Passion of Christ. The five petals and five sepals were thought to represent the ten disciples. Also, the purple corona of the flower was thought to represent the crown of thorns. If you want to learn even more lore for this flower, then check out Myth and Symbolism of the Passion Flower for even more of the interesting history around this herb.What is Passion Flower Used For?: Where to Grow a Passion Flower PlantIf you live in the United States and are interested in growing your own Passion Flower vine, then check out this map from the USDA web site! This handy map shows you the areas in the US where the passion flower grows naturally. So, keeping your plant alive outdoors in these areas shouldn't be too difficult! Other areas where the plant is not common may require a bit more work for care. Alternatively, you can grow your plant indoors. So, you aren't completely out of luck due to where you live!What is Passion Flower Used For?: Ask Us Your QuestionsIf you have any more questions about using the passion flower herb or any other of our cosmetic herbs and spices in your bath and body recipes, then feel free to reach out and ask us! You can reach out to us at the store, on the phone, and on our social media pages. First, we have a Natures Garden Facebook page. Also, you can use our handle @ngscents to find us on Twitter and Instagram. Also, you can use our social media to share your opinions and your own creations. Have fun creating your various bath and body recipes and we hope to hear from you soon!What is Passion Flower Used For?: Reminder About Our HerbsNatures Garden sells our herbs, like the Passion Flower herb, for external use only. We do not sell our herbs as food items. The information we provide is for educational purposes only. This information is not intended to diagnose, cure, treat, or prevent any disease. This information has not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. Be sure that you keep all herbs out of reach of your children and pets. If you are a pregnant and/or lactating woman, then you should take special care when handling this cosmetic herb. It is especially important as this herb has been known to stimulate the womb. Natures Garden accepts no responsibility (written or implied) for any products you make with our herbs. All testing is the responsibility of the customer.
What are Jump Lines in Candles?

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What are Jump Lines in Candles?
We tried numerous times to recreate jump lines, however because of our flaming awesomeness, every candle was jump-line-less. So, we had to find a stock photo that best represents jump lines.What are Jump Lines in CandlesJump lines are the visible horizontal rings that occur on the sides of your candles. These lines look like ridges and prevent your candle from having a smooth finish. Ideally, to have a perfect candle pour, your candle wax will still be in a complete liquid state once it has been poured into your container/pillar. This is the best shot you can give your candle to completely and uniformly cool naturally, therefore decreasing your chances of getting jump lines. All candle wax has to conform to the sides of the container/pillar mold at the same rate of time. This provides for the smooth finish of a candle.In candle making when you are pouring the hot wax, it will begin to cool as soon as it hits the jar. As this happens, you will visibly be able to see wax layers materialize. If you do not pour quickly enough, the wax will naturally start to harden and stick to the wall of the container/ pillar mold. Since the temperature of the jar stays consistent, there is no heat source to re-melt the wall portion, therefore showing each line of cooled wax aka jump lines. How do you prevent jump lines from occurring?Jump lines can occur for several reasons, the first of which is intentionally. Jump lines can also be created on purpose to give candles a textured look. Since jump lines are an aesthetic thing, they do not have any kind of effect on the candles burn or scent throw. One of the first things as a preventative measure that you can do is pour your wax at the correct temperature. You can do this by using a candy thermometer. You may have to increase your pouring temperature to adjust for jump lines. This is where testing and note taking will come into play. As always, it is of the utmost importance for candle making that your jars and/or pillars are room temperature. The second measure you can take is to heat your jars at the lowest setting on a cookie sheet in the oven for twenty minutes prior to filling them.Another important factor in combating jump lines is your pouring rate. Obviously, you do not want to pour fast, this will result in wax splashing everywhere. And, adversely, you do not want to pour so slowly that you can actually see the jump lines establishing themselves in the candle. Find your pouring medium. If you are seeking a fool proof way to prevent jump lines from the pouring stage, try counting seconds or singing a lyric of a song. These tricks will help you stay uniform with your pour.How to correct jump lines?Although all of the steps mentioned earlier are great ways to prevent jump lines, once they have occurred in your candles you really only have a one option. Using a heat gun or hair dryer to heat the outside of the candle will remelt the outside layer of the wax, this will mask the jump lines from visible view, but once again, jump lines have no direct effect on a candle.
When Does Wick Size Matter

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When Does Wick Size Matter
We purposely created a "problem" candle to demonstrate when wick size does matter. In this example, the wick is not centered, and there is a lack of a full melt pool. A smaller melt pool is one sign that the wick size clearly needs to be larger.When does wick size matter?Knowing when to move up to the next size wick for candles is one of the trickiest aspects to candle making. There is a fine line with wicking a candle. You want to find that perfect balance between a sensational hot throw and long burn time. Wicks, are the vessels to ensuring you have made the best possible candle. You want your candle to burn slowly and evenly all the way to the bottom, leaving nothing but the wick tab behind. The right wick has the capability of doing this, but they also have a direct effect on the hot scent throw. And when it comes to scent throw, this is one feature of candles that is extremely significant.There are many different kinds of wicks available; HTP, CD, Hemp, Zinc, or Wooden. Each wick has different qualities associated with them, and that is why testing for your perfect wick size is vital to your candle crafting. Usually, within the wick selection process there are a few factors to consider. First, wick selection will differ depending on which fragrance oil you use in your candle wax. Second, wick size is determined by the diameter of your candle container/mold. Third, wick size is determined by the type of wax you are using to make your candles. Fourth, wick size is determined by how much colorant you use in your candles.Now, it could be possible that your candle will need a double or maybe even a triple wick. This is not unheard of. Sometimes, especially with the larger candles or with candles that are shaped differently (such as star), you need the addition of extra wicks to make sure that your candle has an excellent wet pool touching all sides of your container.Once you know the type and size of the wick that works best for your candle needs, the next step is to familiarize yourself with the term "wick up". Wick up in candle making is when you purposely use a larger wick. This generally comes into play for a few reasons. If you notice in your testing that you have a poor melt pool, you might want to consider a wick up. Wicking up in this situation will allow for a hotter burn, therefore reaching more wax to allow for a fuller melt pool.Another reason to wick up is if you are struggling to smell the hot throw of the candle. In order for scent throw to be possible in melted wax, the fragrance oil needs to be in a volatile state- meaning ready to evaporate quickly. The best way to ensure this is a hot burning wick. As the melted wax pool is pulled throw the wick, the fragrance (or scent) is released into the air.Another aspect to consider is the fragrance oil itself. There are certain fragrance oils such as Vanilla ones that almost always require a wick up. This is because Vanilla fragrance oils are thicker and using a slightly larger wick will prevent your wick from clogging and/or possibly drowning out. Fragrances with heavy base notes, such as patchouli, vetiver, amber, and musk will also likely require a larger wick.The wax that you are using for candle making can also come into play for a wick up situation. Any time you use a vegetable wax, you will want to wick up to the next size wick for your candle. Whenever you use a vegetable wax, which requires a hotter burn, you want to make sure that the wick when lit, will be hot enough to melt the wax properly, and release the fragrance into the air.The other factor that will require a larger wick size in candles is the use of heavy amounts of candle dye in your candles. Candle dye slows down the capillary action of the wicks, and thus reduces the burn of the wick. Increasing your wick size will help you combat this issue.If you are interested in seeing Natures Garden's suggestions for wicks, please check out candle wick chart. However, please note that this information should never replace your testing process.
What is Red Clover Good For?

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What is Red Clover Good For?
What is red clover good for? This fantastic wholesale herb has all kinds of benefits for your entire body. You can use the Natures Garden herb to create some fantastic bath and body recipes. This cosmetic ingredient is sure to provide you with some wonderful benefits for both the inside and outside of your body. Also, you can use this herb to create an herbal red clover tea. This tea has some known benefits for the body, as well. So, there are all kinds of benefits for your when used in cosmetic recipes. If you are interested in learning more about the potential benefits, then continue reading this cosmetic blog to learn even more!What is Red Clover Good For?: Growing ConditionsNot only are there herbal benefits provided by these beautiful flowers, but the red clover plants can actually be quite beneficial to farming. There are many farmers that will use this herb as a cover crop, which means that it will protect the soil. Further, this herb can help to replenish the nitrogen in the soil. So, planting red clover will promote better health for the next years crop. Although there are other similar plants that will grow faster, produce more, and provide more nitrogen, this plant can be grown in many more soil types and weather conditions. So, the reason why this plant may be preferred in many regions of the United States is that it can be grown anywhere corn is grown.You will want to be sure to plant your clover by early spring. This will allow you to have approximately three harvests. For the seeds, you will need to make sure that the soil has a pH between 6 and 7. Although you can add limestone to raise the pH, you won't be able to plant if the soil is above 7 and too basic. Also, you will want to plant the seeds a quarter inch deep into soil that is well draining. If you want to enrich the soil, then you can add some phosphorous. Further, these clovers will prefer to have either full sun or partial shade.Once the seedlings are planted, the plant will take about seven days to sprout. Then, the plant will develop into about 40 to 60 days. After, you are ready to harvest these wonderful herbs! You can either use this crop for farming or you can simply grow red clovers for the decoration or as well as herbal purposes, too.What is Red Clover Good For?: Red Clover Benefits for Skin and HairThere are all kinds of reasons to add the red clover herb to your bath and body recipes. This herb can be used whole or used to create an herbal infusion. Of course, this cosmetic herb has benefits for your skin. So, adding this to homemade lotions or soap making recipes will leave your skin soft and youthful. Plus, this flower herb has some beneficial properties for your hair, too. Adding this herb in your shampoo or other hair care recipes will lead to stronger, healthier hair. If you are interested in using this cosmetic herb, then you may want to check out exactly how it can benefit your body.What is Red Clover Good For?: Red Clover UsesFirst, you can use the red clover herb to nourish your skin. So, you can use this cosmetic herb to reduce issues due to eczema or psoriasis. Also, this herb can be useful for burns, minor cuts, or skin sores. In fact, this herb can help your skin heal faster. Further, you can use this cosmetic herb to create fantastic bath and body recipes. So, you can use this herb to reduce signs of aging, as this herb contains nutrients that are beneficial to the skin.These nutrients help maintain the keratin in the skin and leave you with a youthful appearance. Also, there are substances called isoflavones that act very similarly to estrogen. Further, these estrogen-like substances in this cosmetic herb can be useful for reducing wrinkles, fine lines, and increasing elasticity. Plus, you can use the red clove herb to improve dry skin. Also, you can use this herb cosmetically to help with acne and other breakouts.Additionally, you can add this dried herb to you handmade hair care products. If you add this herb to cosmetic products for your scalp, then you are in for some fantastic benefits! For instance, this herb is perfect for reducing dandruff. Also, you can reduce you likelihood of scalp infections. Furthermore, this herb contains nutrients that will promote fast, healthy hair growth. So, this cosmetic herb will leave you hair feeling silky soft and looking absolutely stunning.What is Red Clover Good For?: Medicinal UsesNot only does this cosmetic herb have benefits for the outside of the body, but the red clover herb is thought to have health benefits as well. You can use this herb to help provide you with fantastic nutrients. Further, this cosmetic herb will provide you with health benefits that may be useful for helping with certain conditions. So, you will absolutely want to try out the red clover to promote your health. If you are interested in learning even more about the benefits this herb can have for your health, then check out the potential benefits this herb has for your body.What is Red Clover Good For?: Medicinal BenefitsSome women will use this wholesale herb to help deal with symptoms that come along with menopause. This herb can be useful for reducing hot flashes. Also, the red clover herb can help reduce breast pain or tenderness. Further, this herb can even be useful for dealing with menstruation. Some people have even found that this herb can help deal with PMS, or premenstrual syndrome. Also, you can use this herb to help with other hormonal conditions, as this herb contains estrogen and can be used to help balance your hormones.Further, this cosmetic herb can be used to reduce symptoms of an enlarged prostate. So, using this cosmetic herb can help reduce night time urination as well as promoting a good urine flow rate. Plus, adding more red clover to your diet will help promote a positive prostate size. Also, you can use this herb to help boost your immune system with vitamin C. The nutrients in this botanical herb are thought to be useful for stimulating white blood cells. So, this herb can help your body defend its self from all kinds of illnesses. Additionally, this cosmetic herb can be useful for detoxifying the body. This cosmetic herb can be useful as a diuretic, which can help remove toxins.What is Red Clover Good For?: Food and BeveragesOf course, there are all kinds of fantastic reasons that will make you want to add this cosmetic herb to your typical diet. You can gain many of these medicinal benefits just by simply adding this lovely herb to the food you normally eat. Plus, there are all kinds ways that you can incorporate this herb into your diet. If you are interested in learning about some fun and unique recipes, then you will certainly want to check out some of these recipes for scrumptious food and beverages.What is Red Clover Good For?: Types of Food and BeveragesAlso, you can include the red clover herb in some great food and beverage recipes. Many people would describe the taste of this herb as being pleasant. Some people will think that the herb has a common legume taste, which is similar to a bean. So, you can include this herb in all kinds of typical dinner recipes. One way that you can use this cosmetic herb is to create some Red Clover Meatballs from Colorado School of Clinical Herbalism. These scrumptious meatballs perfectly incorporate the wonderful health benefits of this herb. Further, this recipe is perfect for creating a nutritious and delicious dinner!Additionally, you can use this wholesale herb to create beverage recipes, too. In fact, the beverage recipes are just as beneficial and even easier to create! First if all,you can create a beneficial tea with the red clover herb. If you are looking for some tips on making an herbal tea, then check out the recipe for making red clover tea below. Also, there are some other beverage recipes that you can create with this lovely herb. One fun beverage recipe that you can include this herb in is the Red Clover Lemonade from Green Child. This simple lemonade recipe uses a few simple ingredients to create a refreshing and herbal drink!What is Red Clover Good For?: Other UsesOne benefit of this cosmetic herb is that it can be useful for promoting female fertility. This cosmetic herb can be made into a tea and used to help promote fertility. This cosmetic herb is thought to be useful as it is full of estrogen. So, this herb may be able to promote you reproductive functions. This home remedy is especially useful for women with low levels of estrogen, as this herb can help make you hormone levels more regular. Also, there are some people that use this cosmetic herb for helping reduce the chance of cancer. It is thought that this herb can be useful for reducing the possibility of uterus and breast cancer. Additionally, some people will use this cosmetic herb to help with weight loss along with their regular diet and exercise.What is Red Clover Good For?: How to Make Red Clover TeaIf you are interested in the medicinal benefits of the red clover herb, then you will definitely want to try out some scrumptious red clover tea. The Red Clover Tea article from The Right Tea has everything you will need to know about this herbal tea. In this recipe, you can learn even more about all the health benefits. Also, you can learn more about the purposes for the tea, which include heart health, blood purifying, and other benefits! Also, you can get a bit more into the potential risks of this herb. Furthermore, this article even has a simple recipe for making refreshing clover tea, which includes other herbs, like burdock, mint or lemon, that pair absolutely perfectly with this fantastic cosmetic herb!What is Red Clover Good For?: Ask Us Your QuestionsIf you have any more questions about this cosmetic herb or any other of the Natures Garden herbs, then please feel free to reach out to us. You can find us in the store, on the phone, and online. Of course you can always reach out to us in the store or on the phone help line, but our social media page is another easy way to reach out. You can reach out to us on our Facebook page. Also, you can use the handle @ngscents to find us on our Instagram and Twitter accounts. Not only can you reach out on our social media for help and advice, but you can share your own creations and share your ideas with like minded craft makers . We hope to hear from you soon and wish you the best with creating your very own unique bath and body creations!What is Red Clover Good For?: A Note About Our HerbsNote: Natures Garden sells the cosmetic herbs, like the Red Clover herb, for external use only. We do not sell our cosmetic herbs as food items. The information that we provide is only for educational purposes. Further, the information that we provide in this blog is not intended to diagnose, cure, treat, or prevent any disease. Further, this information on red clover has not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. Keep all cosmetic herbs out of reach of children and pets. Special care should be taken by pregnant and/or lactating women when handling herbs. Natures Garden accepts no responsibility (written or implied) for any products you make with our herbs. All testing is the responsibility of the customer.
What is Bee Pollen Powder?

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What is Bee Pollen Powder?
If you have been wondering "What is bee pollen powder?", then you may want to stick around for this blog. This Natures Garden herb is made up of ground up bee pollen granules, which makes it easy to add your homemade soaps and cosmetics. Further, the herb powder is a perfect way to naturally color bath and body recipes. Also, the bee powder is full of vitamins and nutrients that a healthy body needs! We utilize these nutrients to create bath and beauty products that are amazing for the skin. But, there are those that use the bee pollen granules to provide benefits to the inside of their body, too. You can learn about all the beneficial properties that bee pollen has for both your homemade products and your whole body in one of our homemaking blogs for bath and body products!What is Bee Pollen Powder?: What is Bee Pollen Made Out Of?While bees collect pollen from plants, like flowers, this pollen alone is not bee pollen. Now, you may be asking "Well then, what is what is bee pollen made from?". This process starts with the plant pollen and nectar that the bees collect for food. The type of pollen differs based on the on the area, as there will be different types of flowers available.Then, the bees mix the collected pollen with nectar from its honey sacks. This creates the bee pollen, which are larger granules that make it easier to transport pollen back to the hive. So, the bees will store the bee pollen in a special pouch in their hind legs to transport it back to their home. Then, the bees will transport this to the hive where they can enzymes to it. The bees will digest the bee pollen to turn it into honey, which has all the nutrients needed to feed young bees and worker bees alike.What is Bee Pollen Powder?: How is Bee Pollen Harvested?Well, how is bee pollen gathered before the bees turn it into honey? Obviously, the bee pollen would need to be collected before the bees take it into their hive. After this point, it will be in the process of becoming honey. So, beekeepers will use a special comb-like device that bees have to pass through before getting into the hive. As a bee passes through the comb some of the pollen will be pushed out of the bee's pouch. This allows a portion of the bee pollen to be collected while leaving some for the bees to turn into honey.What is Bee Pollen Powder?: Industrial UsesWe know that bee pollen is used to make food for the bees, but how is bee pollen good for you? Bee pollen is full of all kinds of nutrients that your body needs, which makes it amazing for giving your body a revitalizing boost. Since bee pollen is full of vitamins and nutrients, there are many industry uses for this lovely product. This means that there are all kinds of ways that people have found to include use this natural wonder. Whether you use bee pollen for cosmetic purposes or include a bee pollen supplement in your diet, there are many beneficial properties for your body.What is Bee Pollen Powder?: Foods and BeveragesMany people enjoy adding bee pollen to their food or smoothies as a nutrition boost. In fact, the abundance of nutrients are useful for combating fatigue and stress by supporting your nutrition levels. Since the vitamins and nutrients in this supplement support healthy body function, you are sure to feel more lively. Plus, bee pollen will help you ward off sickness, as it has been shown to boost the immune system. Also, this natural supplement has been useful in reducing nutritional deficiencies, which would lead to negative consequences. These consequences could include health problems or poor development in children. This is just a few of the reasons why adding bee pollen to healthy food is something that many people enjoy!What is Bee Pollen Powder?: What Does Bee Pollen Taste Like?Of course, anyone considering adding a new food to there diet would be curious about the taste. We have been told that bee pollen is an acquired taste, so some healthy eaters will disguise it in their food. Further, the taste can differ slightly depending on the pollen sources available around the hive. This means that both the color and taste can change slightly based on location and time of year. Some bee pollen has a nut-like flavor that is a little sweet and other times it can be more bitter. While some people will eat the bee pollen on food or like a pill with water, others may hide the flavor in a smoothie. It all depends on your preference and the time of year you get your bee pollen.What is Bee Pollen Powder?: Bath and Body ProductsBee Pollen Powder is a wonderful herb that provides all kinds of benefits to natural bath and body products. First, this herb can be used as a natural colorant. The pretty yellow color is perfect for creating bath and body products that are light, warm, and natural. So, this cosmetic herb is great for adding to your bath and body supplies, as it provides you with perfect hues for wholesale body products using natural bee ingredients.Additionally, bee pollen has all kinds of wonderful properties to benefit your skin. First, using this cosmetic herb for making lotion from scratch is a perfect way to introduce these beneficial properties to your skin. The high levels of antioxidants in this cosmetic herb are able to help reduce aging, as it reduces the effect of free radicals, UV light, and pollutants. Further, bee pollen has an antibiotic effect that will help to reduce acne break outs. Plus, some research has shown that bee pollen can be used on the skin to speed healing and prevent infection due to its antibacterial properties.How to Use Bee Pollen Powder: Natures Garden RecipesAlso, you can incorporate bee pollen power in a wonderful cold process soap recipe! Our Royal Honey Bee Cold Process Soap Recipe combines the beneficial properties of real honey and raw bee pollen to create an amazing recipe for the skin. Since much of the antibacterial and anti inflammatory properties are from the bee pollen, this combination enhances the honey's properties to new levels. This soap can be useful for moisturizing the skin, reducing wrinkles, and even preventing acne break outs. Plus, some cases of eczema have been reduced after regular use, as it reduces inflammation and soothes the skin.What is Bee Pollen Powder?: MedicinalThroughout history, there is evidence of humans incorporating bee in medical practices. There were ancient civilizations, including Chinese, Egyptian, Greek, American Indian, and many more, used bee pollen to create rejuvenating blends. These blends varied from the Greek and Egyptians using it to increase stamina before battle to the medicinal tonics of ancient Chinese civilizations. Further, bee pollen has even been referred to as "Ambrosia" by some civilizations, which means food of the Gods. Today, we still utilize the natural properties of bee pollen to provide our bodies with a nutrient boost and enhance our health. In fact, it is considered a superfood that is often used in smoothie blends.What has continued to make bee pollen popular for improving health is its many natural, beneficial properties for the body. First, it has vitamins that are useful for boosting the immune system, which protect you from diseases or infections. Also, bee pollen has anti-inflammatory properties that can be used for reducing the symptoms of arthritis, gout, or even menstrual cramps. Another benefit is that bee pollen promotes liver health with its high level of antioxidants that are able to help your liver detox the body. Additionally, bee pollen powder has been linked to a reduction in bad cholesterol, which has led to better cardiovascular health and even suggested a decreased risk of blood clots.What is Bee Pollen Powder?: Other UsesAnother benefit of bee pollen is that it can be used to help reduce minor seasonal allergies. Many people will find local beehives to find bee pollen harvested from the area. You can take this region specific bee pollen every day to help build up an immunity to the pollen that you experience in your area. You will want to start with a small amount and work your way up to a slightly larger amount. Also, you will want to begin this process a few weeks before pollen season begins.Eventually, you won't have as bad of a reaction from seasonal allergies caused by the pollen in your area. However, anyone with serious allergic reactions to honey, pollen, or bee stings as well as anyone taking regular medications should all consult a doctor before committing to taking bee pollen. If you would like to learn more about how to take bee pollen, then check out this article called How Bee Pollen Could Cure Your Allergies by Mind Body Green. This article talks about how bee pollen wards your body from your allergies and gives a suggested amount for daily use.What is Bee Pollen Powder?: Get Healthy with Bee PollenIf you want to try adding granules of bee pollen to your diet, then Healthy Smoothie Headquarters is a great place to start. They have an article with a recipe for creating a smoothie that is absolutely scrumptious. Recipes like these are extremely useful for anyone that would love to reap the benefits of bee pollen but hate the taste. Plus, this article even talks about a few more benefits and bonuses of eating bee pollen regularly. So, check out the Blissful Bee Pollen Smoothie and see what all the buzz is about!If you are curious about all the nutrients in bee pollen, then you may want to check out an article by Bee Pollen Buzz. This article, called What is Bee Pollen?, perfectly answers the question of "What nutrients does bee pollen contain?" and shows you exactly what is known to be in bee pollen that is just so good for us. In fact, this article breaks down the good stuff in bee pollen, like all the vitamins, minerals, and amino acids. Plus, they go into the number of calories, fats, carbs, and protein, too. So, this is a perfect break down for any curious healthy eaters out there.What is Bee Pollen Powder?: Talk to UsWe hope that you've enjoyed learning a bit about this wonderful cosmetic herb. If you want to include even more herbs in your wholesale bath and body supplies, then check out some of our other Herbs and Spices. You can create some skin-loving products with a blend of fantastic herbs. If you have questions about bee pollen powder or any other herbs that we carry, then please ask us! You can always ask us questions in store, on the phone, and on social media. We have a Facebook page that you can use to reach us. Also, we have a Twitter account and an Instagram account (@ngscents) . We hope to hear from you soon!What is Bee Pollen Powder?: Reminder About Our HerbsNote: Natures Garden sells our bee pollen powder for external use only. While you can purchase food grade bee pollen elsewhere, we do not sell them as food items. Also, the information that we provide is for educational purposes only. This information is not intended to diagnose, cure, treat, or prevent any disease and this information has not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. We suggest that you keep all herbs out of reach of children and pets. Also, pregnant and/or lactating women should take special care when handling herbs. Natures Garden accepts no responsibility (written or implied) for any products you make with our herbs. The responsibility of the customer is to test all of their own created products.
What Can I Use to Flavor Lip Balm

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What Can I Use to Flavor Lip Balm
A common question to come up when creating a lip balm recipe is "What can I use to flavor lip balm?" There are so many choices that sometimes it is hard to decide! You can go with scrumptious flavoring oils, essential oils, or certain foods. It all depends on what you are trying to make. Some people prefer to go the simple, natural route with specific food ingredients or essential oils. Other people like to go with the yummy and complex flavorings. No matter what your style is we have some options for you!What Can I Use to Flavor Lip Balm: Flavor OilsFirst, we have our flavoring oils! These are all of the flavorings that we had formulated specifically for lip balm. So, check out our flavor oils and find your favorite.What Can I Use to Flavor Lip Balm: Black Cherry BOOM FlavoringIf you like the taste of freshly ripened black cherries, then this is the perfect flavoring for you. Our Black Cherry BOOM Flavoring oil has a bold cherry aroma that will have your mouth watering.What Can I Use to Flavor Lip Balm: Blue Raspberry Slushie FlavoringNext, we have the scrumptious Blue Raspberry Slushie Flavoring. This flavor oil has an aroma that is exactly like blue raspberry slushies you can get from the theatre!What Can I Use to Flavor Lip Balm: Bubble Gum FlavoringAlso, we have a flavor oil that is perfect for lovers of bubblegum. Our sweet Bubblegum Flavoring has a delicious aroma of bright, juicy bubblegum that is perfect for lip balm.What Can I Use to Flavor Lip Balm: Buttercream Cupcake FlavoringAnother yummy flavor to try is the Buttercream Cupcake Flavoring. This one will transport you straight to the bakery with its inviting aroma of delicious buttercream and light fluffy vanilla cupcake.What Can I Use to Flavor Lip Balm: Chocolate Bon Bons FlavoringThe Chocolate Bon Bons Flavoring is perfect for dessert lovers. This flavor oil has a rich, creamy aroma of chocolate fudge bon bons. Yum! If you want to use this in a recipe, then take a look at our Brown Sugar Lip Scrub Recipe.What Can I Use to Flavor Lip Balm: Coconut FlavoringAnother great flavoring that you can use in lip balm is the Coconut Flavoring. This aroma is a perfect summer scent with its fresh coconut aroma, which was perfect for our Crazy for Coconuts Lip Balm Recipe.What Can I Use to Flavor Lip Balm: Cotton Candy FlavoringNext, we have a scent that is delicious and reminiscent of when the fair would come into town. The Cotton Candy Flavoring is true and worked beautifully in our Cotton Candy Lip Balm Recipe.What Can I Use to Flavor Lip Balm: Creme Brulee FlavoringAlso, you can use the sweet scent of the Creme Brulee Flavoring, which makes a scrumptious addition to your lip balm recipes. This flavor is exactly like a rich and creamy creme brulee!What Can I Use to Flavor Lip Balm: French Vanilla FlavoringPlus, we have a wonderful flavor oil for anyone that enjoys vanilla. Our French Vanilla Flavoring has an aroma of a sweet, creamy French vanilla that has rich notes that are hard to pass up.What Can I Use to Flavor Lip Balm: Frozen Margarita FlavoringAnother great idea for lip balm is a Margarita flavored lip balm! The delicious Frozen Margarita Flavoring tastes like a lime margarita that will have your mouth watering. Great for cute party favors if you are looking for simple bachelorette party ideas!What Can I Use to Flavor Lip Balm: Green Apple Blast FlavoringOur Green Apple Blast Flavoring is a scrumptious scent that is perfect for lovers of green apples. This flavoring has an aroma of tart green apples, but it has an extra blast of delicious goodness. Such a wonderful flavoring for lip balm!What Can I Use to Flavor Lip Balm: Guava Flavoring OilIf you prefer something more exotic, then the Guava Flavoring Oil may be for you! This tasty flavoring oil has the scent of a freshly ripened guava fruit.What Can I Use to Flavor Lip Balm: Horchatta (Cinnamon Rolls) FlavoringThis next flavor oil is perfect if you like cinnamon rolls. The Horchatta Flavoring was originally created to smell like rich, spicy Mexican rice pudding. But, it smells just like cinnamon rolls to us. So, you can use this flavor for a few different dessert themes.What Can I Use to Flavor Lip Balm: Juicy Orange FlavoringAlso, you may want to try the Juicy Orange Flavoring in your homemade lip balm. This deliriously fresh orange aroma was used in our Super Easy Lip Gloss Recipe. Tastes just like fresh squeezed orange juice!What Can I Use to Flavor Lip Balm: Juicy Watermelon FlavoringOur Juicy Watermelon Flavoring is a great one to use in diy lip balm, especially if you like the sweet taste of a juicy watermelon. This flavor is just like biting into a piece of a freshly cut watermelon.What Can I Use to Flavor Lip Balm: Kiss of Death FlavoringPlus, you can create lip balm using the Kiss of Death Flavoring. While this flavoring oil sounds complex and seduction, it's actually sweet and delicious! It tastes almost just like Hawaiian Fruit Punch!What Can I Use to Flavor Lip Balm: Mango FlavoringAnother great fruit flavor that you can add to your lip balm recipes if the Mango Flavoring. This flavoring is sweet, tropical, and delicious just like a real mango.What Can I Use to Flavor Lip Balm: Monkey Farts Fragrance OilOur Monkey Farts Flavoring is a blend of fruits and sweet notes that create a delicious combination. The flavor uses notes of fresh bananas, juicy grapefruit, kiwi, juicy bubblegum, and strawberries. Plus, this flavor has a sweet hint of vanilla.What Can I Use to Flavor Lip Balm: Rootbeer FlavoringA unique and tasty option that you have for your lip balm is the Rootbeer Flavoring. This scrumptious drink scent is perfect for anyone that loves this sweet, foamy beverageWhat Can I Use to Flavor Lip Balm: Strawberry Cheesecake FlavoringIf you are looking for a scrumptious dessert flavor, then try Strawberry Cheesecake Flavoring in your homemade lip balm! This flavor oil has rich, creamy notes of cheesecake with sweet strawberry topping.What Can I Use to Flavor Lip Balm: Strawberry Sorbet FlavoringAnother great flavoring that you can use in your lip balm is the Strawberry Sorbet Flavoring. This delicious flavoring was perfect for recipes like the Vegan Silky Lip Balm Recipe. Further, we have a complete kit for this recipe that comes with printed instructions, packaging supplies, and all of the ingredients that you will need!What Can I Use to Flavor Lip Balm: Tropical Paradise FlavoringNext, we have an exotic scent that is perfect for summer. Our Tropical Paradise Flavoring is a paradise of delicious tropical fruits, like coconut, pineapple, goji berries, dragon fruit, star fruit, papaya, mango, and kumquat.What Can I Use to Flavor Lip Balm: Vanilla Bean FlavoringLastly, we have the aroma of sweet vanilla beans that is perfect for lip balm. The Vanilla Bean Flavoring was perfectly balanced with the raw honey in our Honey Vanilla Lip Balm Recipe to create lip care that was tasty and moisturizing.What Can I Use to Flavor Lip Balm: Essential OilsWhile some essential oils are fine to put into lip balm, others are not. Just like how some plants in nature are poisonous to eat, some essential oils can't be eaten. You can use the IFRA sheet to determine how much is safely allowed in lip balm, as it is category 1. But, we find that a good rule is that if it allows for less than 1% then you may not want to have it on your lips even if IFRA technically allows it. Also, you may personally have an allergy to the essential oil. So, you may want to do a test patch on a small area of skin to see whether you are sensitive.What Can I Use to Flavor Lip Balm: Lavender Essential OilFirst, we can use the Lavender Essential Oil. This lovely essential oil has a sweet, fruity aroma that is absolutely scrumptious. Plus, the IFRA sheet says that you can include up to 5% of this ingredient in your lip balm recipes. So, you can use this oil, like we did with out White Chocolate Lavender Lip Balm Recipe, to naturally flavor your lip balm recipe!What Can I Use to Flavor Lip Balm: Peppermint Essential OilAnother idea for flavoring is the cool and refreshing Peppermint Essential Oil. This delightful oil is perfect for adding some mint freshness to your lip care products. If you are interested in using this flavor oil, then you may want to know that IFRA states that a maximum of 5% can be used for your lip products.If you want to find more essential oils that you can use, then check out the Essential Oils page on our website! You can find out which are body safe and their usage rate there!What Can I Use to Flavor Lip Balm: How to Sweeten Your Lip BalmWhile flavoring oils are amazing, sometimes you just want to add a bit of extra sweetness. Not only can these sweeteners be added to enhance your flavoring oil, but these sweeteners can be used to naturally flavor lip balm all on its own! It's all up to your and what you want from your lip balm.What Can I Use to Flavor Lip Balm: SteviaFirst, we have Stevia Powder, which is a natural sweetener extracted from the Stevia plant of the Asteraceae family. This sweetener is often used as a cane sugar substitute because it is thought to have no calories and taste even sweeter than sugar. This added sweetness is especially useful for lip balm because we can get a sweet flavor without adding enough to be considered a lip scrub. While scrubs can be useful, you don't want every lip balm to be gritty. Stevia is used to sweeten the lip balm. This sweetness also enhances the flavor of the lip balm.What Can I Use to Flavor Lip Balm: HoneyAlso, you can use a natural sweetener like honey. Not only will adding this ingredient sweeten your lip balm, but it has benefits for your lips as well. Honey is known for helping lock in moisture and protect your skin and lips. Plus, it can be used to help brighten your lips or even make them look bigger and more plump.What Can I Use to Flavor Lip Balm: Dark Chocolate WafersAnother perfect additive for lip balm is chocolate. What could be better than the rich taste of dark chocolate in your homemade lip balm recipes? Absolutely nothing! Chocolate is delicious and perfect for anyone that wants to naturally flavor lip balm. Adding some Dark Chocolate Wafers to your recipe will provide a fantastic taste and help keep your lips feeling soft.What Can I Use to Flavor Lip Balm: History of Lip BalmLip balm is essential for keeping your lips moisturized and healthy, but it wasn't always around. In fact, it was invented in the early 1880s by Dr. C.D. Fleet. But, this lip balm looked more like a wickless candle then what we see today. Further, flavored Chapstick wasn't even an option until 1971! If you want to learn more about the history of lip balm or are curious about the history of Carmex, then check out The History of Chapstick - The History of Carmex by ThoughtCo.What Can I Use to Flavor Lip Balm: Talk to Us at Natures GardenWe hope that you have a better idea of ingredients for you lip balm recipes. Whether you added these flavoring options to your recipes or created one of ours, we're sure you will enjoy the finished product. If you have any questions or want to share your lip balm making experience, then feel free to reach out to us. An easy way to find us is on social media. We have a Facebook page. Also, we have a Twitter account and an Instagram account (@ngscents). Hope to hear from you soon!
What is Trace in Soap Making?

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What is Trace in Soap Making?
What is trace? Baby, don t blend me; don't stir me, just pour. Trace is when you've reached emulsion- your oils are blended with your lye mixture and are no longer capable of separating. How can you tell when your mixture is at trace? The easiest way is to use your stirring utensil: hold it a few inches above your mixing container and move it back and forth. If the soap batter dripping off the stirring utensil leaves little lines that sit on top of the mixture in the bowl- that s trace. It can be difficult to capture in photographs, but you ll know it when you see it in motion. So I reach trace and that's it? Well, yes and no. There are different degrees of trace, but the important thing to remember is that once a mixture has reached trace- it s only going to continue to solidify from there. Light trace is considered the bare minimum. Light trace is helpful when you're looking to make swirls or other designs that require easily pourable, almost-liquid soap. Moderate trace is in the middle and means you're ready to pour your soap into the mold. Heavy trace is when your soap gets thick. The picture above shows heavy trace. A soap batter at heavy trace is resistant to change shape and almost impossible to pour into a mold. Heavy trace may result in the need to scoop your soap into the mold, seen in the photo on the left. Not a pretty sight. Work quickly to ensure the soap does not set before you are ready. What Causes Different Levels of Trace? Trace can be affected both by your ingredients and your blending method. Ingredients: 'Hard' oils, including palm oil and coconut oil, and butters will reach trace much faster. Using softer oils such as olive oil or canola will decrease the speed of trace, but your end product soap will be much softer. Increasing the amount of oil to superfat your recipe will also slow down trace. (Be careful not to add too much or you'll have an excess of unreacted oils.) In addition, fragrance oils can accelerate trace. (Check out our CP Soap Testing results to see how our fragrance oils perform in the CP soaping process.) Inversely, the more water you use, the slower your soap will reach trace. A water discount (using less water than the recipe called for) will accelerate trace and is recommended for only advanced soapers when they see fit. Blending: The speed at which you blend can accelerate trace. Using a stick blender as opposed to stirring manually with a spatula will increase the speed of the reaction and trace will be reached faster. If you suspect that the mixture will accelerate, stir it manually to slow the rate of trace. Furthermore, the temperature at which you blend your ingredients will affect trace. Higher temperatures accelerate trace. If you wish to slow down trace, let your lye mixture cool down to about 100 degrees Fahrenheit before you add it to your oils. The order also matters. If the fragrance oil you're using is known to have a tendency to accelerate trace, be sure to add it last, after you've made your soap mixture and added any colorant, and be ready to move. False Trace All this talk about trace and the need to rush your soap process may have you running around like a chicken with its head cut off- but BEWARE FALSE TRACE. False trace usually occurs when oils in your mixture begin to cool down and solidify without going through emulsion or saponification. So, much like Goldilocks, you don't want your mixture to be too hot or too cold, but juuuuust right. Ahhh! I know it seems like a lot- but if you pay attention to the factors listed here- you should be alright. Remember to have all of your ingredients ready before you start soaping (always, but especially) in case of any unexpected trace acceleration. You can do this, I promise. And if something goes wrong, you can always melt down your soap and try again. Thanks for reading and happy soaping!
What is Lemon Verbena Used For?

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What is Lemon Verbena Used For?
What is lemon verbena used for? There are many benefits that can be had from using this Natures Garden cosmetic herb. First, this herb has a bold, lemon flavor that is fantastic for creating foods and beverages. Also, this herb has a lemon aroma that is perfect for naturally scenting homemade bath and body recipes. Additionally, there are some benefits that can be gained from this tasty herb from both the herbal teas as well as the lovely skin care products, which provides both health and cosmetic benefits. So, let's learn about all the wonderful reasons for using lemon verbena leaf!What is Lemon Verbena Used For?: Growing ConditionsMost people who grow their own lemon verbena at home will say that the plant takes a bit of work. However, it is often said that the reward is well worth the effort put in. Additionally, this plant is likely to drop its leaves at the slightest issue. However, a plant without leaves is not always dead. In fact, many people have assumed their plant to be dead and found it growing vigorously after it was thrown to the side. So, you will find that this herb is a bit temperamental.What is Lemon Verbena Used For?: Growing and Harvesting Your HerbsFirst, this refreshing plant requires soil that is loose and well draining. It is very important that the water is about to drain, as the plant will die if the roots constantly stay wet. Additionally, a larger pot can be useful for insulating the roots against changes in soil temperature. Also, you will find that full sun will provide you plant with the best opportunity for growth as well as stronger, flavorful leaves. While the plant can benefit from light shade in dessert-like areas, you will want to make sure that the lemon verbena gets a larger amount of sun compared to shade. Also, you will want to provide frequent fertilization, which would be required throughout the growing season, for your plant.Since this plant will provide a new growth beneath the cut that you make, harvesting your lemon verbena leaves isn't harmful to your plant. Throughout the growing season you can continue to cut what you need. In fact, frequent cutting will prevent your plant from getting too leggy. You will want to harvest the leaves before they turn yellow. After you dry your harvested leaves you can store them in dry, sealed containers. Additionally, you can freeze some of the leaves that you will want to preserve for longer lengths of time. You will want to crumble your leaves before using to increase the flavor.What is Lemon Verbena Used For?: Industrial UsesYou can use this cosmetic herb to create all kinds of beneficial products to nourish your body inside and out. First, you can create delightful teas as well as some delicious recipes with this lemon-flavored herb. Plus, adding this cosmetic herb to your diet can provide your body with a plethora of benefits. Also, you can include our cosmetic lemon verbena Leaf to create fantastic bath and body recipes that smell great and are wonderful for your skin. Now, let's get into exactly what this cosmetic herb can do.What is Lemon Verbena Used For?: Medicinal UsesWhile lemon verbena leaves are well known for their delicious flavor, there are some beneficial properties available for your health, too. It is thought to help your immune system, reduce inflammation, and more! So, there are plenty of properties to enjoy from this botanical herb. Between the medicinal benefits of this herb and the pleasant flavor, you are sure to enjoy using lemon verbena leaf.What is Lemon Verbena Used For?: Medicinal BenefitsAlso, you can use this herb to reduce inflammation in the body. So, the antioxidants in lemon verbena have been known to reduce the symptoms of arthritis and other inflammatory diseases. Further, you may find that this herb can be used to promote a faster recovery for joint injuries. Additionally, some have found that this herb can be useful for kidney or liver problems as well as urinary tract issues, as this herb can help flush out your system.Additionally, it has been found that this herb can be used to help break a fever. Further, it is thought that this herb can be used to help boost your immunity. Since this herb is used to reduce the level of oxidative stress on your body, it is thought to help promote your body's immune system. So, this wonderful herb could be beneficial to use during a bout of sickness, as it may get you to recover quicker. Further, it has been found that you can use this delightful herb to help with congestion. It is thought that Lemon Verbena tea can be used to reduce phlegm and mucus, which is perfect for eliminating congestion in the respiratory tracts.Another benefit of this lovely herb is helping to aid in digestion. This herb has been known to help calm the stomach and reduce minor issues, like cramping and bloating. Also, it has been found that you can use lemon verbena to help reduce anxiety. The antioxidants in this herb are thought to help balance any possible hormonal imbalance and gently reduce stress to help ease the mind and body.What is Lemon Verbena Used For?: Bath and Body UsesThere are many benefits that you can gain from this fantastic herb. You can use this herb as a natural scented oil, as it has a fantastic and strong aroma. So, this would be a great pick for anyone looking for herbs for soap making. Further, there are many beneficial properties that you can use to nourish your skin. So, you can use this fantastic herb to create cosmetic recipes that smell delightful and care for the body.First of all, this wonderful herb can be used to provide a wonderful aroma to your bath and body products. The scent of this wonderful cosmetic herb has been described as very strong, too! So, you can use this herb to naturally scent your various bath and body products with the aroma of refreshing lemon. Further, this strong, lemon aroma has been found to have a calming aroma for the entire body. So, this is a fantastic cosmetic herb that you can include in your bath and body recipe, which will allow you to soak in the wonderful aroma and calming properties of the cosmetic recipe.Additionally, the anti-inflammatory properties of lemon verbena can be useful for reducing certain skin conditions. For example, issues with eczema may be reduced by using this cosmetic herb. Also, this cosmetic herb has been found to be able to fight off staph skin infections. Since this bacteria can range in severity from a minor skin irritation to a life threatening issue, it is wonderful to have an herbal remedy on hand. While doctors should be contacted after an outbreak, this herb may be a useful tool to begin treatment at home along with your doctor's recommendations, which can be useful for preventing growth and keep it from getting worse.What is Lemon Verbena Used For?: Food and BeveragesYou can use this lovely herb to create all kinds of delightful recipes. Due to this herb's bold and refreshing flavor you are able to create recipes that are both delicious and natural. Not only is the flavor amazing, but the herb is thought to be useful for improving mood. So, drinking this herbal tea could be useful for dealing with anxiety, depression, or even insomnia. This means that adding this herb to your typical diet could result in some wonderful mood improvements.First, you can use this herb to create a lovely herbal tea. Although you will steep these leaves like you would for any other tea, it may be beneficial for you to crush or break the leaves immediately before steeping. It has been found that the flavor and aroma of these leaves are emboldened after the whole leaves are broken up. Breaking up the leaves allows more of the flavor and nutrients to be released during the steeping process.Furthermore, you can use this flavorful herb to create all kinds of wonderful dishes. For example, you can include this herb in recipes for fish, chicken, or salads to increase the flavor and make your food even more irresistible. Also, you can use this herb to create delicious cooking ingredients, like the Lemon Verbena Butter by Genius Kitchen. This recipe is such an easy way to step up your average butter and create something phenomenal to cook with. Not only can you use this herbal ingredient to step up recipes and enhance your food, but you can create unique recipes centered around this wonderful flavor. For example, the homemade Lemon Verbena Ice Cream recipe is a fantastic choice for anyone with an ice cream maker!What is Lemon Verbena Used For?: Other UsesSome people have found that this wonderful herb can be used as a weight loss tool. Creating a tea with this herb will provide only a couple of calories and is known to help reduce your appetite. Not only is it thought that this herb will reduce your hunger, but it may be useful for promoting a faster rate of burning fat. The herb is thought to be able to improve this rate by optimizing some of your body's natural processes.Additionally, it is thought that this herb could be useful for improving healthy muscle building. Drinking lemon verbena tea along with a regular exercise routine is thought to be useful before a workout. The nutritional elements in this herb are thought to decrease the damage done to muscles without inhibiting your body's natural development of muscle mass. So, you can gain even more from the same exercise routine.Additionally, this herb can be used to keep certain pests away, like flies or mosquitoes. Often, this herb would be tossed around a horse stable. This would allow the horses to step on the leaves, release the scent, and repel pests from the stable. Furthermore, this herb can be used to help reduce the levels of candida in your gut. This fungus can be the root cause to oral thrush as well as some chronic intestinal issues.Also, you can use this cosmetic herb to improve your natural cleaning product recipes. The lemon verbena is perfect for providing a fresh, clean lemon scent that is sure to enhance your homemade cleaning recipes.What is Lemon Verbena Used For?: Ask Us Your QuestionsWe hope that you have enjoyed learning about this wonderful herb! If you have any more questions about using Lemon Verbana Leaf or any of our other herbs and spices, then feel free to reach out. You can find us in the store, on the phone, or even online. Anyone that wants to find us online can find us on social media. We have a Natures Garden Facebook page. Also, you can use @ngscents to find us on either Twitter and Instagram. Further, you can use these platforms to share your own creations or opinions on this herb. We hope that you enjoy the Lemon Verbena Leaf and that we hear from you soon!What is Lemon Verbena Used For?: Note About Our HerbsNote: Natures Garden sells our herbs, like the lemon verbana leaf cut and sifted, for external use only. We do not sell our herbs as food items. The information we provide is for educational purposes only. We do not intend to diagnose, cure, treat, or prevent any disease with this information. Also, the Food and Drug Administration has not evaluated the information that we provide. You should be sure to keep all herbs out of reach of both your children and pets. Further, pregnant and/or lactating women should take special care when handling herbs. Lastly, Natures Garden accepts no responsibility (written or implied) for any products you make with our herbs and all testing is the responsibility of the customer.
What Are Wet Spots in Candles?

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What Are Wet Spots in Candles?
Using a wax like Golden Foods Soy Wax 464, and a few preventative measures can help eliminate wet spots from your candles. What are Wet Spots in Candles?The term wet spots in candle making refers to the spots or patches in container candles that appear to have air, or a wet spot showing through the glass or transparent container and the candle wax. Wet spots are extremely common and are one of the most common complaints among candle makers. However, wet spots will not inhibit the functionality of your candle, just the aesthetic appeal.What causes Wet Spots?1. Pouring hot candle wax into too cold of a container.2. Pouring your melted candle wax at a temperature much cooler than what is suggested.3. Using a pillar/votive wax for container candles instead of a container wax that is formulated for that purpose.4. Cooling your candles too fast; subjecting your candles to an environment which has drafts or is lower than 70-72 degrees.5. Pouring candle wax into dirty containers.How to Avoid Wet Spots?1. Try to eliminate or prevent wet spots by thoroughly washing and drying your containers before using. This will get any dust or debris out that may have fallen into your jars.2. Be sure to use a container wax so that your wax adheres properly to your container. Votive/pillar waxes are not suggested for container candles. Wax like Golden Foods Soy Wax 464, is a great start. This type of soy wax has a wonderful adhesion to glass containers, therefore minimizing the chances of getting wet spots.3. Heat your jars/containers at the lowest setting on a cookie sheet in the oven for twenty minutes prior to filling them. This also allows for the candle wax to cool slowly which allows for better adhesion to the container.4. Another thing that tends to reduce the occurrence of wet spots is pouring your candles inside the box the candle jars came in. This helps to insulate your candles while they cool slowly. Allow your candles to set up at room temperature, in a room that has no drafts.5. If you start to see the wet spots taking place as the candle is cooling, this means you should consider increasing your pour temperature. Testing with a thermometer is key here. Follow the manufacturer's recommended pour temperature.