Soap Makers Help!

[chiknwhisperer]

Quote:
Thanks for your help

I am going to register my business on Tuesday

DH picked the name for it. Grand Kankakee Soap Co.
What do ya'll think? I like it. We hunt down at the the Grand Kankakee Marsh and that was where he got the idea from So far everyone who has tried my soaps likes them

I really have to get crackin' on making more soap and more varieties. I want to start getting different colors in my soaps real soon. I'm sure that now that I'm taking this further I will have more and more questions for everyone here. I think one of the biggest factors in going ahead with the business decsion is that my brother in law just loved the soaps I sent him home with and was amazed at the fact that I was making it from scratch. He just thought that was the neatest thing. Makes me blush lol

 

[cockadoodlemom]

Everyone I gave my soap too just love the thought that I made it and thoght that it was so neat. I can't wait to make more..

 

[Backyard Buddies]

Thanks MullersLaneFarm and Ninjapoodles for helping me sort through this stuff. I don't expect you guys to give away trade secrets

but if you can help me tweak MY recipes, I'd really appreciate it!

My replies in bold to MullersLaneFarm . . .

Quote:
What % palm and avocado?

OK, while I've tweaked this recipe here and there, raising or lowering some of the ingredients, I've pretty much stuck to these same oils since, at this point, they're the only oils I have other than anything I can purchase at the store.

27.5 % each of the palm and coconut, 35.83% Olive Oil, 6.67% Castor, and 2.5% Avocado. The liquid was primarily goats milk with some distilled water added to have enough for the liquid requirement. I superfatted this batch at about 6.5%, not accounting for any fat in the goats milk since the calculator didn't ask for that.

I use Palm Kernel Oil (flake form) instead of Coconut. Their fatty acid profiles are nearly identical

I think I need to do some reading on the fatty acid profiles. Can you recommend a good source that'll teach me exactly what I'm working with? I was intrigued when you wrote earlier about how men and women tend to prefer different profiles in their soaps.

I'm trying to use less of the coconut since it's supposed to be drying, but I do like my bubbles.

It depends how you balance out your oils to combat the higher lauric fatty acid of the coconut (or PK).

I use about 30% Palm Kernel and don't feel my soap is drying but it does have plenty of lather. To do this, I make sure my linoleic fatty acids are high. Oils that are high linoleic include . . .

Safflower Oil (not High Oleic)
. . .
Sunflower Seed Oil (not High Oleic) . . .

How would I know whether one of these purchased at the store was or was not High Oleic?

Incorporate at least 15% of one of these oils into your recipe and feel free to up your coconut and/or palm kernel oil percentage.

Thanks, I can try that. But, with the recipe I posted, what would I decrease by 15%?

About Castor Oil, which is mainly made up of Ricinoleic fatty acid .... is not a lathering oil according to it's fatty acid profile .(any more than any other -oleic oil such as olive.)

It can change the feel of the lather, but it doesn't boost or create more lather.​

I wondered about that. TSC's oil properties chart does NOT show Castor to be a high lathering oil, but many of the recipes out there DO tout it for those qualities.

Next to answer Ninjapoodles . . .

 

[Backyard Buddies]

My answers in bold . . .


Quote:
I think I'll try one of those, one of these days. What kind of curing time are we talking about?

 

[Backyard Buddies]

Quote:
I hear ya! So, what exactly is a "Man Bar" soap?

My hubby is bugging me to make him a shaving soap. I put in an order for some clay with my most recent scent order. Geez, would the 7th get here already???

And yes, I have already tracked my order twice.

It's still in Florida.

 

[Backyard Buddies]

Welcome Scrambled Egg! You're in for some fun. I can't wait to see your soaps as you make them. Be sure to share!

Question . . . .

Are we still planning to do the soap exchange? The sooner I know, the better the chance that I can participate. Since I don't actually own my supply, I need to reserve some before they're sold.

 

[chiknwhisperer]

Quote:
I hear ya! So, what exactly is a "Man Bar" soap?

My hubby is bugging me to make him a shaving soap. I put in an order for some clay with my most recent scent order. Geez, would the 7th get here already???

And yes, I have already tracked my order twice.

It's still in Florida.

Go onto the MMS site and click on the recipes section and it is there under the bar soaps. It has Sandalwood fragrance oil, Lime essential oil, and a few drops of lavender fragrance. It is a hard bar as well and takes 2-3 weeks to cure. The scent is strong when you make it but I think it is mellowing slowly. And if my DH likes it that says alot.

 

[chiknwhisperer]

Oh, I almost forgot. They have a shaving soap recipe on there as well.

 

[chiknwhisperer]

Quote:
I was just thinking about the swap a little while ago and meant to ask. Thanks for reminding lol

 

[Don]

I want to thank EVERYONE for your posts here! The questions follow many that I have and the answers are VERY helpful!

I've recently been disabled and I'm gonna start a home based business with soap as a part of it. (Fingers crossed, grin)

Any additional pointers would be appreciated ... generalizations, observations, etc.

Peace and Grace to ya!

Don