Soap Makers Help!

[Morgaine]

We have power again! They had to drop the lines today to take down the tree. I piddled around Cypress till it was time to pick ds up from school and when e got back they were almost finished.

AK- Here is the link to the reference thread
https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=155832
I would recommend Brambleberry (a fav of mine) or wholesale supplies plus, who have some new silicone molds in that are very reasonably priced. They have everything you are looking for.

As for a recipe, I would go play around on soap calc, it will help you get a recipe with the qualities that you are looking for. Link is in the reference thread.

As far as the colorants I would ask the manufacturer what they recommend. Make sure you tell them it is for cold process soap.

Backyard Buddies I have had my lye do that too, though I caught it before I added to my oils so the soap was ok. Did you discount the water? Do you think you stirred the lye enough when you first added it to the water? I don't think I stirred mine enough to make sure it was dissolved when I first mixed it. Hopefully it will turn out ok. It may just be really superfatted. Sounds like the soap gremlins are out!

 

[cheeptrick]

Say a prayer to the soapin' GODS for me. I just swirled a goatsmilk fall harvest fo with cranberry seeds (which turned a pretty pink with the fo) and an apple cider apple jack with poppy seeds. IT looks fabulous!! 2 diff types of soaps...one goatsmilk and one apple cider...I'm very intrigued how they will gel together. I'm really hoping it turns out ok....it all traced really FAST...but I sf'ed with grapeseed oil....which I've noticed traces faster. Also did a clean cotton...goatsmilk. It all traced as soon as my spoon hit the oils....NICE. I'll post photos when I cut...too tired tonight.

 

[AK_Button_Mama]

the mold makes 8-4 ounce bars I didnt want to buy more than one because I wasnt sure I would like it! its a milky way mold.... says to pour at 145 degrees!

I have made goats milk soap and it turned out great I didnt put any fragrance in it and all it was was lard milk and lye (turned out VERY HARD!!!!)

anywya!!!!! I am kind of excited to get a batch going with some smelly stuff in it!!! and some purdy colors!!!

 

[Backyard Buddies]

Quote:
Glad you have power again! That's a good thing!

Yes, I'm guessing it will be super fatted. At this point, I don't yet know which of the two soaps was the one that didn't get the appropriate amount of lye since the containers were identical. I may have a better idea tomorrow morning when I turn it out of the mold.

There was a minimal water discount - not quite a 30% solution, but divided in half. With a new fragrance, I won't generally go above 30%, until I know how the fragrance will behave.

I didn't notice a thing that I did differently with each of the batches. However, this was the first time I've done half batches, so perhaps it just behaved differently than my normal stirring would do.

I can't say for certain, but I'd guess that I lost somewhere close to 25 or 30 grams of the 240 grams of lye for that batch. That may not be enough to ruin the batch, but it may be a tad softer than I'd like, especially with the minimal discount. I'll know more tomorrow morning.

cheeptrick - I wanna see pix!!

 

[cheeptrick]

Quote:
Glad you have power again! That's a good thing!

Yes, I'm guessing it will be super fatted. At this point, I don't yet know which of the two soaps was the one that didn't get the appropriate amount of lye since the containers were identical. I may have a better idea tomorrow morning when I turn it out of the mold.

There was a minimal water discount - not quite a 30% solution, but divided in half. With a new fragrance, I won't generally go above 30%, until I know how the fragrance will behave.

I didn't notice a thing that I did differently with each of the batches. However, this was the first time I've done half batches, so perhaps it just behaved differently than my normal stirring would do.

I can't say for certain, but I'd guess that I lost somewhere close to 25 or 30 grams of the 240 grams of lye for that batch. That may not be enough to ruin the batch, but it may be a tad softer than I'd like, especially with the minimal discount. I'll know more tomorrow morning.

cheeptrick - I wanna see pix!!

I will post photos tomorrow...it was so pretty while swirling it...PINK and Brown. I'm hoping it retains the color...but I'm doubtful.

I'm thinking with only 25-30 grams less of lye....you will be fine. I soap like this ALL the time....less lye....and several of my recipes do not run thru a soap calculator...so I'd wait till you cut to see. Interesting how it was rock hard on the bottom...question: Was your distilled water chilled when you added the lye??

 

[Backyard Buddies]

Quote:
Pink and brown sounds lovely! Did it stay?

The water was room temp.

I've cut my loaves but haven't yet cut the bars. It looks fine and is perhaps a tad more oily than usual, but if I hadn't noticed the lye crust in the container, I'd just think that this was just the FO and perhaps the nearly full water recipe. I'm about to cut the bars and will get a better idea by then, but I suspect that it'll be fairly normal looking in a day or two.

I did NOT get Morgaine's pretty burgundy color, tho.

It's more of a light tannish mauve color.

 

[cheeptrick]

Ok...here is the swirl last night...not sure you can see the pink swirl.

and this morning after....

Only thing...is I just made a small batch of WHITE TD applejack peel for the tops...so the swirl is going to be concealed.

I'm undecided to layer it or not...but the bar is smaller and I'd like it to be larger. I like the larger bars. It'll be about 6 ozs I'm guessing.

I'll post photos tomorrow when I cut....LOVE this long weekend for LAYERING!

This is apple cider and a goatsmilk swirled. Color from cider and sweet cakes fall harvest fo that turned the soap pink.

 

[cheeptrick]

The photos washed out...in the upload...it is pale pink. I'll get a better pink picture tomorrow!!

OH and that is UNGELLED goatsmilk next to it....clean cotton. STIRRED AND STIRRED it during the ajp side gel...it was SO HOT. IT was so interesting to watch it...it would darken UP....and then lighten UP right before my eyes. It was almost like the soap was breathing...strange.

 

[Morgaine]

Cheep trick those swirls are lovely! So pretty and delicate. So you swirled two batches together or you swirlded two batches? I really like those swirls! It looks like marbled [paper.

I rebatched some of my winter cucumber. It actually looks much better now. I lost my swirl, but it doesn't have those weird areas. It's a light mint green so the color still works. I haven't cut it yet, still too soft. I used my B&B molds. I'll get little bars from it and also cut some 2 oz bars.

I gotta do some more orange patchouli. In two markets I've almost sold the entire batch! I only have 2 wrapped bars and my display bar left. I'll do that today and more dragon's blood I think, though I may change my mind.

BB- I sorry to hear that you didn't get the color you wanted. What % of the recipe was the infused oil again? I did mine at 12%. I might cut back next time to see what color I get. I'm glad to hear that it looks like the soap is still good though.

Some time I'm going to do a small test batch of the dragon's blood resin. I've just been too busy with ds in school and working on the house (we are putting in the hardwood floors!) and of course making sure I have enough soap I just haven't gotten around to it.

I just ordered a few more fo's from moon works Hubby loved the tropical element and has requested a mechanics soap just for him in that scent

It is so yummy though. I also got Gaia, witch's brew and 1 oz of the patchuoli fo to try out. Rhonda is really nice. She sent me a sniffie and small soap sample in the witch's brew when I requested it. And I like ordering from small woman owned companies. Check her out. If I get another coupon code I will post it. The one I have right now ends today. It Sept06 and is for 10% off.

Ok, I gotta go and clean up now, I'll talk to y'all later.

 

[cheeptrick]

It didn't really take...the color.

BUT...it smells great!! I cut these really HUGE...not sure I'll use these for the swap...might go with my pumpkin cheesecake looking one. We'll see how it cures out.