Soap Makers Help!

[mikenandrea]

Oh WOW!.. It turned out beautifully!! Did you use fresh goats milks from your own goats?

 

[Morgaine]

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Beautiful Soaps! Looks like you are a natural swirler!

 

[savingdogs]

I made my first two batches of soap a few weeks ago, thanks to the advice and encouragement I got here at BYC.

I just now have been able to start actually using my own soaps as they have both cured long enough and I can use both batches.

They are awesome! I'm so impressed with myself I cannot stand it. They did not unmold properly and were a little imperfect but this evens out when you use them. The lather and smell are so nice. I used "baby rose" from Brambleberry and another one they sent me a sample of.

The recipe I used I chose because it was called "easy" and just used crisco as the oil. It is a little on the soft side would be my only criticism of this recipe. I just bought another can of crisco.......

 

[PineappleMama]

*raises hand* Okay, just a random question here...

Can you use store bought goat's (other?) milk to make soap, or is there something about the process (pasturization?) that makes store bought bad for soap-making?

I realize the whole point is that you're using what you've got, but I just had to ask... nosey tangent throwing mind...

 

[savingdogs]

Oh, I want the answer to this too.

Could I just substitute the say, canned goats milk for the goats milk in any recipe? I can find canned goats milk right at my local market.

 

[Morgaine]

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I use store bought gm because I don't have goats. Turns out fine. I also have used evaporated milk and powder milk and coconut milk. It's all good!

 

[PineappleMama]

Oh awesome! Thanks so much!

Edit... another question... just to make sure I'm 100% clear... you measure everything by weight...
-and don't forget to add the lye to the water already in cup, not the water to the lye already in cup-

If a recipe calls for 12 ounces of water... you get out your glass measuring cup, put it on your scale, zero it out, then add water until the scale reads 12 ounces in WEIGHT... you do NOT add water to the cup until it reaches the 12 -liquid- ounce mark, aka 1 1/4c.

Is this correct? All ingredients, dry OR liquid, measured in weight not volume?

 

[aussieheelr]

I hope so... that's how I've been doing it. Weight not volume. Has to do with the saponification (sp?) and lye balance. You never want to be lye heavy, causing burns or other problems.
Weight to be safe.

 

[cheeptrick]

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Dipsy....

Did you scent it? It is absolutely lovely!!!!

 

[TM Chickens]

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Correct. At least everyone I know does it that way, as does all the books I've read.