| Archive for Downsizer For an ethical approach to consumption |
| Stacey |
Lichen as a soap additive?I'm using some lichen we found yesterday to experiment with dyeing a small piece of wool. However, the smell is absolutely divine and where I've had my hands in the liquid they're really soft. It's the long, traily, beardy type lichen you see hanging off branches and there's loads of it around at the moment aftre a particularly windy couple of days means loads of fallen branches. Would it be suitable for adding to soap? |
| cab |
I've not heard of it being done till now, but I've just had a wee look through some google hits and on the first page was this lot, who make a 'tree lichen' soap:
http://www.missionpeaksoap.com/SoapShedTour.htm Looks like the lichen is pretty much intact, so probably added at trace. I'd go with adding vitamin e oil too if I were putting that much organic material in. |
| Stacey |
Thanks cab. I was thinking of just using the liquid but the wool seems to be turing a pretty strawy pink colour so if I could find a use for the left ovr wet lichen after the dyebath I'd be well chuffed. Is the vitamin E as preservative? |
| sally_in_wales |
I have to say I've never found any evidence that Vit E does anything helpful in soap- but there would be no harm in trying it.
Its fascinating about the lichen soap, it would be worth checking what species it is as a couple of lichens that are used in perfumery have suggested restrictions as to how they are used (I'll see if I can find the relevant bit of info later), but oakmoss is one of the beardy lichens often used as a fragrance fixative so you may have that one. If it is, then you need to use small amounts- heres the bit from the IFRA website http://www.ifraorg.org/GuideLines.asp Oak moss extracts (e.g. absolute, resinoid, concrete, etc.) obtained from Evernia prunastri should not be used such that the level in consumer products exceeds 0.1% It will help hold other scents so you may want to experiment with some blends. I love lichen dyes, some are such wonderful colours but you are very right to only gather from storm damage etc. Some are getting really rare and a few are outright protected. My favourite is one of the rock growing ones that produces a rich 'fox red' colour, absolutely gorgeous! |
| cab |
Any chance of a pic of the lichen so we can hazard an ID? |
| Stacey |
I've just 'borrowed' a bit from the tree so you can see it dry. The other bit is all soggy and chopped up now. To give you an idea of scale that pic shows about 15 cm of the whole piece which is about 20cm and hangs straight down off the tree. |
| sally_in_wales |
I know that one as 'goatsbeard' but I don't have my lichen chart to hand- when I get back up to the gallery after lunch I'll see if I can find a proper name for it for you. |