Soap Makers Help!

[Don]

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Thanks! I really appreciate the positive feedback. I really felt like a goof just diving into it like that, but hey ... ya cant swim if ya dont get wet.

The mixture I'm using of the oils is 50% lard, 25% each of the other two. The only other ingredients were distilled water, lye and the oatmeal. I dont have the recipe in front of me know but I double checked it on a couple calculators and it was within a few grams of being the same on each of em.

It has hardened more today and feels less greasy ... the lard odor is mellowing as well.

I think for smellys I wanna stick with essential oils and not so much with other fragrances that are manufactured or synthetic. IDEALLY, I'd like to stick with my basic recipe as closely as I can but make a really happy oatmeal/vanilla/honey bar. Maybe with almond as well ... I'm not sure.

If I do change it some ... near as I figure, I can modify the amount of lye a bit and add a bit more coconut oil. Then I plan to substitute milk for the water. Priced goats milk at the HEB, someone is smokin' crack there! Imma use whole milk to start. LOL

I hear tell that adding honey can be tricky, so I've got to look into that a bit more.

I'm just excited to make another batch! hehehehe

As far as shavin' soaps ... that sounds interesting! Cause I could use that as a whole-head soap! YAY!

Peace ...

Don

 

[chiknwhisperer]

Congrats Don!!! You are more brave then me lol I am just now starting to play around with my soaps.

I still have to et pics of my cucumber soap on here. I'll work on that today. I've been sick as a dog so I have nothing else to do lol.

 

[MullersLaneFarm]

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The High Oleic Sunflower/Safflower might, but not the High Linoleic.

 

[MullersLaneFarm]

The tricky part of making a good shaving soap is to add additional stearic acid so the lather is sustained.

Adding clay for a 'slickery' slide is good, but having lather that will be sustained throughout the entire shave is what folks are really looking for.

Stearic is tricky to work with as it will accelerate trace.

 

[Backyard Buddies]

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Ha ha. After typing this and turning off my computer, I realized that it could have sounded as if I was suggesting you shave the goatee.

Just to be clear, I was talkin' 'bout the non-goatee part.

 

[Backyard Buddies]

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I think we all did when we did our first batch. Welcome to the clan!

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That sounds like it'd make a nice hard bar and it sounds as if it's moving right along.

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ha ha ha. We found a guy whose just as addicted to this as us gals.

Can't wait to see what you come up with next!

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Ahhh, OK. You could really get into this! Well, there are some amazing shaving websites out there on the Net. Hubby has a wish list for razors and brushes and such. If I can remember amongst my busy day, I'll try to post a link for you.

 

[cockadoodlemom]

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The High Oleic Sunflower/Safflower might, but not the High Linoleic.

Thanks MLF! My hubby gave a bar to a coworker and they said "that soap is nasty! cause it's slimy" That almost made me

. I done research on the net and found a site that said Safflower and Sunflower make the bar slimy. I finally got The Soapmakers Companion and I have been reading the past few nights. I so appreciate your help!

I will see if I still have the bottle so I can check to see if it was oleic.

 

[cockadoodlemom]

Don~Your soap looks great

Welcome to another addicting hobby. Goats milk is $$$$ and I just thought I would let you know I used Buttermilk. MissPrissy and Ninjapoodles let me know that buttermilk makes a great bar. It was my second batch and I love it cause it makes our skin feel so soft.

 

[ChicksnPacas]

Need help with labels! I've been making soap for about six weeks now (went a little crazy) thanks to all the good advice on the forum. I now want to register for craft shows to hopefully sell some.

The problem is that the bars are hand cut so one may be 4.6 ounces, then 4.3 ounces, then 4.5 ounces etc. It'll be a nighmare if i need to weigh each bar and then make an individual label for that specific weight. It is already a pain that I've used a variety of recipes and the ingredients need to be specific for each batch and put on the labels.

Is it even required to put a weight on soap bars for sale, or can I put a range such as 4.1 - 4.8 ounces?

Appreciate any feedback!

Thanks, Michele

 

[chiknwhisperer]

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Your soaps are beautiful!!!! I can't wait till I get brave enough to do all those colors. How did you get all the different colors by the way?