Soap Makers Help!

[ChicksterJo]

I got this recipe from the Bitter Creek website:

10 oz. Shea Butter
6 oz. Fixed Oils (you can use all one, or use 2 oz. each of 3 different oils)
2 tsp. Corn Starch (can add more if desired)
.5 oz. fragrance oil (3% should be plenty, but you can add up to 1 oz for 6.25%)


There's no preservative...how much would I add if I wanted to add preservative? I was kind of thinking Germall Plus (said to put either .1 or .5 % of total weight).

 

[Gordonhillfarm]

I played with soapcal and had fun -- but wow -- trying to find a balance between all the desired bar qualitys is really hard when you have 6 or more oils you want to use . There is really alot to learn . I know there are tried recipes already that I could use -- but I like to know the whats and whys and that for me can only be done through experince . ( kinda hard headed here - I have to try it before I get it lol ) Getting cleansing and conditioning with out the soap being to hard or soft seems a little tricky . Well again up to late -- 5 yr old is going to want breakfast in a few hours so I guess I'll give it all a try again tomorrow after work . What is everyone up too -- anyone soaping this week ??? ~~~ Tammy

 

[karlamaria]

Question.... Do any of you sell your soaps? I fell in love with the bigger bars of she a soaps and olive oil soaps, the smell the texture awesome. I love home made soaps, but not the small bars, I like the 11 oz or bigger bars. I buy them and let them sit until they harden and they last my family a very long time in the shower. I would love to buy soaps from those who sell it, and willing to but tiny samples to try fragrances to see what I like. It you are interested in selling your Soaps please contact me. I would love to try oatmeal soaps, and other soaps as well.

 

[Gordonhillfarm]

wow

really 11oz bar ? I don't think I've ever seen a 11oz bar of soap .

 

[Renee']

Quote:
X2 Very well said. Thanks to all of you that help out the rest of us that are learning.

X3

 

[MSDeb]

Ditto

 

[Gordonhillfarm]

It took me awhile but I think and I really mean think ( I am uncertain ) that I put together a sound recipe . Question ? when viewing the the quality of a bar -- do you want your numbers on the low end -- middle or to the highest suggested range ?
example : suggested range recipe I made
Hardness 29 - 54 45
Cleansing 12 - 22 22
conditioning 44 - 69 49
Bubbly 14 - 46 23
Creamy 16 - 48 25
Iodine 41 - 70 55
INS 136 - 165 162

Ok as I am typeing I am also talking to my OH and he is looking in the book TSC for answers . He thinks he has the answer to my question - but I'm going to go ahead and post it anyway . Maybe stimulate some soaping conversation

Here's the oils I used just incase anyone was curious : castor
coconut
new crisco
grapeseed
lard
olive
sunflower
Hope everyone is having a great day !! i'm off to work ~~~ Tammy

 

[ChicksterJo]

I haven't seen an 11oz bar either! I would need to hold it using both hands lol. I've never made one that big...

 

[Bettacreek]

Quote:
Lol. Right? The 4oz bars are even a smidge big for my hands. 11oz, well, someone else would probably have to hold it for me!!! Hrmm, maybe that's not such a terrible idea... Lol. Using the loaf mold, I could have just left the bars "whole" instead of cutting them in half, but that would have made 8oz bars, and they're HUGE!!!

 

[ChicksterJo]

I think 5 oz. is just right for most people. I really like my round bars, though it's hard to get out of the mold (an old powdered gravy container lol). The round bars are just so much easier to hold. I made a "Blue Moon" bar with almond milk and honey scent and it is so awesome after almost 2 months of curing!