From the page: The whole orange has a purpose
Idea 6
Soap or scented oil
Home perfumers have always made use of citrus fruit oils by macerating peels in a carrier oil, an old technique from compounding pharmacies. The limonene in the orange, besides being fragrant, has a mild antibacterial action — which is why citrus appears so much in traditional soaps.
What you need
- Peels from 2 well-washed oranges, only the colored part
- Cooking oil (sunflower or canola) or olive oil
- A glass jar and a cloth for straining
- For the soap: neutral glycerin base and silicone molds
How to make it
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1
Grate or cut only the colored part of the peel, avoiding the white part, which is bitter and has less oil.
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2
Place the peels in the jar and cover with oil, closing it well — the oil will gradually draw the aromatic substances out of the peel.
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3
Leave in a warm, bright place for 2 to 4 weeks, shaking the jar every day to speed up the extraction; the liquid takes on an orange color and fragrance.
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4
Strain with the cloth and store the scented oil in a dark bottle, away from light, so the aroma lasts longer.
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5
For the soap, melt the glycerin base in a double boiler or in the microwave in short intervals, without letting it boil.
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6
Mix 2 spoonfuls of the scented oil into every 250 g of melted base, pour into the molds and wait a few hours for it to harden.
Finishing touches
The scented oil also works to soften and scent wood, leather and fabrics around the house. On the soap, sprinklings of dried peel on top add charm and a light exfoliation.
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