Soap Makers Help!

[WomanInTheWoods]

Sorry Chickster, your mention of molds threw me off into a left field tangent and I remembered I had to show off my treasure. lol

Yes, the super-heating of the honey scares me a bit, but the factor I was more worried about was that it's separating out on some people. I'm looking for the best time & place to incorporate it; in with the lye mixture or in with the oils... I guess hands on experience will show me one way or the other. I'm thinking I'll warm the honey and sb it in with the oils right before mixing/adding the lye. Fingers crossed that I get it right the first time!

Now, do you think the oats get mixed in before the lye or at a light trace...?

ETA: thank you for the compliment in regards to my molds

and for putting up with my inability to stick to the topic at hand!

 

[ChicksterJo]

I would do the oatmeal at trace. As for the honey, I would probably do it at trace too and make sure it is "melty" enough. I wish I had copied & pasted wherever it was that I read about honey on this thread but I really don't want to go through all these pages. I think adding the honey at trace might not make you believe that it was at trace before it wasn't...if that makes sense lol.


ETA: If I were to hand stir a batch to get to trace, what is the best utensil to stir it with? A wire whisk? A long handled thick plastic spoon? Oh! And would the soap mixture stay at the right temp (how do I keep it at the right temp)?

 

[WomanInTheWoods]

Ah.. I see... honey at trace to avoid false trace. Okay! I'm certainly going to have to have my ducks in a row on this one!

ETA: Ha! I just looked through my notes and found where I wrote down Cheeptrick's OMH recipe! I do have my smart moments.

 

[ChicksterJo]

What is her OMH recipe, btw? I want to keep it for future reference...

 

[WomanInTheWoods]

It is on post #78...

Quote:

 

[ChicksterJo]

Funny, I looked at that post looking for it and then I didn't read further...

 

[WomanInTheWoods]

LOL ~ We all have our moments!

 

[ChicksterJo]

One question after reading that recipe. She says she mixes in distilled water with the lye. Is there water she didn't account for in the recipe?

 

[Dipsy Doodle Doo]

I haven't tried mixing the mica with oil before, I'm more of a sprinkle, blend, sprinkle, blend, til it's dark as I want.
A tablespoon of honey per lb of oil is what I use. And 2 tablespoons of ground-up oatmeal PPO. The smelly-stuff I've been using is SouthernGardenScents 'Kisses of Honey'.

My most favorite goatmilk, oats, and honey was a batch I scented then split in half --- honey in half and oatmeal in half and swirled in a bubblewrap lined mold. It was pretty honey-gold and creamy-white. That was the only time I've hit on the *exactly* right combo to get that.

I'm going to have some Peppermint FO left. I might get brave and try Cream soap w/ Peppermint scented half and cocoa powder half (if I don't run out of enthusiasm). Peppermint and chocolate go together? That's an idea for a big batch split 3 ways and swirled red / white / chocolate (except I don't like much soap that smells like food).

Lisa

 

[WomanInTheWoods]

No, I don't believe so... I think it's either a mis-type or she's possibly accounting for the different ways people make this. Some people don't use milk, or they use powdered milk/buttermilk, in which case they use distilled water and then add the dry milk powder in at trace. Not sure... either way I know it's most often made with 100% milk. I've got frozen cubes of gm in the freezer now just waiting for me... calling to me, even! I'm going to use Cyndi Miller's method. Like I said, gonna have to have my ducks all in a row tonight.

Dipsy, chocolate and peppermint!?! Yes!!! Think peppermint patties... mmmm.... never really cared for them myself, but looooved the smell of them! I hope you make that, I'd love to see it. Oh, we really need scratch and sniff screens....!!!