Banana Testing Soaps

You may remember one of my last years' soapy experiments where I made an unscented soap with banana pure and coconut milk. This was a very limited test batch, and it has been distributed to friends and family. I already wrote that I preferred some other soaps than this one, but as it turned out, I actually got rave reviews and more requests for this soap. I believe that there is a stable audience for fruit  veggie soaps.

This winter I had the privilege to try one of Cee's soaps with buttermilk and carrot juice, and last summer I was totally in love in Goca's yogurt & cucumber soap, so I was definitely hooked up on veggie soaps. We also got a supersonic Electrolux juicer last month, and I immediately started to think how it would benefit my soaping adventures.
Adding to the fact that I am always on a mission to find great fragrance oils that would compliment my basic oils and additives, well it seems quite obvious that you'll be seeing more of new creations on this blog.

Testing Two New Banana Fragrance Oils
I ordered a bunch of fragrance oils in January, mostly for testing purposes. It took three long weeks to get my package here, and I was already becoming extremely impatient and irritated cause I haven't been soaping for over two months. With my busy February schedule, I was frustrated when realized that I won't have almost any time for soaping. A possibility of not soaping at all was not an option, thus I opted to do a few simple soaps. No fancy color combinations, design patterns or any such a thing.

I ordered two banana fragrances, one being described as creamy banana, with notes of pear, butter rum, vanilla, quince and apple. The second is a straight a banana nut bread fragrance. I decided to go with one of my tried and true recipes with unrefined cocoa butter and olive oil and not to add any color.

Yummy Banana Cream Pie (photo)
So there they were on Saturday, oils melted and my lye solution prepared, one banana waiting on the kitchen table ready to be smashed the on Sunday morning. By the time I got my equipment, I realized that someone of my fellow tenants has eaten the banana and in this village (strange as it may sound), there is no store open on Sunday. I had to soap, so I decided to go on according to the plan, and just skip the banana puree.
I made two mixtures, and the creamy banana soaped wonderfully (no acceleration or other nasty surprises), while the banana nut bread seized in a blink of an eye.

Banana Nut Bread Inspiration (click here for the recipe)

My first intention was to make a layered soap, but now I had to change my plans and just salvage all I could, while still producing a half-decent looking soap. I used a 12 bar silicone mold which only made things worse, so I had mo work really fast to get the mixture in the soap cavities.

Color and Texture Variations

The result was that all the bars contain a bit of both the mixtures (cream & nut banana), ranging from 10 till 60 percent. The creamy banana discolored only the top that was exposed to the air, while the nutty one went totally into the milk chocolate color direction.
At the end, I have to add that the banana nut bread fragrance developed beautifully in the soap,opposing to the creamy one which smelled more promising at the beginning, but not so much at the end.

I admit that these are not the prettiest bars you've ever seen, but they still contain a dose of rustic appeal, wouldn't you say? OK, that may be just my over-enthusiastic-soap-obsessed nerd speaking, but they still perform superbly!

To conclude, I will definitely be ordering the Banana Nut Bread fragrance oil again, and you may expect it in a redesigned shape in my forthcoming fall Limited Edition line. This fragrance is so good, that I'll probably make a set of complimentary products as well. As you can see, no matter the fact that our experiments may not always turn out to be what we imagined, the outcome can easily be nonetheless rewarding.


Ingredients in Banana Testing Soaps are: Virgin Olive Oil, Distilled Water, Coconut Oil, Palm Oil (from sustainable source), Sodium Hydroxide (saponyfying agent), Cocoa Butter, Castor Oil, Stearic Acid, Fragrance Oil.

14 коментара

  1. Your banana soaps look just like banana bread (photo), so there's nothing much to change,in fact. Can't wait to see new design,considering massive discoloration and acceleration!

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    1. You're right, I wont change much, but probably will add the banana puree next time.

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  2. What a beautiful soaps: perfect shape, color, tops and I can imagine that awesome banana scent! I am also impressed with the pictures. I have impression that those soaps are near enough and ready to be grabbed and taken to the bathroom!

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    1. Thank you Goca! You always have the most flattering compliments for my soaps :) I'll keep one of these for you!

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  3. Great save Ksenija...you managed to get the best of both soaps! I bet it smells amazing, and I'm so happy for you that you were finally able to find some soaping time!

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  4. I like its delicious color, and thinking of the fragrance, the soap should be amazing. I wish I could smell it online ;)

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    1. This soap had me reconsider bananas. They use to be not my favorite fruit. Go figure :)

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  5. I think you're right - the soaps do look gorgeously rustic! I'm sure they will be a big hit in the fall!

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    1. Thanks Chrissy! I sure hope so too. So far the Dutch consumers surprised me many times.

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  6. Hi Ksenija! Just discovered your blog today. I am really enjoying your posts! I was drawn to your 2 banana posts because I also made banana soaps before. The first one seized on me that I had to rebatch it. I thought I would not like it (and it gave me such a hard time!) but it was one of the silkiest soaps I've tried. I made a second batch using hot process. It came out very well but I chose the wrong fragrance for it. Thanks to your post, I am reminded to try banana in cold process again. :-)

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    1. Hi hi @SoapJam! Welcome to the blog and thank you for your lovely comment! I can't say that I am a big fan of fresh bananas, but in soap they make a wonderful addition. And all the banana fragrances smell SO yummy to me! That reminds me, I have to go back experimenting with more fruits and veggies. Somehow I lost track due to all the fresh & floral fragrances I've been soaping lately. :)

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