Soap Makers Help!

[MissPrissy]

Quote:
Thank you, BB.

I was ill for a good while. No sewing. No soaping. No crafting. It was all i could do to get through the holidays.

I am back!

I have 4 batches that have cured in the meantime. I'll have to get some photos.

 

[ninjapoodles]

Quote:
Can you get close, guessing? You could make a straight batch with just water, discounting the lye enough to be safely under...then melt the "mystery mix" and add it in when you melt your other oils. You'd have a really super-superfatted batch, but that's OK. I guess it depends on how close you can figure how much lye you used, then subtract that from your new batch figuring.

 

[Backyard Buddies]

You're welcome MP. I'm sorry to hear you were sick.

Thanks for sharing your experience with the beet juice, smom1976. Dang. What color DID it make your soap?

 

[smom1976]

and the two different bars together..

the darker one is my goatmilk ..

I think I might just try and "burn" my goat milk with a small batch and pour it in that heart mold.. I will post pics..

I am also going to do a lard batch..

 

[ninjapoodles]

Quote:
Looks awesome! I bet you can't wait to try it out!

It looks like maybe this batch didn't *quite* gel fully into the corners of the log mold. But there's nothing wrong with that soap--it'll just look a little different, you'll have a couple of bars that might be "two-tone."

Congratulations!

 

[cheeptrick]

Ok....Ladies and maybe Gents?? It took me awhile to catch up on the reading...I've had a sick Roo!!

SMom...that first batch is beautiful...I believe you may have cut just a little too early. Non gelled soap needs a full 48 hours of curing prior to cutting...it is less sticky this way and your swirls will disappear as you get further into the cure. Great job...looks like you had fun and got your DH involved too! Hint...I stir to prevent the heat reaction in the beginning of the gel stage...it still heats but the stirring cools it down considerably...and my soap never reaches the black/brown stage. Still fabulous soap...another plus to non gelled soap is that you never run the risk of a batch exploding.

BB...beet juice does change color in the lye...you get an earthy brownish red. Not the desired pink...beet powder would be the 'natural' pink or use the oxides or even clay.

Chickenwhisperer...IF and whenever anyone tells me they had a reaction to any soaps that I made...I tell them to discontinue use, get to the allergist/dermatologist, and I give them a 100% refund. Although...this had never happened to me...I had to come up with a plan in case it ever did.

To Gel or NOT to Gel is strictly a preference...you decide which one you like. There are many pro soapers who do not gel...truly it depends on the recipe. Milk and Juice are the ones I prevent the gel in.

I just got a 200 bar order from a Spa/Salon in Richmond VA...the owner ordered 4 different soaps. AND I've got to update my website with my NEW Valentine's Day Themed photo styled jpg...so I have got to get busy!! The most fun is the photo styling!!

Good Luck to you all on your learning...

 

[MullersLaneFarm]

Quote:
If you're able to duplicate the, I'd sure be interested in knowing how you did it!!

 

[MissPrissy]

One day last summer when I making soap I had a fresh quart of my milk and a quart from a friend with goats. I made soap exactly the same from both quarts of goat milk. They came out 2 entirely different colors. My goats milk has far more fat that rises than hers and I wonder if that and their diet attributes to the differences.

 

[Backyard Buddies]

Cheeptrick! I'm glad you're back. I wondered where you wandered off to. I'm so sorry to hear about your roo.

Wow! Congratulations on your 200 bar order! Good for you!

OK, I'm going to try the beet powder for my pink color. I haven't yet started my Rose Milk soap. I was busy trying to figure out how to raise the linolenic FA while lowering the palmitic FA without adding the stearic - because I don't yet have it - without ending up with a too soft bar. I think I figured out something that'll work. I'll stop by the health food store today and see if they carry the beet root. If not, I can always do this:

http://thatgirlis.blogspot.com/2006/09/in-which-i-describe-making-beet-powder.html

Actually, since this is supposed to be a garden product, perhaps I'll actually try that with some of the beets from the garden - one of these days.

 

[chiknwhisperer]

I emailed my DH's cousin. The one who's daughter had a problem with the chocolate soap. I sent her two different articles about Castile soap and also made a 2 pound batch of it. She said she would give it a try and wants to know how much I want for just a small bar to try first. I told her I would just give her a small block of it to try and she can see how she likes it. Maybe I could have a regular customer. She also said if I make her a list of soaps that I have she will pass it along to friends of hers so they can buy them to. :