Cosmetic Soap for Washing the Hands
Origin: Tidewater Virginia
Source: Mary Randolph, 1824
Ingredients
- 1 pound castile soap or other nice old soap
- water
- lavender water or essence
- corn meal
Instructions
- Scrape a pound of castile soap or any other nice old soap into small pieces. Put it on the fire with a little water and stir until it becomes a smooth paste. Pour the paste into a bowl and let it cool. When cold, add lavender water or essence of your choice. Beat the mixture with a silver spoon until well mixed. Thicken it with corn meal. Transfer to small pots and cover closely to keep air out, as exposure to air will cause the soap to harden.