The Music Soap Series: connecting soap with music.
 
Learn more about the inspiration and creation of this Romantic soap at https://youtu.be/8o1_LZdRb0w
 
Even though there is one more period, Contemporary, after the Romantic, I felt I should end our series here.  Contemporary can be lumped together, or can be subdivided into five smaller periods as well, so who knows, there may be a Contemporary soap series in the future.
 
But back to the Romantic (1820-1900)!  Take everything you've learned so far and pretty much chuck it out the window!  Actually don't - we need all of the development from monophony and modes, to intricate harmonies, to instrumentation, to keys, to structure and form, and all of the various and sundry components of music to bring us to this point where composers just let go of the rules and structure, and start writing music for drama and expression.  They try new combinations of instruments, push the limits on harmony, and on developing the sheer ability to master and perform at a virtuosic level.  Most importantly, the Romantic period saw a flourishing of national music schools, and brought music fully to the public for enjoyment.  No longer an elitist art form, music was now to be shared and enjoyed by all, and was a celebration of sound, drama, emotion and expression.  
 
So what makes a soap that takes everything that came before and says, "well, I'd rather do it like this instead?"  Well, I answered that with a question, "what is lush, vibrant and romantic?" I found myself drawn to the texture of the in-the-pot swirl of the Classical, but I wanted something even richer and intense, so I started with a drop swirl.  However, after pouring the soap, it didn't feel deep enough, so I took a hangar tool and wove that through the soap again, creating swirls and feathers.  I used rose clay, orchid, hot pink and snowflake micas in a combination to create different layers and depths even in the drop swirl, so that each color had an intensity and vibrancy that changed continually.  The fragrance oil "Rosehip Jasmine" had come across my path, and I thought it might be too light, but the jasmine has a full-bodied lusciousness that warms the lighter rosehip to create an incredible aroma that envelops you immediately.