Soap Makers Help!

[Morgaine]

I would make the name bigger, too much white space on the top.

 

[Backyard Buddies]

Quote:
I bet this would work . . .

Infuse the OO for entire batch with comfrey. If you use a pretty good percentage, you'll get a darkish green. Divide the batch in 3. Leave one batch plain. Add a small amount of cocoa powder to the second batch to get a slightly brownish green. Add a larger amount of cocoa powder to the third batch. That'll give you a greenish brown. Let all of them get to a thickish trace, then add them in blotches to the mold. Don't do much mixing or you'll blend them rather than have distinct colors.

 

[dun chick]

Quote:
I agree you need some color to draw their attention to your card.

 

[Morgaine]

Quote:
I bet this would work . . .

Infuse the OO for entire batch with comfrey. If you use a pretty good percentage, you'll get a darkish green. Divide the batch in 3. Leave one batch plain. Add a small amount of cocoa powder to the second batch to get a slightly brownish green. Add a larger amount of cocoa powder to the third batch. That'll give you a greenish brown. Let all of them get to a thickish trace, then add them in blotches to the mold. Don't do much mixing or you'll blend them rather than have distinct colors.

hmm, you've given me an idea, I'll post more later after I look at my stash and see what I have.

 

[Backyard Buddies]

Some beige in there would be nice as well, but I couldn't think of how to do it along with the infusion batch, unless you're up to making a second small batch at the same time.

 

[Morgaine]

I'm thinking of using some rosemary powder infused oil which should give me that dark greenish brown and then some Liquid chlorophyll to boost the green in parts.

 

[MullersLaneFarm]

Quote:
Rose EO?? You're going to use it in soap?!?!?!!!

I still have some Rose Otto from 2001. Back then 3 drams was $24. I use it v-e-r-y sparingly!!

I've been busy canning, but I have to get some soapmaking in SOON!

colors are diff..fresh milked unhomo unpast is more caramel colored...while homo/past is whiter and stays whiter. Reducing/preventing the gel in milk based soaps PREVENTS the saponification of the milk fats...which gives you a more luxurious bar in my opinion. I just think if you are going to add milk...why saponify all those luscious fats!! Some think the milk sugars are higher in fresh milk also...which could account for a darker color/reaction with the lye also.

Got to disagree here. I use frozen, fresh RAW (not pasteurized nor homogenized) Jersey milk. My plain milk soap is nearly white. I gel the heck out of it (wrapped in 2 wool Whitney blankets on top of a running clothes dryer.)

I have noticed a color change in my soaps depending what period of lactation are cow was in. The soap's are darker right after freshening, and much lighter in the winter when she is on alfalfa hay and not fresh grass.

The lye isn't picky about which of the fats it will cling to and turn to salt.

The colder you keep your lye/milk mixture before you put it into the oils, the lighter your soap will be.

CW, those cards are gorgeous!!!

Nice design, David. I like simple! Although, I do agree, make the letters on the white a bit larger.​

 

[cheeptrick]

Quote:
Rose EO?? You're going to use it in soap?!?!?!!!

I still have some Rose Otto from 2001. Back then 3 drams was $24. I use it v-e-r-y sparingly!!

I've been busy canning, but I have to get some soapmaking in SOON!

colors are diff..fresh milked unhomo unpast is more caramel colored...while homo/past is whiter and stays whiter. Reducing/preventing the gel in milk based soaps PREVENTS the saponification of the milk fats...which gives you a more luxurious bar in my opinion. I just think if you are going to add milk...why saponify all those luscious fats!! Some think the milk sugars are higher in fresh milk also...which could account for a darker color/reaction with the lye also.

Got to disagree here. I use frozen, fresh RAW (not pasteurized nor homogenized) Jersey milk. My plain milk soap is nearly white. I gel the heck out of it (wrapped in 2 wool Whitney blankets on top of a running clothes dryer.)

I have noticed a color change in my soaps depending what period of lactation are cow was in. The soap's are darker right after freshening, and much lighter in the winter when she is on alfalfa hay and not fresh grass.

The lye isn't picky about which of the fats it will cling to and turn to salt.

The colder you keep your lye/milk mixture before you put it into the oils, the lighter your soap will be.

CW, those cards are gorgeous!!!

Nice design, David. I like simple! Although, I do agree, make the letters on the white a bit larger.​

Interesting how diff people have diff techniques...neither are wrong...just soapers preference. I only use fresh pasteruized/homogenized milk and do not gel and get White everytime TOO!! Good stuff to hear how others soap...keep posting folks.

I'm planning on blending the rose eo with some cucumber for the soap....and then the rest is for the bath teas!!

 

[dun chick]

How do you keep from gelling? Do you put it in the refrigerator or freezer? I have a wooden loaf mold so it would not matter how long i kept it in the cold.The last time I tried to not gel, I kept the lid off and no blankets. I got a partial gel and was not happy with the results. I don't mind the look of a gel, but would like to see the difference.

 

[cheeptrick]

Quote:
I stir and babysit it every 20 minutes or so...and IF the mold is small enough I put it in the freezer/frig. I have and also utilized these COLD NH winters. Your bars will be harder...and last longer FYI when you prevent the gel. I only do this with juice/milk based soaps.

edited to add...you can prevent the gel in swirled soaps without stirring by placing the mold in the frig/freezer. You can also speed up the gel...but you run the risk of it exploding...

You can speed up the gel by putting the mold in the oven...my 1 batch that I did oven process with a not so good fo....was very light in scent though.