Lemongrass Grapefruit is in the spotlight for today. When I began making soap, I went to my local health food store and stood and sniffed all the essential oils they had on hand. I immediately fell in love with the bright, uplifting scent of lemongrass. Being new the world of essential oils, I was not aware of the benefits of lemongrass oil, I was just smitten with the scent. I did my first test batch of soap with lemongrass oil and I was hooked. I discovered that the lemongrass oil does not have a long-lasting scent or the ability to hold up to the high temperatures of the saponification process…the chemical reaction of fats, oils and lye turning into soap. Milk soaps tend to run very hot because of the sugars in the milk, this can be difficult for essential oils to maintain their stability.
Although it was a lovely soap, I wanted a stronger scent so, it was back to the drawing board. There are several theories as to what will help an oil “stick.” I think I experimented with most of them, I tried adding clay, increasing the amount of oil, adding salt, and soaping at a cooler temperature. What I discovered worked for me was soaping at a cooler temperature and blending the lemongrass oil with a hardier oil with more lasting power. I tried a variety of blends but finally settled on pink grapefruit oil. It is a bright citrus scent but not as overpowering as lemon or orange oil. It acted as an anchor but gave the lemongrass the opportunity to shine with just a small burst of freshness.
Upon further research, I discovered lemongrass has been used for its benefits to hair and skin for centuries in India and Sri Lanka. A native plant to both, it has long shoots with definitive striped leaves. The powerful benefits that come from this lovely plant are vitamin A, B1, B2, B3, B5, B6, folate and vitamin C. It also provides essential minerals such as magnesium, phosphorous, manganese, copper, potassium, calcium, zinc and iron. Lemongrass has been long used for its astringent properties making it a wonderful choice for those with oily skin, large pores, and acne.
While perfectly lovely on its own, when blended with goat’s milk it is a skin balancing powerhouse. I have clients who love it for its fresh, uplifting scent and I have others who use it on their face and prefer it over anything else. There is no denying it is a lovely scented soap with the all the wonderful benefits of vitamins and minerals. I recommend this soap to anyone who is looking to balance their skin and shrink and tighten pores or just needs a refreshing boost in their morning shower. With warmer weather just around the corner, it is a great transitional soap to take you into spring.
The soap, as well as the lotion are available on the website. As always, the Tuesday Spotlight is half off on the website for the week. Please continue to stay safe, stay smart, try something new, and keep washing your hands.
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