Soap Makers Help!

[Morgaine]

First patchouli I got smelled like the dirt under our house, lol. I have grown more acustomed to it and now I find it less like straight dirt and more like deep sweet earthiness. I'm not a huge fan of it alone, but love it blended.

 

[RockyToggRanch]

What's your favorite blend with patchouli?

 

[OHhappychicks]

Here is pics of my first 2 batches.

This the first batch of plain ole soap, in mold. No additives, made with water.

This is it after it was cut. I took these pics indoors.

This is my 2nd batch. Made with goat milk and oatmeal. It came out a lot darker than I expected. I used frozen milk too. But I really like the color. I think it goes well with the oatmeal. Use OMH Fo

I'm very pleased with the outcome of both of them. Gonna make more tomorrow!!!!

 

[RockyToggRanch]

Has anyone used salvia in soap? I just cut some blossoms and leaves to infuse in Olive oil.

 

[OHhappychicks]

I'm on page 296 and was reading about adding pumpkin to your soaps. My question is, does the pumpkin spoil? Or any kind of food item spoil?

RockyToggRanch, I'm infusing honeysuckle right now. Meant to leave it out in the sun for just a little bit, but forgot it until this afternoon!! It kinda smelled sour, but i went ahead and strained it. Added more blossoms and more oil, left it on the counter until tomorrow. I'm kinda concerned about spoilage with this also. How are you doing your infusion?

Another ? I read that someone stated that they store their soap after about 2 weeks of curing in boxes (?) to finish curing. Is that something that should be done or just to free up room on curing racks? I have my first batch at 3 wk curing and have had it sitting out the hole time.

 

[RockyToggRanch]

I'm infusing blossoms and leaves in OO. Then I'll add crushed blossoms at trace. Just wondering if it'll hold its scent. Or if I should add EO.

I let mine cure on racks.

 

[OHhappychicks]

This morn I opened my jar of honeysuckle infusion and it still smells sour. yesterday after I strained it, it smelled more like honeysuckle, but not very strong. If i use the oo, I probably will have to use eo/fo's in it. I'm going to just make a 1# batch with it, just to see.

 

[Morgaine]

If it smells sour, it could be going bad. I would let it sit for a couple of weeks after you strain it just to make sure it doens't grow anything in there. I personally have not gotten a scent to transfer from the infusion to the soap. Others have said they have though, you might see how they infuse.

I really like orange and patchouli, patchouli and cedar and one blend I did that I save for perfume now is, Lemon, Rosewood, Ylang Ylang, black pepper, patchouli, cedar, ginger and geranium.

ETA: I store my soaps after 2 weeks in cardboard boxes. I don't over crowd them so the they still get air unlike a rubermaid type of box. I do that for space reasons. I can only cure about 500 bars on my racks now and after 2 weeks need the space. If you have the space, cure for as long as you want in the open air.

 

[OHhappychicks]

Quote:
Thanks Mogaine! I will let it set for a while. I was concerned about mold. I'm not sure the scent is going to be strong enough to make a diff anyhow.
I bet your scents smell yummy!! I can't wait for someone to invent smell-a-vision!!

Can you leave your soaps out indefinately, or do they need to be stored after they cure if they aren't going to be used for awhile? I will be giving these to family for right now, but I know they all won't get used quickly.

 

[RockyToggRanch]

I wrap mine after 5 or 6 weeks curing. They seem to hold up nicely that way. Mine get sold or used pretty quickly though, so I don't know about long term storage.