Adventures With The Sage

Supplies Needed:

• Dry Herbs or Botanicals of your choice
• Vodka 80 proof or Everclear 190 proof
• Jars with lids
• Labels
• Strainer (to use when the tinctures are done)

Herbs are put in a container and 80 proof Vodka or 190 proof Everclear, both are acceptable liquids. The filled jar is usually left to stand for 2–3 weeks and shaken daily in order to maximize extraction. Tinctures can easily be made in less time, so please don’t feel like infusing for 2-3 weeks is required.  Each dry botanical will help you decide when finished really means finished, you’ll know because the dried herb material breaks down into awful, spent-looking material.

You will start with a clean jar, I’m using some basic pint-sized canning jars with screw top lids. You can use any type of jar or container that you choose just make sure it has a tight seal and that it is easy to add (and remove) any plant material.

Our target fill is 10% dried botanical and 90% alcohol mixture. So weigh the botanical into your jar, now multiply the weight of the plant material by 9 and add that weight of alcohol to the jar. Cap and shake.  Store in a dark cupboard and shake the container once a day. This will help stir the product and allow for maximum extraction. The weight to weight ratio of 1:9 will help your tinctures become as consistent as possible. Each plant material will offer different amounts of extractives that can be given into the alcohol. So keeping a 1:9 is a great ratio to keep.

A note about the choice of alcohol. The higher percentage of alcohol that Everclear offers will allow your tincture to extract more alcohol soluble compounds as well as act like a preservative. So, if I had a choice, I would ask everyone to use Everclear. However, not everyone has Everclear available to them. So, please, adjust for what is available in your area.

Today I wanted to make a scrub that would exfoliate, wash off easily but leave enough oil on the skin so that it is conditioning. Think of a product that makes it easier to pamper your skin. Isn’t that great? Let’s go make a body scrub!

I used sugar as my exfoliant for this scrub. You can use many things like salt, luffa, pumice, ground oatmeal, etc. Sugar is readily available and easy to find. It is also an ingredient that is in most households to begin with.

I used Sunflower Oil as my oil of choice for this scrub. It is an oil that has a long shelf life. It is also a a more light-weight oil. So even when using it, users won’t be turned off by the texture of the scrub. It will also leave a light weight, conditioning feel to the skin.

I used Polysorbate 80 in this scrub to make the clean up easy. Do you remember the disaster I had with a tester of mine who struggled getting the scrub off! If you want a chuckle, it is a good post to go back and read. I have since learned easy removal of a scrub is a must!

Lastly, I chose Liquapar as my preservative. This preservative is designed for scrubs and other products that can and will have water introduced to them. Remember, preservatives are necessary because they keep the microbes at bay!

Recipe:

Weigh all of the ingredients. Mix well. Transfer to finished containers. Cap and label. Enjoy!

I knew I wanted a darker red color for my scrub to show the inspiration from blood oranges. Considering my desire for color, I looked at a few options for coloring my scrub red. Then I realized that I had Alkanet Root Powder available in my cupboard of supplies. I decided to make an oil infusion with the Macadamia Nut Oil in my recipe and the Alkanet.

Want to come with me as I make this fantastic scrub? Let’s go!

Collect needed items:

Alkanet Infusion (Makes 1 ounce or 28 grams)

I began by making my Alkanet Root infusion. I weighed 25 grams of Macadamia Nut Oil and then added 3 grams of Alkanet Root Powder. After mixing well, I gently heated the mixture in the microwave for about 15-30 seconds. I let the mixture sit for for 30 minutes and then strained. As it took a long time to strain, I decided that next time I make an infusion with Alkanet Root Powder, I will use Heat & Seal Tea Bags!

Scrub Recipe: (Makes 4.53 ounces or 100 grams)

Carefully weigh all dry ingredients into a bowl and remove all lumps. I like to pour the dry ingredients into a bag and reuse the container for weighing the liquids. Next weigh the all liquid ingredients (including fragrances and preservatives) into a bowl. Mix the liquid ingredients together. After the liquid mixture is completely mixed, add the dry mixture. This helps prevent dry spots on the bottom of the bowl because you are adding the dry ingredients on top of liquid ingredients. Stir until completely mixed. Once the scrub is completely mixed, it will be smooth and easy to transfer to your desired containers.

Scrub Notes: This lightweight scrub feels very nice on the skin. I thought my skin felt soft and dewy, even a day later! I didn’t have any residual color or botanicals on my skin due to using the Polysorbate 20.

What do you think about this scrub? Would you try making this scrub?

Collect needed items:

Recipe: (Makes 4.53 ounces or 100 grams)

Carefully weigh all dry ingredients into a bowl and remove all lumps. I like to pour the dry ingredients into a bag and reuse the container for weighing the liquids. Next weigh the all liquid ingredients (including fragrances and preservatives) into a bowl. Mix the liquid ingredients together. After the liquid mixture is completely mixed, add the dry mixture. This helps prevent dry spots on the bottom of the bowl because you are adding the dry ingredients on top of liquid ingredients. Stir until completely mixed. Once the scrub is completely mixed, it will be smooth and easy to transfer to your desired containers.

Scrub Notes: This lightweight scrub feels very nice on the skin. I used this scrub and thought I was able to gently scrub away dirt and dead skin while leaving my skin feeling refreshingly clean and moist. I did notice that I had to use some soap to help rinse off some of the vanilla bean specks that stayed in places like the inside of my elbow.

What do you think? Would you try this scrub?

Now I had an idea of the botanical addition to my scrub, but I needed to decide on my main oil for this scrub. I chose Macadamia Nut oil for the light weight feeling that matches the changing weather of spring. Since I was using Orange Peel Powder, I wanted an orange color for the sugar scrub. I added Sea Buckthorn Oil to give color.

I was so excited to test my new scrub as soon as possible, I headed off to the bathroom to take a shower. As I was in the shower and I applied to scrub I found myself laughing at my own mistake. Do you know what my mistake was?

I had forgotten that oil scrubs leave a coating of oil on the skin as a way to trap water. Unfortunately for me, the Sea Buckthorn Oil left a orange tint to my skin that looked like the failed tan that Anne Hathaway received in Bride Wars. ACK! It took me three times of scrubbing to be able to wash off the oil by using a net scrubbie and soap.

After my little adventure in the shower, I decided I should consult with Taylor for her advice as she is the Queen of Scrubs. I had considered adding some Liquid Hand Soap to help, but Taylor gave me a better recommendation of using Polysorbate.

I adjusted my test batch and found that using the Polysorbate helped prevent the “failed tan” appearance. Let’s go make this fantastic scrub!

Collect needed items:

Recipe: (Makes 4.53 ounces or 100 grams)

This lip scrub highlights our Green Tea Butter beautifully! I think this lovely butter is under-recognized and under-appreciated. I think the Green Tea Butter is a wonderful addition to your cupboard. Try some. I am sure you will get raving reviews!

I used Cherry Oil because it is light. When using a lip scrub, you don’t want the residue to feel heavy and greasy. This oil is perfect for a lip scrub application!

Peach Kernel Oil is also a very light oil. Another great to to help combat a heavy, greasy feeling. A must have in any cupboard!

I used Vanilla Oleoresin to flavor the sugar prior to making this recipe. I used Vanilla Oleoresin because it has strong flavor compared to the Natural Vanilla Oil. However, because it is a water soluble product you must mix it well into the sugar and let it dry prior to use. The good news it that you use so little vanilla oleoresin, it doesn’t take very long for it to dry.

I also used High Melt Point Shea Butter to make this lip scrub a little stiffer and creamier. Just make sure you have this mixed well as this recipe does not get heated.

Recipe:

Weigh out sugar into a container or bag. I recommend a bag because it makes it easier to mix. Dip the end of a toothpick into the Vanilla Oleoresin. Transfer the Vanilla Oleoresin to the sugar. Mix until the sugar is a golden brown color with no dark specks. In a separate container, weigh your oils. I also used a bag because I do not have a small food processor. I find a bag one of the fastest and cleanest ways to mix a lot of things. Once everything has been fully mixed, transfer to containers. Enjoy!

Note: Q.S. means quantity sufficient. You do not need much Vanilla Oleoresin. This recipe needs so little that we can’t measure it! So we use Q.S. to say use as much as you need to achieve the right color, flavor, etc.

I often use granulated sugar but if you feel it is a little too aggressive for your hands I recommend that you put the sugar into a food processor and make it a little finer. Think more like a bakers sugar, but without the expense.

As a last tribute to summer, I wanted to use our Lemon Zinger Fragrance Oil. I think it is fresh, tart and sweet. Of course, the beauty of making your own products is that you can choose any fragrance you would like. Due to the fact it is almost the New Year and we are gearing up for the winter to fully settle, what fragrances would you choose?

Recipe:

Measure everything into a container. Mix well. Scoop into containers. Seal, label and enjoy!

I have noticed that with my hands being in contact with paper all of the time, they are really dry, rough and almost scaly. Over the next week I wanted to create a hand repair kit for those who want soft, smooth hands. I know I do! Come join me for the perfect hand repair kit!

In this series we will be making a scrub, warm hand treatment, ultralight lotion and a cuticle cream. The goal is to create a kit that will achieve the perfect hands. Don’t miss out on this next week. You will love what will be featured!