Pineapple Sage

Not long ago there was talk on the Yahoo Natural Perfumery group about extracting the scent of pineapple sage. Pineapple is my favorite fruit. I love the sweet smell of a fresh cut pineapple and I love the smell of this pineapple scented herb. The subject of the group discussion was distilling. According to Jeanne Rose the hydrosol (or distillate/fragrant water left over after distilling) is very green/herbal smelling without the fruity pineapple scent. I don't have a still so I opted to tincture the leaves. I started this one on June 21. I added 9 grams of pineapple sage to a small jar and poured 160 grams alcohol to cover the leaves. This set for two days before I strained off the alcohol and added new leaved. Weighing the alcohol I had 145 grams after straining. I added new leaves to the jar along with the 145 grams of tincture. I topped it off with more alcohol to bring it back up to 160 grams. Note: I used 100 proof alcohol for this since I was out higher proof.

Alcohol after it had been strained

Tincture poured over new leaves

I will continue until I feel I have gotten as much scent as I can in the alcohol. I'll keep you updated on my progress.

If Shakespeare Took A Bath

If you're a reader of Shakespeare you have no doubt come across some of the many herbs and botanicals mentioned in his plays. Many of these herbs and botanicals are used not only for their culinary value, but also for their value in bath and body products. The members of Etsy's Soaper Stars street team make use of these plants in their beautiful artisan soaps. Here are just a few of my favorites.

"What's in a name? That which we call a rose by any other name would smell as sweet."
Rose Handmade Soap

"Lay her i' th' earth, and from her fair and unpolluted flesh may violets spring!"
Sweet Violet and Sassafras Handmade Soap

"The armipotent Mars, of lances the almighty, Gave Hector a gift,--
A gilt nutmeg. A lemon. Stuck with cloves. No, cloven."
Lemon Zen Layered Soap

"The count is neither sad, nor sick, nor merry, nor well; but civil count, civil as an orange, and something of that jealous complexion."
Satsuma Luxury Cold-Processed Soap with Shea and Cocoa Butters

"Here's flowers for you; hot lavender, mints, savoury, marjoram; the marigold, that goes to bed wi' the sun and with him rises weeping: these are flowers of middle summer, and I think they are given to men of middle age."
True Lavender Goat's Milk Soap

"There's rosemary, that's for remembrance; pray, love, remember"
Rosemary, Mint and Lavender Limited Edition Soap with Shea


For more in soaping artistry search Etsy tag soaper star team