More Laurel Oil

[Guest guest]

> Wed, 28 Apr 2004 11:05:01 -0500

> " Christine Ziegler " <chrisziggy

> RE: Laurel Oil

>

> Hi Anne in Versailles

>

> I know Butch has talked about this oil before. There is a Laurel Seed

> Oil which is extracted through a boiling method and its is really good

> for soap making. Its really popular in Asia and Europe. I have Laurel

> Seed hydrosol and it is wonderful - I sure wish I could get my hands on

> some of that Laurel Seed Oil! I'm sure he can give much more of a

> heads up on it than I can.

 

I bet he'll write more once he is done celebrating the success of his

sale...!! :-P

(But I am looking forward to hearing from him...!)

 

I have looking at the link that Cheryl provided (thanks!). It is

interesting, someone selling Laurel soap flakes. I wish I could read

the can better, it looks like it says more...

 

However, I have advanced a bit in my googling... I would that I had

access to other means of information, but for the moment, the Net is

the only one...it's a good place to start though...

here is what I have found (for those who are really really

interested....)

 

http://www.ibiblio.org/herbmed/eclectic/sayre/laurus.html

OLEUM LAURI.—LAUREL OIL. A green, granular, semi-solid of the

consistence of butter. It consists mainly of laurostearin, but contains

a small quantity of volatile oil which makes it a very aromatic base

for liniments and ointments.

 

http://www.ibiblio.org/herbmed/eclectic/kings/laurus.html

III. OLEUM LAURI, Oil of Laurel.—This is the expressed oil of the

fruit, and is known also as Oleum Lauri Expressum, Oleum Laurinum, and

Oleum Lauri Unguinosum. This oil is a green, granular, lard-like

mixture, melting at 40° C. (104° F.), to a dark-green aromatic fluid,

and consisting of a semi-solid fat (chiefly laurostearine, the

glyceryl-ester of lauric acid C12H24O2), fragrant ethereal oil of

bitter, balsamic taste, and green chlorophyll, which is permanent

toward ammonia. An adulteration with indigo and curcuma can therefore

be recognized by the formation of a red color upon the addition of

ammonia water to an alcoholic extract of the oil. These coloring

matters are also insoluble in ether, while oil of laurel is completely

soluble with green color. Cold alcohol dissolves out essential oil and

chlorophyll, leaving the fatty matter undissolved.

 

Pictures of the soap

http://www.syriangate.com/images/soap/soa1/index.htm

 

Pictures of the process (very interesting to me!)

http://www.syriangate.com/images/soap/sof1/index.htm

 

Two observations: I have not yet found any of this soap they make in

liquid form, and secondly I haven't seen anyone who supplies the plain

Laurel oil yet....but still looking...!

 

> Oh, and " Castile Soap " is simply traditionally a 100% Olive Oil soap

> ...

> and now a days as long as the soap is over 50% Olive Oil many folks

> call

> it castile. I've even seen one commercial brand of soap out there that

> doesn't have a drop of Olive Oil in it call itself " Castile Soap " ;-p

 

That's what happened with " Marseille soap " here in France, which was

their basic, simple soap...now it can have anything in it, it seems.

THanks and enjoy the day

Anne