Soap Makers Help!

[Morgaine]

BB, If you would like to try some clay, I can send you some to try (no charge of course). Have you tried infusing with turmeric for yellow? I have some notes around on different herbs and colors I've been taking in my notebook. I'll get back to you on that one.

For the energy what about yellow with a green swirl? How does energy smell oob? I think that one is going to on my next order. And the wasabi one too.

When hubby gets home I'm going to cut my rose geranium. I'm waiting for him cause he wants to see how my cutter works and make some improvements on it. I will definately post pic tomorrow. My whole house smells like roses. I just put two more batches of rose geranium to bed and one lavender and oatmeal that I'm using my new Bed and Breakfast set on. I get little one ounce bars that measure 1 1/2" X 2/1/2" X 3/8".

 

[ninjapoodles]

Quote:
What I do, in that situation, is to reverse the colors. IOW, I'd pull out some white soap to leave *unscented*, and fragrance the bulk of the recipe. Then swirl in your white soap. Otherwise you won't get as much fragrance out of it. I've had this work wonderfully well, and the swirled white does not discolor, even with aging.

It also helps to call it "vanilla BEAN" something or other, because people recognize that vanilla beans are dark brown. When you just call something vanilla, people expect to see creamy white.

 

[Morgaine]

That's a really good idea, NP, naming it vanilla bean. It's all in perception, lol.

I'll get my camera in little bit once it gets lighter. My swirls are very very light. I think I over mixed it, but the soap is a very soft pink tint with slightly darker swirls. I still like it, just going to use a little more clay for a darker swirl. The one that I colored the whole batch turned out nice too.

 

[Morgaine]

Ok here are my bars

Rose Geranium Swirled

Rose Geranium with clay

 

[chiknwhisperer]

Morgaine those bars are beatiful! All of you make such great looking soaps!
Has anyone heard how Don is doing with his back? I was just wondering.

 

[Backyard Buddies]

Quote:
That'd be great, Morgaine! I'd love to try some clay. Perhaps we can set up a trade. I'll send you a sniffy of Energy (do you still want to try palm kernel flakes?) and you can send me some clay. Let's PM about the arrangements.

Yes, I have tried infusing with turmeric. I tried it two different ways - once blended with infused calendula petals (longer infusion - gave a lighter butter yellow) and then alone - shorter infusion. That yellow was fine, but as I used more to make it darker, it went more toward an earthy yellow rather than a bright yellow. Of course, I got some of the undissolved turmeric in there which took on a more brownish tone like cinnamon where it settled. It looked fine, but wasn't the look I was going for with that particular scent.

I think yellow with a green swirl would look nice for Energy. If I made the whole thing yellow by doing a long infusion, a la the crockpot method, then added some chlorophyll to a portion of it, I wonder how true the green would remain in the swirled portion.

 

[Backyard Buddies]

Quote:
Great idea! I think in that case, I'd skip the cream or use a minimal amount of it so that I don't darken the white portion of the soap. Hey, I even have a vanilla bean hanging around here. I could even use the teeniest amount of it to make it REALLY vanilla bean.

 

[Backyard Buddies]

Morgaine - I love the soaps! I think that both are very beautiful The one you think you overmixed has a gentle look to it and I think you could use the same method to your advantage if you were aiming for a bar that whispered rather than screamed. Very pretty!

 

[Backyard Buddies]

Quote:
I haven't. I hope everything is OK. Don? You still around?

 

[Morgaine]

Quote:
Thanks

I do like it, like you said it is a very soft color. It goes very well with the scent.

I'm still

over your almond joy soap.

And chiknwhisperer I just love the layered soap you did. I'm going to try layering with the coconut lime verbena. I just hope that it turns out as well as your did.

All y'all here inspire me!