Simple Ways to Nourish Yourself with Nature's Magic

So many of us fell in love with the Practical Magic movie! Whether you started with the book or the movie, I think we can agree that we all have a secret desire to be an Owens woman. And have that hair. And live in that house. And of course, use that soap!

“Maybe it was the black soap she washed with that made her skin seem illuminated…” -Practical Magic

Let's Make Some Magic Soap!

It all started when I read Alice Hoffman’s Magic Lessons. It is the third book in her series about the Owens family of Practical Magic fame. 

Magic Lessons traces the story of Maria Owens, the witch who escapes hanging at the start of the Practical Magic movie. It’s Maria’s Grimoire (big book of spells) that is passed down through the generations of Owens women and includes her recipe for their famous black soap. 

More information about Alice Hoffman's Practical Magic book series can be found here:

AliceHoffman.com

Imagine my delight when I discovered that Ms. Hoffman chose to reveal the black soap recipe, along with many other recipes in her wonderful book. The fact that it's a recipe from a fictional figure did nothing to dampen my enthusiasm. I've been making natural cosmetics, lotions, soap and oils most of my adult life and I could see that the components all have great skincare properties.

“The black soap had caused her to appear even younger and more beautiful” -Magic Lessons

The Recipe

Maria’s original method for soap making is historically correct, and depends on lye made from the ashes of rowan and hazel wood. Lye is a caustic substance that must be used with great caution, but it does form the base for a chemical reaction that produces stable bars of soap. 

Early soap was fairly harsh, but these days soap made this way is gentler through stable lye and modern know-how. 

But here’s the thing… I  have super sensitive skin. So I made the decision to work with a gentle glycerine based soap. I have made soap many times using this method with great results. Besides, I figured Maria, or any woman from the past would have done the same if it were available to them.

“… Catherine had been using Maria’s black soap, which so refreshed her that she looked ten years younger than her age.” -Magic Lessons

Staying True

I might have brought the soap base into modern times, but I really wanted to stay true to the original recipe. I couldn’t use rowan and hazel wood ash for lye, but I could include the energy of these trees in my adaptation. 

So I collected the berries from my Rowan tree to add to my soap. Turns out the berries have awesome beautifying properties to go along with their magical reputation.

And for the enchanted hazel tree, I turned to the nuts which produce a light, nourishing and easily absorbed oil. It made the perfect addition to a natural plant-based soap. 

Most of the ingredients are growing in my garden, our meadow and woodland. 

“Although she looked far younger than her age, likely due to the miraculous black soap the Owenses had concocted…” -The Book of Magic

What about the Magic?

The Owens family black soap has a reputation for transforming those who use it. It was said to make woman appear younger by as much as 10 years. In fact the long lasting and legendary beauty of the Owens women is attributed to the soap. 

Now who doesn’t want a little of that? 

Embedding Enchantment into the Soap

There is so much natural magic inherent in the plants and trees that become the ingredients for the soap. I'm always in a state of deep reverence while collecting from my garden, our meadow and woodland. It's probably a good thing that I live in the country and don't have neighbours to hear me chatting with, and thanking the plants. 

There are many steps in the process before everything comes together in a bar of soap. Rowan berries must be dried and ground in a mortar and pestle before they are added to hazelnut oil to steep for a few weeks. The same is true for licorice root. No matter what stage of preparation I am working on, I am doing so with a clear intention in my mind. 

I don't use crystals, candles or other mystical tools to enchant the soap because I would rather connect directly with the energy of what I am creating and ask for what I want. The intention is to infuse the energies for healing and balance and especially to reveal innate beauty.  Each bar is spellbound to deliver just that. 

I Look Ten Years Younger!

Okay, that might be a stretch... but I have been using the soap (plus serum  and cream, more on that later) for over a year and my skin has never been happier. I ended up with a soap my skin loves, and I like what I’m seeing in the mirror. Everyone who has tried it, loves it. 

Me thinks there's magic afoot!

Then I Dressed It Up

Once I had the recipe just right and was able to produce perfect bars of soap, I started testing it on my lab rats, better known as family and friends.  The test results came back with a resounding "YES!!!", and that's why I began selling the soap in my little Etsy shop. (The Enchanted Journal Shop)

The soap needed to get dressed up in some packaging before I could go public, so I began designing the look I wanted. Since I was using the recipe that Alice Hoffman wrote for Maria Owens, I wanted it to have an old world look and be wrapped in brown paper. The style of the label I designed is what I affectionately call magical apothecary. 

This is look I decided to go with.

Matchy Matchy

I loved the results from the soap so much that I decided to use the same botanical ingredients in a skin cream and face serum. I call these products Spellbound because they rely on the same magical properties as the soap. I love the scent, the feel and the results. Everything I make is plant based, natural and free of the nasty chemicals that are in a lot of skincare products. 

I also added a silver bullet to my serum, in the form of Balm of Gilead. Omg! This stuff is the best, and you can learn about it here: (BLESSED BY BEES; HOW TO MAKE BALM OF GILEAD OIL (POPLAR BUD OIL)

I recently added a body serum to the collection for head to toe happy skin. And this year I made a spellbound body lotion for family and friends as a Christmas gift. Since they are already asking for more, I may offer it in the shop as well. 

Watch me make Practical Magic Black Soap:

Watch me wrap and package the soap:

Exciting news!

I was recently interviewed about my soap on the Magnolia Street Podcast. 

If you are a fan of Practical Magic, your going to want to take a listen to Magnolia Street Podcast. I adore these girls!

It's a musically inspired Practical Magic fandom podcast. The Stinas (Justina and Kristina) host the podcast and delve into all things practical magic. Super fun listening and a deep dive into the universe of the Owens family magic. 

I am so honoured that they chose me to be the first guest on the podcast, and if you'd like to listen in, it's Episode 18. Black Soap.

Listen on Apple Podcasts

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May the magic be with you, 

Always.