Soap Makers Help!

[Morgaine]

I use 20% coconut in mine. I like Rice bran, it's a lot like olive, but don't use it in too much of your recipe because it can make a soft soap that is more prone to DOS. Olive oil prices are dropping though so I might be pasing it out once I use what I have. I use it at 10-15% and have had no problems.

I like almond, prefer it to avocado. And Must have castor!

 

[Morgaine]

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I use olive, coconut, palm, rice bran, shea butter, almond and castor.

When you say 100%/20%....what do you mean?

That is 100% coconut oil soap with a 20% superfat. I've also done 80% coconut, 20% shea butter, 20% superfat. It's a nice bubbly soap that isn't very drying even though you think it would be. The high superfat is what does that. It makes a good shampoo bar, for hubby's hair anyway. Mine not so much. I made him a mechanics out of that because the coconut is so cleaning.

You should put pumice in that mechanics soap...my brother is also mechanic and he uses my pumice GRITS soap...LOVES it...wicked hard bar. NO scent....because he is all MAN he says!

Yup it had pumice in it, though it was really really fine and it's not that scrubby. I use the pumice every now and then as a scrub on my face. Next time I'm getting bigger grains.

It's a really nice recipe with coconut milk added too.

 

[cheeptrick]

I notice more dos when I gel in castor recipes and any soaps I use real honey in...these I always do not gel. Have only had DOS in one batch of soap...gelled HOT.

OMGOODNESS...I've been on BYC talking soap for 3 hours!! I've got to go!! LOL Morgaine....charmed as always with our soaping chat and commentary. Looking forward to the swap!! Chat later!!

 

[Morgaine]

I have only had DOS when I used liquid chlorophyll and the bars stayed in my car for 2 weeks because that box of soap got left from the market or if bars got stuck in the junk drawer and after a while they would get DOS. I love castor in my soap and gell and haven't had problems. No problems with honey either, but I don't use huge amounts either. usually 1tbl ppo. I think the storage of soap can be just as important as the oils used. Do you ever use Rosemary oil extract?

 

[cheeptrick]

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Never used rosemary oil...but I did get some rosemary EO with the bath teas. IT's ok...not crazy about it. Also more BALSAM FIR eo...with bath teas...but I'm not even going to open it. I was not impressed with their (name suppressed) eo's...fyi. I think you know who I'm talking about!

You could not CHOOSE your scents...only balsam fir and rosemary eo....phewy on them. I'm going to put a few drops of rose absolute in the epsom salts or the herbs...not sure yet.

 

[chiknwhisperer]

Morgaine the Anise soap is beautiful

I tried HP last night for the first time. Its not to bad but it really will take a lot of practice. Although it really does give that handmade look to it but not in an ugly way thank goodness. I lost my batch of pumpkin cheesecake. I have no idea what I did or didn't do but there was no saving it. It was just WAY to lye heavy. Oh well I guess. That is my second bad batch in almost a year so I'm not going to shed tears over it even though I was really ticked

 

[Morgaine]

Would this place be by a golden gate? If so, then I know who you are talking about. I haven't tried any of their eo's. I'm kinda eh about rosemary on it's own, but really like it in blends.

I roped Dh into making lotions with me when he came home for lunch, lol. We made 20 peppermint, 20 yuzu grapefruit & 20 black raspberry. I'll do some more tomorrow in rose geranium, patchouli and irish tweed. I need to print some labels but I popped on here instead, lol.

He said the plexiglass was 1/2" thick.

 

[Morgaine]

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Aww sorry to hear about your pumpkin!

Have you tried the hp soap yet? Do you feel like there is any difference vs regular cp?

 

[chiknwhisperer]

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Aww sorry to hear about your pumpkin!

Have you tried the hp soap yet? Do you feel like there is any difference vs regular cp?

I haven't used it yet but it has its pros and cons like everything else. It will take forever before I get good enough to be satisfed with it all the way. I tried it because I want to get a lot more done for the 26th and 27th when I work the Harvest Fest. The look isn't bad though. I still haven't taken a pic but when I do I'll post it. Although it may be to big for my soap boxes. It is really diferent putting it into the mold. It glopped into it instead of a smooth pour. Going to try another batch tonight though.

 

[Morgaine]

Can't wait to see some pictures. It's more the thickness of rebatching huh. Do you think you could shave the tops so they fit in the boxes?