Buff Daddy Soaps

2011-12-13T13:03:00.000-08:00

The following list contains the 2011 Buff Daddy Soap catalog and, eventually, ingredients.....

Cinnabar
Dreamsicle
Lavender
Lemongrass
Peppermint
Plain and Simple
Rosemary Lemongrass
Rosemary Mint
Sage Woman
Skinny Dipping (didn't see that one coming, did you?)
Well Healed

Hey! What happened?!

2011-12-13T13:00:00.000-08:00

I look up, and another year is gone. And, another Cherrywood Art Fair is gone? Did I miss it? Well, no. Just got too busy to post on the blog. But, I'm BAAAAACCCCKKKK. And, I'm feeling much better, now, Dave.

But, I promised folks I'd post my latest crop of ingredients (for the 2011 soap batches) on line. So, I better get to that.

In just a minute!

Whew! Did you see that?

2010-12-13T08:26:00.000-08:00

Did anyone notice? Sometime during the last 48 hours, I spent two extremely busy days at the wonderful Cherrywood Art Fair. If either of the two people who "follow" this blog have actually looked, they may have noticed that this is the only place/time of the year that I actually sell my soap. Yea, yea, yea. I've talked about expanding but, while soapmaking is both good, clean fun AND fulfilling, I've not yet seen my way clear to focusing on it as more than an annual avocation.

So, those last 48 hours WERE my year. Buff Daddy's raison d'etre. After that, well. I'm done. Kerput. Over. Finished. Complete. Fulfilled. And exhausted. As always, the fair was really fun. If you missed it, well, too bad for you. It struck me as a well run a(rt)ffair, with lots of great art, great sponsors, lots of customers/visitors, and very little stress for the artists. It wasn't stress free. These things never are. But the process for the artists was easy, and damn near fun in itself. I'll apply, again, next year. I just hope I'm good enough to get in while competing against an increasingly talented group of artists/applicants. If I don't get in? Well, I'll still go. But, I wouldn't have a reason to make all this soap. I'd be dirtier. Less wholesome. Less creative. You get the drift.

And then, where would that leave my loyal follower(s)? Would I/could I/should I expand my soapmaking. Go beyond the fair? Only time time will tell. Should I expand/go beyond just soap making in my blog? Well, of course, but then it's just for me. You can read it, if you want to. I'll just keep writing.

One note of thanks, here. I couldn't possibly do this, in fact I wouldn't be doing this at all, if it weren't for the help of my wonderful muse/goad/ass-kicker/graphic-designer/branding consultant Christine of adaptive reUse. She's saved my ass more than once in this process, and she makes it all possible (she also happens to be my wife AND has a nice tush). So, thank you, Christine. I very much appreciate all you've done.

2010 Soaps and Contents

2010-12-12T08:09:00.001-08:00

Lemongrass Soybean Oil, Distilled Water, Olive Oil, Sweet Almond Oil, Coconut Oil, Lye, Walnut Oil, Lemongrass EO, Calendula Blossoms

Bergamint Olive Oil, Grapeseed Oil, Distilled Water, Coconut Oil, Evening Primrose Oil, Avocado Oil, Lye, Bergamot EO, Peppermint EO, Orange Five Fold EO

Beer’n’Brisket Olive Oil, Distilled Water, Soybean Oil, Sweet Almond Oil, Avocado Oil, Lye, Shiner Bock Beer, Stubb’s Liquid Smoke (Mesquite), Charcoal, Alkanet Root

Eucalyptus Olive Oil, Soybean Oil, Distilled Water, Milk, Sweet Almond Oil, Lye, Avocado Oil, Apricot Kernal Oil, Eucalyptus EO, Green Tea Powder

BayBar Olive Oil, Soybean Oil, Distilled Water, Milk, Sweet Almond Oil, Lye, Avocado Oil, Apricot Kernal Oil, Bay Laurel EO, Orange EO, White Thyme EO

Rosemary Mint Soybean Oil, Olive Oil, Distilled Water, Sweet Almond Oil, Apricot Kernal Oil, Lye, Rosemary EO, Peppermint EO, Rosemary Leaves

Rosemary Lemongrass Coconut Oil, Olive Oil, Distilled Water, Avocado Oil, Lye, Hempseed Oil, Rosemary EO, Lemongrass EO, Rosemary Leaves

Orange Olive Oil, Distilled Water, Soybean Oil, Milk, Sweet Almond Oil, Avocado Oil, Lye, Orange EO, Orange Zest

Caffeine Olive Oil, Soybean Oil Distilled Water, Sweet Almond Oil, Coconut Oil, Lye, Walnut Oil, Powdered Caffeine, Allspice EO, Turmeric

Sage Woman Olive Oil, Soybean Oil, Distilled Water, Milk, Sweet Almond Oil, Lye, Avocado Oil, Apricot Kernal Oil, Sage EO, Black Cohosh Powder, Green Tea Powder. Ground Chamomile Blossoms, Chopped Sage

Dreamsicle Olive Oil, Soybean Oil, Distilled Water, Coconut Oil, Lye, Sweet Almond Oil, Orange Five Fold EO, Fifth Dark Vanilla EO, Anatto Seed

Cinnabar Olive Oil, Lye, Apricot Kernal Oil, Soybean Oil, Avocado Oil, Milk, Lye, Cassia EO, Ground Cinnamon

DoubleMint Soybean Oil, Olive Oil, Water, Lye, Sweet Almond Oil, Walnut Oil, Coconut Oil, Peppermint EO, Wintergreen EO, Beet Root Powder

Hey, Look! Pretty colors!

2010-10-29T11:06:00.000-07:00

Hey folks,

Here's a shot of the NEW and improved Buff Daddy Soaps Testing Facilities. Alas, no action shots. Turns out it's harder than I thought to get people to pose for public pictures while showering. Who'd have thunk?. Anyway, in lieu of photos of very attractive soapy people I present to you the new work of Holli Brown Mosaics. See that nifty paver-thingy at the base of the testing facilities? That's a mosaic (for you uncultured folks) made by said HBM.

Now, I'm thrilled with her work because, well, it's fun to shower on. But, I'm also thrilled that it looks good in the process--and I think it makes me look better, thinner, and more hip, at the same time. You should get one for yourself, don't you think? Then we could all look better, younger, thinner, richer, and more hip--just because we showered on some nice work.

If any of y'all are intrigued enough to wanna check out Holli's work, I suggest you start here: Holli Brown Mosaics.

If you want to check out the Buff Daddy Soaps Testing Facilities just give me a call!

Ah! Fall harvest!

2010-10-26T13:17:00.001-07:00

A new crop of soaps is ready for harvest! These beauties just came out of the molds and are, as of yet, unscented. I'm trying a new (to me) technique of making plain soap (sweet cream?) and making scents of it, later. The theory is I get a more efficient use of essential oils, better consistency, smoother texture, and world peace. I'm really only trying this for the sake of the world, after all.

These five loaves represent about 35 pounds of soap and I'll probably make two different flavors. But, with my new technique, I should be able to make much smaller, more experimental batches. Don't be surprised if you find me selling broccoli soap at the Cherrywood Art Fair. Ok, be a little surprised.....

Buff Daddy Soaps Testing Facilities

2010-09-11T20:51:00.001-07:00

Summer Soap?

2010-08-16T07:44:00.000-07:00

Yea, I know the "summer" part of summer is almost over. School starts next week. But "Summer" isn't really over until Sept. 20 or so. So, I've been thinking about making a "summer" soap. A break with my tradition of only making soap every 12 months, or so. But, I feel the need. The need for ....... soap making?

Look. I've done a great deal of the summer stuff, already. I've been out of state. I've been skinny dipping. I've built an outdoor shower. Used it. I've mowed the lawn at least once. I've yo-yo-ed it a couple of times. I've been biking riding. Hiking. Shipped the kids off to the parents for a week. Slept late. Watched movies. Stared at the stars--(is that "starsed?"). Fixed the roof, or at least part of it.

But, now, I feel like cooking. Of the stunt variety. It's too hot to brew brew. Too early to fry turkeys. I'm too busy to smoke a brisket (I mean, to do that right takes a REALLY long time). So, that pretty much leaves me with making soap. A summer, soap, in fact.

Breaking with tradition (of making my soaps all at the last minute before the Cherrywood Art Fair) will even allow me the flexibility to experiment without regard to time constraints. Risk failure. Change techniques. Use new scents. Make no sense. Whatever.

So what is the perfect summer, or Summer, scent for central Texas? It can't be floral. Cut grass maybe? Crepe myrtle? Huisache? Remember, a good summer scent has to go with yard work, skinny dipping, sun tan lotion, dry evenings and, quite possibly, stale beer. Suggestions?

Cherrywood Art Fair

2009-12-12T19:35:00.000-08:00

And, here we go at the art fair!

Soap sales are on.

You'll notice the fine picture of Buff Daddy, (aren't all pictures of Buff Daddy fine?) taken, apparently, by Wendy Morgan. She was either being extra tall, or actually reaching her arm up to look down on me. Strange, isn't it, how tall folks notice this? It's not often we see the tops or our heads in other folks photos.

Speaking of the Cherrywood Art Fair, and I think I was when I started out, Day 1 of the Fair was a blast. Lots of soap sales. Lots of visiting with folks I hadn't seen in awhile. Lots of good art, good crafts, good food, and good music. If you were there, you know what I'm talking about. If you weren't there, well, what the heck were you thinking. Maybe "I'll go tomorrow?" If that's the case, you're in luck because there is ONE MORE DAY of the fine and dandy Cherrywood Art Fair to be had, experienced, shared and tucked away in your memory. And one more chance to get cool, hand made art and gifts to tuck under the appropriate holiday symbol of your choosing (Buff Daddy's family sticks all their presents under a spruce green, '94 Volvo station wagon--it's hypo allergenic, but you have to remember not to drive out for wrapping paper at the last minute without checking under the tires).

So, whatever you use your vehicle for, drive it on down to the Cherrywood Art Fair. Check out some soaps, and see a lot of great talent (some of it located conveniently VERY near by the Buff Daddy Soaps booth). Hope to see you there!

Buff Daddy's Soaps For 2009

2009-12-12T19:22:00.000-08:00

Hey Folks,

It's been a long time since I lasted posted. Something like, oh well, maybe a year! That's what happens when you only make soaps every 12 months--you forget things, like tending all you loyal blog readers who have been checking everyday to see when I was going to post next.

Well, obviously, your long wait has ended. Now, you can read about me! Or, really, my soaps.

The big news is that all my favs are coming back, Lemongrass, Lavender, Well Healed, Sage Woman, Vanilla, Dreamsicle, Cinnabar, Peppermint, and Rosemary Mint. The bad news is that my Caffeine soap acted up during the last week or so and it won't be ready by the Cherrywood Art Fair-if ever! The Caffeine bar committed the soap equivalent of pushing the self destruct button. It is in NO SHAPE to foist on my loyal consumers. At least, not yet.

So, come on down to the Cherrywood Art Fair and visit some old soapy friends and have some good, clean fun.

2008 Bars

2008-12-09T11:58:00.000-08:00

This season's selection will have many repeats of last year's favorites with some upgrades. I'll also be presenting a couple of new recipes. I'll post the complete list in a day or two. Please stop by the Cherrywood Art Fair to see and smell this year's goodness.

Here's a sneak peak of just a few bars.

Manifesto--Some Soaps Are Better Than Others

2008-12-09T11:55:00.000-08:00

It’s true. And handmade soaps are toward the top of the list. You’d have to look pretty hard to find commercial soaps as good as your basic handmade stuff. Even then, the commercial stuff would be pretty expensive.

The reason? Saponification (making oil into soap) releases glycerin molecules into the soap. Commercial soapers squeeze out the glycerin and sell it as a separate product—leaving the soap unnecessarily harsh and drying. In handmade soaps that glycerin remains in the soap to care for and moisturize your skin. Even the most basic handmade soap will feel better, and treat your skin better, than the stuff you buy at the grocery store.

Glycerin is not the only thing good about handmade soaps. Most hand soapers take much greater pride in their product than do the commercial guys. We start with better, more expensive oils, more natural fragrances and additives (rather than petroleum derivatives), and we infuse all that with the care and attention that’s bred in the hours we spend over the stove stirring, and stirring and stirring, and, oh yeah, stirring. We don’t have time to waste making bad soap.

Each of the oils we choose has different properties, and if used alone will produce a substantially different soap. We choose the oils in each soap carefully, to balance their characteristics and produce soaps that are good, unique and have personality. Buff Daddy soaps may be better or worse than other handmade soaps, but all of ours will kick the heck out of the store bought stuff. The commercial guys can’t touch us.

Natural vs. Organic: a little white lye
We’d love to label all our Buff Daddy soaps as “organic,” but we just can’t do it. We’ve gone to great care to choose only high quality organic ingredients whenever possible. When we can’t get the appropriate organic ingredients, we choose only ingredients that are completely without additives, preservatives, colorants, etc. But no matter how hard we try, there’s just one thing we can’t do: lye.

Most soap, handmade or commercial, relies upon lye to “saponify” oil (those that don’t use lye use other, similar chemicals). Lye, on it’s own, is pretty nasty stuff. But if you add it to the right amount of oil it makes a wonderful soap. The problem is there isn’t an organic, sustainable way to make lye. The organic way involves leaching lye out of the ashes left behind by burning hard woods—not exactly a sustainable solution. The commercial process (the electrolysis of salt-water) is not so objectionable that clear cutting hardwood forests is really justified. So, we use non-organic, but sustainable, lye and make do by calling our soap “natural.”

Ugly but good
You might have noticed that Buff Daddy soaps are a little rough around the edges—kind of like us. Rather than have a slew of molds, Buff Daddy soaps are made in a single, large mold and then hand cut into individual bars (we have a really big knife). The bars are roughly the same size and shape, but none are perfect and none are exactly the same. You’ll find odd edges, angles and sides. They have personality. Every time we pick an odd one up we’re reminded of the hand made nature of the soap. We like it that way. We hope you do, too.

Distributed democracy: You, too, can make soap
Home soapers may be talented crafters, but they’re not brain surgeons. Making soap has been done for thousands of years and it really boils down (ahem) to determined cooking. All you have to do is add lye to some oil, stir for awhile, throw in your scents and colors, and pour the mess into a mold and let it sit for a few weeks. Now, with anything, the devil is in the details, but the details here are not that complicated. And we’d be remiss not to point out that working with lye is kind of dangerous. It should be done by grown-ups only with the most careful precautions, and not done by children at all. But don’t be discouraged by those disclaimers. The process is not hard. It’s fun. It’s exciting. And you can create your favorite soaps to your heart’s content. If you’re interested, there are a lot of good sites on the web you should check out.

Here are a few good places to start:

waltonfeed.com/old/soaphome.html
alcasoft.com/soapfact/history.html
colebrothers.com/soap/
teachsoap.com/

A great place to buy your stuff:

texasnaturalsupply.com/