Sunday, December 25, 2011

Batch #2 and #3

The first batch was a sloppy failure. The beeswax solidified into a dense block and everything else was soupy. A quick google search revealed that much of what I added as insoluble with beeswax and provided insight to what would be soluble. The next two batches would be better

Adding coffee grounds was not the greatest of ideas... this was something I would not be comfortable rubbing on my legs. Tossed that in the garbage.





The third batch was much much better. It has a better consistency and a mild heat. I will need some additional oils for a colder weather embro, but I'm pretty happy with the preliminary results.

I guess I'll need a name for this batch...

Saturday, December 24, 2011

Homemade Embrocation

This is a little project that has been two years in the making. Little thought has been wasted on the beeswax and cajeput oil sitting in my desk drawer recently, but with nothing to do in the ghost town of Blacksburg over winter break, I gathered ingredients to cook what I hoped to be a mild batch of embrocation.

Somethings are better told through pictures...














I'm not yet sure how it is going to turn out, it has not yet cooled. I forgot the cayenne pepper, so I'm afraid it isn't going to have any heat. The red pepper and coffee beans probably didn't soak long enough in the alcohol and the cocoa butter wasn't as soluble as I would have hoped. We shall see.

Now, it is time to clean up the kitchen.