Soap Makers Help!

[OHhappychicks]

OK!! Am up to page 400!!!! Yesssss!!!

I have a notebook full of notes and the page #'s for future reference. I want to thank all of you for your posts and all the valuable info you have so graciously shared with so many of us. I can't seem to stop reading. It is like reading a good book. All of your experiences in making soap and going to shows and markets is so interesting to me. Thank you so much for sharing!

I look forward to the day when I can contribute my experiences with someone else. Making soap is not something that will change the world, only having a personal relationship with the Lord will do that, but it is a satisyfing hobby that may give someone a much needed boost to their day. I love a soap that smells good when I shower. It is very relaxing to me. Relieves some of the stress we all feel from every day to day living. Plus knowing it is homade, without chemicals makes me think I'm doing something good for my body. Happy soaping everyone!! Only about 75 pages to go!!!!

 

[RockyToggRanch]

oohh! everyone keep posting..QUICK...don't want her to catch up...hehehe

Happy soaping

 

[OHhappychicks]

Quote:
lol!! thanks rockytoggranch!!! I agree! I do want to catch-up, but I still want to know all of your stories so keep on posting!!

 

[MSDeb]

What's going on? Is anybody soaping, or is it just too hot?

 

[OHhappychicks]

I think that is probably it!! It is too hot to soap here. I'm going to try to soap in the morn while it is still cool. It is almost to hot to do anything outside. Hoping to get the garden out tomorrow eve.
I used my plain ole soap (my first batch) this morn and LOVED it!!!! No dry tight skin at all!!! When do you all start to use your soap? Is the curing time just to get a good hard bar or is it to let the lye dissipate, or both?

And I just finished reading the WHOLE thread!!!! YEEAAHH! It is 11:20pm est.!It has taken me over a month to read all of this!! Have my notebook full too!
Thanks again everyone!

 

[Morgaine]

I don't sell till after 4 weeks, but I have used it after 48 hours and it is fine, just softer.

Congrats on getting through the whole thread!!

I am going to soap a new eo blend I made with Eucalyptus, Lime, Lemongrass, cedar and pathouli.

 

[OHhappychicks]

Morgaine, that sounds like a very interesting blend! I love citrus scents! Let us know how it comes out. I don't know what Patchouli smells like. Might order it in my sniffies next time i order scents. I have a question about presentation. I want to give some of the plain ole soap to some of my friends. How should I present it? It is in the pic I posted. The lite colored one. I know the bars are not very prettily cut, but that mold is all I had at the time. May a little raffia tied around it? wdyt What are some of your ideas. I order more oils from columbus and ordered organic red palm oil??!! I actually thought I ordered palm kernal oil, but apparently not. Have any of you used the red?

 

[MSDeb]

Quote:
Sounds refreshing.

 

[OHhappychicks]

Here is a recipe I came up with on soapcalc. I ordered some diff oils and wanted to try to use them in this batch. Can you give me your thoughts on how you think it will turn out. I would have liked to had a little more cleansing bar, but I gauged this on the percentages of the basic recipe I used before. Hardness, bubbly, conditioning, ect. I'm going to do lav/mint, black raspberry vanilla, and green tweed/black pepper soaps today, using this recipe.

oo pomace 15 oz
coconut o 8 oz
palm o 8 oz
avacado o 2 oz
rice bran o 2 oz
castor o 1.5 oz

What do you think? Any and all comments are appreciated! Thanks

I also came up with a couple more ? How and when do I add my fresh lavender? If I add it to the top, do I kinda push it down in the soap to keep it from falling off when being used? I would rather it be mostly mixed in, but don't want it to turn brown and uckey.
I was going thru my notes and found what I was looking for, i think. Ground up lavender buds and add to oils and sb, right? Will they turn brown in the mold as it heats up?

 

[Morgaine]

I would do more Rice Bran and less Olive. Rice Bran really helps the lather with a high OO soap. It is also high in natural Vit E and has linoleic acid. I would do

12 OO
5 Rice Bran
8 Coconut
8 Palm
2 Avo
1.5 Castor

I would add the dried lavender (not fresh, it will mold if left on top) right after I pour and then bang the mold down to settle the flowers into the soap. If you want that look on the top of the soap. If you want it a specs, then yes I would stick blend with the oils and then add the lye. It is not going to stay lavender colored though. The only way I can think to get it to keep it's color is to put it in a melt and pour base.