Jennifer sent us the photo of the unbroken geode soap, though the image is not on Rock Hound Soaps website yet. She will soon be offering the option to receive the soaps in unbroken geode form. You can barely see the ghostly glow of the color inside the stone-like shell. Imagine the thrill of giving this as a gift.
We think there is a full-circle sort of symmetry to geode soaps. They are works of art that look like works of nature formed by water flowing through stone. They are immersed in water and drawn across the terrain of human skin until they dissolve again.
She did some quick research, got the supplies, and started experimenting. Jennifer learned that there are two soap making processes. A cold process uses lye and requires a six-week curing period, but it can accommodate the addition of emollients and other additive variations that aren’t possible with the simpler melt and pour method, which uses glycerin instead of lye. Melt and pour yields a more translucent and colorful soap, though. It’s milder and can be used as soon as it has hardened, which is usually a matter of hours.
She could do it, and she did. The glycerin geodes were attractive once they had hardened and been cut into pieces to expose the cores. Jennifer gave them dense, earthy fragrances that harmonized with their appearance; amber with amber, ocean with aquamarine, musk with dark red. They were rich in deep color with a jewel-like translucence. Their rough-hewn beauty contrasted with the light-hearted dessert candles. Jennifer displayed them together at craft shows, but decided to open a new Etsy store. She called it Rock Hound Soap. Through the online presence, Jennifer was able to make gem, stone and geode soaps in custom color and fragrance combinations for her clients.
She still spends her Saturdays making candles. But Sunday is for soaps. Jennifer’s geode soap Sundays are scheduled and structured for quality control, “because people are using these products on their bodies.” She uses high quality ingredients for both her melt-and-pour and cold processes. She suits up like a surgeon; full apron, gloves, hair covered. All tools and equipment are thoroughly cleaned after every session.
Retailers have approached Jennifer, asking to carry Rock Hound Soap in their stores, but she knows she would lose the joy of creating if she tried to mass produce.
No one, however, is going to tell her that she can’t do it.
Where to find?
www.Etsy.com/shop/RockHoundSoap
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