Oh, I need it also, I don't have time to make CP dog soap before next show, does anyone have a M&P shampoo bar as well.

I have slacked, I meant to do both of those by the end of March but got so busy (you know what I mean).

I love to offer differnt items at shows, people love to try new things.

Will give update on coffee soap and grubby soap loafs next week, the gift shop they are going into opens May 1st with a huge grand opening. I am going to do salt scrubs at the grand opening etc.

Elle

This is the recipe I use. Although there is much ado about the PH factor, I have done extensive research and haven't been able to find anyone (including vets) that knows what the PH is supposed to be. I use SFIC base, which is all natural and additive-free, and there are no skin problems using that particular base formulation. However, with other bases that have alcohol, etc., added, there may be some skin irritation; I don't know.
Susan

DOG SOAP Recipe #1 (this is the one I use)
2 lbs. M&P base
2 oz. liquid shea butter
1 1/4 TBS Cedarwood essential oil
1/2 TSP Lavender essential oil
1/2 TSP Rosemary essential oil
1/2 TSP Eucalyptus essential oil
1/2 TSP Peppermint essential oil

Dog Soap Recipe #2
4 oz. melt and pour base
1 tablespoon herbal infused Apricot Kernal or Grapeseed oil
400 IU vitamin E (vets say it is great for the dogs coat)
1/2 tsp EMU oil (optional) I prefer the EMU to the vitamin E
1/4 teaspoon liquid glycerin
1/4 tsp essential oil of tea tree
5 - 7 drops of essential oil of citronella
3 - 5 drops (each) pennyroyal peppermint or lavender

The tea tree oil for it's antiseptic quality and it is good for the
skin. The peppermint since fleas don't like the smell of it and adds
to the fragrance of the bar. The citronella and lavender with aid in
keeping the fleas and mosquitos away. Lavender has antiseptic
qualities and adds to the frangrance also. Pennyroyal repels fleas
and ticks.

Making the Herbal Infusion:

2 tsp. of dried pennyroyal (4 tsp if using fresh)
1/4 C Apricot kernal oil or grapeseed oil

place the herb in a jar with tight fitting lid (preferably dark
glass) and pour oil over the herbs and close container. Gently shake
to stir and saturate and sit in a sunny window sill for at least 24
hours, the longer the better (up to one week). Gently shake jar
every now and again to mix. Straing the oil and throw away the herbs.

Fast method...place herbs and oil in a pot and gently heat over low
medium heat for 30 minutes and then pour into glass container with
tight fitting lid, seal and let stand for 24 hours. Strain and toss
herbs away. Bottle.

You can use other herbs with the pennyroyal to taste/smell preference
and this oil can be placed safely in all other products to help repel
mosquitos and bugs.

Preparation:

Melt the base and when base is almost melted to a liquid, add
glycerin, vitamin E, herbal infused oil and stir gently. When
melted, add oils and stir. Pour into mold (s).

I prefer the bar to liquid because you can just rub the bar on the
wet doggie without trying to hold the little four legged baby still
while you mess with bottle, flip top and etc.

NOTE: This recipe cannot be used on cats or rabbits because of the Tea Tree oil, which is toxic to them.

Thanks again, Susan - you are a wealth of information! I found another recipe too - 4 oz base + 1 T castor oil (would switch out) + 1/8 t vitamin E + 10 drops each of peppermint and tea tree essential oil. Sounds simple - what do you think?

Jennifer

Sounds good, and simple enough. The Tea Tree and Peppermint would get rid of any fleas. The castor oil I would not swap out unless I did not have any on hand as castor oil is supposed to be the best type of oil for a dogs coat, plus (in moderation, such as this recipe) gives the M&P soap a lathering boost. Don't forget that Tea Tree Oil is toxic to cats (and probably rabbits but I don't know that for sure) and even though it may be labeled "dog soap", I always put that warning on the label just in case! (You know how some people are- think anything that is good for a dog can be good for a cat, too.)
Susan

Somewhere along the line I saw a recipe for Dog Soap that had eucalyptus oil in it. The people that are asking us for dog soap are specific about eucalyptus so I need to figure that out. Thanks, Susan, for the hint about castor oil -- it's easy to get, I guess I just didn't want to use it because of the old time uses for it ---- uck!

Jennifer

Jennifer,
That would be recipe # 1, as it has the eucalyptus oil in it. That recipe is formulated to get rid of fleas, which is the benefit of eucalyptus and the other oils. Pests and odor riddance are about the only benefits from the EO's in recipe #1. You can substitute 1 tablespoon (or up to 1 1/2 TBS) castor oil for the shea butter in recipe #1. Sometimes I do that, and sometimes I use unrefined shea butter. Shea Butter (unrefined) has a lot of healing and soothing properties; it has a tendency to decrease the lathering, though.
Susan

Glad it did well for you, Jennifer!
Susan

If using Tea Tree Oil in Dog Soap make sure to advise your customers that the soap is ONLY for dogs. Tea Tree is poisonous to cats as Is Penneyroyal

the proper ph in dog shampoo is between 6.2 and 7.2 I hope this is helpful.

I need a CP dog soap recipe. Can anyone help me?

I would think you could make the dog soap the same way you would make people soap, with castor and jojoba for coat conditioning, and then add essential oils that would deodorize and/or repel fleas and other critters. I use alot of natural soaps, and by the time a bar is 3/4 gone, I usually start a new one and use the old leftovers to wash the dog....he used to have flaky skin but not anymore, and now his coat is so shiney and he smells good for at least a few days. And I don't feel bad throwing out the leftover soap.

I agree w/ all the above EO's, and have recently read that Rose Geranium oil is a fabulous tick repellent. Real rose geranium oil is very expensive, there is another EO that is cheaper but has the same effect - and I think they also call it rose geranium.

I am going to make a flea and tick spray for my dog (and myself) to try this season - its supposed to smell nice
20 drops rose geranium oil
3 drops citronella oil
3 drops lavender oil
10 oz water
Bay Rum or Bay leaf tincture - alcohol based, I think to help disperse the oils in the water

You spray it on your dog a few times a day, or brush it into their coat if you have time.

What is the shelf life of homemade soap? If we make it over spring break will it still look good for pet stockings at Christmas?

I am not positive, but I think that the effectiveness of fragrance and or essential oils is best if used within 6 months after the soap has cured. I would think that up to a year you would be ok if the soap is kept at cool temps and out of light...if you are just interested in it's performance as a cleanser, it would be good for much longer.

Hi there, I tried a great quality castile melt and pour recipe based on this one below (from an above comment) here with my substitutes in parentheses and what I had on hand. I want to sell these but my concern is this little oil is not enough to carry a scent in the soap. I did a lavender mint mix, a lavender only and a mint only and plain but could hardly smell a thing. The one without scent was teh same as teh ones with the drops. Usually for a human soap bar you woudl add about 2ml of lavender for example in 4 oz M & P soap, but assuming that is way to much for a dog so I do not want to increase that and have it be unsafe for the dogs as I know they process it differently then humans. Any advice? If I am labeling these with a scent customers will say I don't smell anything...thanks for any tips or what to say or label?

Dog Soap Recipe #2
4 oz. melt and pour base
1 tablespoon herbal infused Apricot Kernal or Grapeseed oil (left out)
400 IU vitamin E (vets say it is great for the dogs coat)
1/2 tsp EMU oil (optional) I prefer the EMU to the vitamin E (left out)
1/4 teaspoon liquid glycerin (left out)
1/4 tsp essential oil of tea tree (left out)
5 - 7 drops of essential oil of citronella (lavender instead)
3 - 5 drops (each) pennyroyal peppermint or lavender (peppermint)