horse chestnut soap, salve, dye

dye from leave and husk: http://onesmallstitch.wordpress.com/2010/10/18/horse-chestnut-leaves-husks-and-conkers/

soap:
In the past horse-chestnut seeds were used in France and Switzerland for whitening hemp, flax, silk and wool. They contain a soapy juice, fit for washing of linens and stuffs, for milling of caps and stockings, etc., and for the fulling of cloth. For this 20 horse-chestnut seeds were sufficient for six liters of water.They were peeled then rasped or dried, and ground in a malt or other mill. The water must be soft, either rain or river water; hard well water will not work. The nuts are then steeped in cold water, which soon becomes frothy, as with soap, and then turns milky white. The liquid must be stirred well at first, and then, after standing to settle, strained or poured off clear. Linen washed in this liquid, and afterwards rinsed in clear running water, takes on an agreeable light sky-blue colour. It takes spots out of both linen and wool, and never damages or injures the cloth.

"viking" soap: http://www.ehow.com/how_6528425_make-viking-soap.html
http://wildernesstipsandtricks.blogspot.ch/2012/09/horse-chestnut-oil-and-soap.html