There's been a lot of buzz about banana skins keeping aphids away [Google it], might be worth a try. Threw in another cool link. Washing formulations change. We tried an experiment to kill some crabgrass in the driveway, way back, in the olden days, by throwing a bucket of leftover floor suds on it. Spic'n Span, in those days, turned out to be TSP [ tri sodium phosphate] in an orange box. LOL! Fertilizer ! Dish formulations are changing, most of them are too harsh on fine fabrics now, though i can still use palmolive green liquid. Using some in the oven, was a disaster, it wouldn't all come off, and it scorched, with a dangerous smell. I used years ago, in a spray bottle: ~2 Tbs oil [light, veggie], a small squirt of dishsoap to make it stick, & maybe a little alcohol or vinegar, some garlic or hot pepper... Some aromatics and herbs work as a repellent, so, he he, well, why not just use dirty dishwater? he he, It's a silly notion, that i like my plants too much, to ever try. There's always other stuff, that would make a gummy mess. Besides, it would hurt their feelings. :] Baby shampoo, sounds good. Do they even still sell soap? I couldn't find any anymore, at the S&S. Ivory Snow is now a detergent. Did they have to take it off the market, because there might be a bad cow in the tallow? Who knows. Murphy's Oil Soap is good on scale, and a lot of other pests. Cycle it , with the Safer's, 2 uses of one, then, 2 of the other, The Lemon oil-furniture oil, might have a bigger kick, than cooking oil, in soap / oil combos. Some bugs can't take lemon or pine scent. What about the cheap pine oil cleaners? The store brands have 18%. That might be hard on plants, but heck on bugs, if some one gets daring enough, don't use more than a teaspoon per gallon, and use it late in the day. Great thread. Here is a link that might be useful: Banana skins, aphids, and odd stuff

Insect Control: Soaps and Detergents by W.S. Cranshaw 1 Quick Facts... Soaps can be used to control a wide range of plant pests. Small, soft-bodied arthropods such as aphids, mealybugs, psyllids and spider mites are most susceptible to soaps. The ease of use, safety and selective action of soaps appeal to many people. Limitations of soaps include the need to wet the insect during application, absence of any residual effectiveness, and potential to damage some plants. Soaps or detergents used for control of insects are applied as dilute sprays, mixed with water to produce a concentration of about 2 percent. Soaps have been used to control insects for more than 200 years. Recently, there has been increased interest in and use of these products. This change is due to a better understanding of how to use soaps most effectively and a desire to try insecticides that are easier and safer to use than many currently available alternatives. How soaps and detergents kill insects is still poorly understood. In most cases, control results from disruption of the cell membranes of the insect. Soaps and detergents may also remove the protective waxes that cover the insect, causing death through excess loss of water. Soap-Detergent Sprays Soaps and detergents act strictly as contact insecticides, with no residual effect. To be effective, sprays must be applied directly to and thoroughly cover the insect. Several insecticidal soaps are distributed for control of insects and mites. Available under a variety of trade names, the active ingredient of all is potassium salt of fatty acids. Soaps are chemically similar to liquid hand soaps. However, there are many features of commercial insecticidal soap products that distinguish them from the dishwashing liquids or soaps that are sometimes substituted. Insecticidal soaps sold for control of insects: are selected to control insects; are selected to minimize potential plant injury; and are of consistent manufacture. Some household soaps and detergents also make effective insecticides. In particular, certain brands of hand soaps and liquid dishwashing detergents can be effective for this purpose. They are also substantially less expensive. However, there is increased risk of plant injury with these products. They are not designed for use on plants. Dry dish soaps and all clothes-washing detergents are too harsh to be used on plants. Also, many soaps and detergents are poor insecticides. Identifying safe and effective soap-detergent combinations for insect control requires experimentation. Regardless of what product is used, soap-detergent sprays are always applied diluted with water, typically at a concentration of around 2 to 3 percent (Table 1). Susceptible Insects Most research with insecticidal soaps and detergents has involved control of plant pests. In general, these sprays are effective against most small, soft-bodied arthropods, such as aphids, young scales, whiteflies, psyllids, mealybugs, and spider mites. Larger insects, such as caterpillars, sawflies and beetle larvae, generally are immune to soap sprays. However, a few large insects, including boxelder bugs and Japanese beetles, are susceptible. Insecticidal soaps are considered selective insecticides because of their minimal adverse effects on other organisms. Lady beetles, green lacewings, pollinating bees and most other beneficial insects are not very susceptible to soap sprays. Predatory mites, often important in control of spider mites, are an exception: a beneficial group of organisms easily killed by soaps. Application One of the most serious potential drawbacks to the use of soap-detergent sprays is their potential to cause plant injury -- their phytotoxicity. Certain plants are sensitive to these sprays and may be seriously injured. For example, most commercial insecticidal soaps list plants such as hawthorn, sweet pea, cherries and plum as being sensitive to soaps. Portulaca and certain tomato varieties also are sometimes damaged by insecticidal soaps. The risk of plant damage is greater with homemade preparations of household soaps or detergents. When in doubt, test soap-detergent sprays for phytotoxicity problems on a small area a day or two before an extensive area is treated. Plant injury can be reduced by using sprays that are diluted more than the 2 to 3 percent suggested on label instructions. To reduce leaf injury, wash plants within a couple of hours after the application. Limiting the number of soap applications can also be important, as leaf damage can accumulate with repeated exposure. However, because of the short residual action, repeat applications may be needed at relatively short intervals (four to seven days) to control certain pests, such as spider mites and scale crawlers. Also, application must be thorough and completely wet the pest. This usually means spraying undersides of leaves and other protected sites. Insects that cannot be completely wetted, such as aphids within curled leaves, will not be controlled. Environmental factors also can affect use of soaps. In particular, soaps (but not synthetic detergents) are affected by the presence of minerals found in hard water, which results in chemical changes producing insoluble soaps (soap scum). Control decreases if hard-water sources are used. Insecticidal soaps may also be more effective if drying is not overly rapid, such as early or late in the day. Soaps and detergents can offer a relatively safe and easy means to control many insect pests. As with all pesticides, however, there are limitations and hazards associated with their use. Understand these limitations, and carefully follow all label instructions. Table 1: Approximate mix to produce various dilute soap sprays. Percent dilution desired Approximate amount of soap to add to water to produce: Gallon Quart Pint 1 2 1/2 Tbsp (-) 2 tsp (+) 1 tsp (+) 2 5 Tbsp (-) 4 tsp (+) 2 tsp (+) 3 8 Tbsp (+) 2 Tbsp (+) 1 Tbsp (+) 4 10 Tbsp (-) 2 1/2 Tbsp (+) 4 tsp (+) (+) Will produce a solution of slightly higher concentration than indicated. (-) Will produce a solution of slightly lower concentration than indicated. 1Colorado State University Extension entomologist and professor, bioagricultural sciences and pest management. 12/96. Reviewed 3/08. Colorado State University, U.S. Department of Agriculture and Colorado counties cooperating. CSU Extension programs are available to all without discrimination. No endorsement of products mentioned is intended nor is criticism implied of products not mentioned. Go to top of this page. Updated Friday, August 03, 2012

wait - I forgot to add (sorry, I was out making an igloo and I'm exhausted) that these are mainly if your product is considered a cosmetic - bath salts, bombs, lotions, scrubs & rubs, lotion bars....not M&P base soaps. But I think if you write that your soap does something like moisturizes or relieves itchy skin, then you MUST list all ingredients. Sorry for the confusion

Just a guess..but I'd think you need to steep either in your oils first... Here's some instructions for using Jewelweed in MP Soap..but maybe you could boil the plant in the water for your CP... Jewelweed Soap Ingredients 2 cups glycerin soap 1/2 cup jewelweed maceration (gather blooming jewelweed and boil in 1/2 cup water) 7 drops sweet orange oil 2 drops of orange coloring Instructions Melt glycerin in double boiler or slowly in microwave. Add jewelweed maceration, stir until slightly cooled. Add fragrance and color. Pour into molds. Cool. You can find jewelweed growing next to poison ivy...it has a little orange jewel like flower. It is used to heal the rash caused by poison ivy. Here is a link that might be useful: Above recipe is from this site.