Soap Makers Help!

[Morgaine]

I think most here are talking about lye based soaps, though some do melt and pour also. Jump right in and I bet someone will be able to answer any questions you have. Soap Queen blog is a great resource too.

 

[MullersLaneFarm]

Quote:
I made my first dirt smelling soap when my 16 yo son was 8 or 9. It had green & brown blobs and I called it Mike's Camoflauge Soap.

I also package it for a gag gift and call it "Older Than Dirt" soap.

Question about adding water....

Does the amount of water added really make a difference in CP soapmaking?

The purpose of the water (or milk/juice/teas) is to distribute the lye throughout the oils. You need at least the same amount of liquid as lye. That is the ONLY hard & fast rule. The rest is dependant on the type of process you are using (CP/HP), the EO/FO you are using, the oils being used and the amount of time you want to 'play' with your soaps after molding.

Quick question, is this thread based on Lye soaps? I am looking to make soaps that are Glycerin based.

The main conversation is about soaps made with lye (which produces glycerin). Although there is some talk about the M&P glycerin 'soaps' (most which are actually detergent based.)​

 

[ametauss]

Cindi what did you use for the scent of dirt??

I like the idea of the colors and the "Older than Dirt" name....

 

[MullersLaneFarm]

I think MMS has 'Earth', but my son liked the 'Dirt' FO i got in a swap better. And yes, they did smell different. 'Dirt' was like garden soil, 'Earth' was like the smell of dirt in the woods ... more green

 

[ametauss]

That sounds interesting... never thought about a dirt / earth smell but would be interested in smelling it... my dirt/earth smells a bit like animals....

 

[MullersLaneFarm]

I found a dirt scented candle a long time ago. I loved burning that in the winter time when I was missing my garden.

 

[AK_Button_Mama]

ok folks I have a "problem" or perhaps its more of a quandry!

I was wondering do you have to grease a mold when you put soap in it? if you do wouldnt the lye make it change? if you dont then how the heck do you get the soap outta it when its done? I made two batches with my 'goatmilk' soap mold from milky way... both had letters missing from the words. am I not waiting long enuff? am I waiting to long? how do you tell when its ready to come outta the mold?

 

[MullersLaneFarm]

You're not waiting long enough.

How soon you take it out of the mold depends on a number of things. Oils you used, liquid discount (if any) you used, if the soap gelled or not.

After 24 hours, if it doesn't want to release easily, you can put it in the freezer for a few hours and unmold them frozen.

You can grease your molds, but you are correct that the soap will just saponify the oil you used. If you use mineral oil or vaseline, you'll get an unattractive coating on your soaps.

With use, your molds will develop a patina of sorts making it easier to unmold

 

[TammyTX]

Quote:
...I didn't know this!

Does anyone know of a FO like "Skin So Soft" ? I have asked a couple of FO companies and they say no.

Can it be that hard? Or is it proprietary...can you do that with a scent...? There are copycats of other scents....

To me the main fragrance seems to be eucalyptus but I read somewhere that they (meaning Avon) use lemon grass.

 

[ametauss]

I've ruined two molds by not greasing them up.... I tried to put them in the freezer and the soap still didn't want to come out... I have the same mold from Milky Way that says Goat's Milk and I couldn't get the soap out after a day then put it in the freezer for 4 hours and still wouldn't budge... ended up breaking the mold and the soap still looked like crap....

I put a little vaseline on another mold and it came out just fine... I had to wipe the soap off but at least it looked like the mold and the mold was okay.... It is better when it is M&P soap and not CP....

Still need to know if I can put a rebatched CP into metal molds.... I'm going to do this tomorrow....