Soap Makers Help!

[itsy]

...and I just cut it into bars!

Question - how do I know I did it correctly and that the soap wasn't too hot or cold?

They look pretty good! They smell pretty good!

 

[MullersLaneFarm]

Touch a piece of soap briefly to your tongue. If it doesn't zap you, you're probably good to go!

Now, you KNOW we need pictures!!

 

[itsy]

Touch it to my tongue?!?! Really? LOL. Do I need to let it sit for a while first or can I do it now?


Edited to add: I have no patience, so I just licked them. What kind of a zap am I looking for? I didn't notice anything, but it didn't taste pleasant.

Figured I'd edit again to add in a photo!



The batch total was 50.14 ounces and I made 13 bars. Yes, I know - an odd number to cut out. LOL. This wasn't made loaf style, as you can tell. It was kind of made like a sheet cake. It smells like a sheet cake! I want to eat them!!!

 

[MullersLaneFarm]

Believe me ... if it zapped you, you would know!! (ever took a dare as a child to touch on of those rectangular batteries to your tongue?? Yup, that kind of zap!!)

Looks good! Now the hard part is not using them before they have a nice long cure.

Oh what the heck ... use one now. Record how long it lasts, the type of lather, et al. Once you're finished with that bar, record the same with the next bar. It will show you why having a long 'cure' benefits your soap.

 

[itsy]

Wow - I can use one now and it wont hurt me? Ok - so no zap! PHEW!

I got some on my fingers last night while I was cutting it and I rinsed it off and smelled my fingers. It definitely has that soapy smell....does that lessen as it ages?

Silly questions because now I'm going to make more:

If I make a loaf and I don't like the color or fragrance, can I remelt it somehow and add more color, etc? I don't plan on using any artificial type colors, etc....but I'd like to try and add some natural colors to the next batch and was wondering about this.

 

[Bettacreek]

Finally made my first salt bars. They look pretty neat with the speckled mineral/sea salt I used. They're not setting up as quickly as people say they do though. Possibly because when I used the calc, I forgot to change the water over and it's at 38% water, lol. Ah well, can't wait til it is ready to come out of the molds and is more white. Gotta love the beautiful white of pure coconut oil soaps!!

 

[Morgaine]

I never had them set up fast either. BUT, you need to watch those suckers. They need to come out of the mold 2-4 hours after pouring and get cut while still HOT else they are too hard and crumble.

 

[itsy]

Made my second batch

I used coconut oil, grapeseed oil, olive oil and rice bran oil. I kind of did some experimenting with EO and used Grapefruit, Rosemary and Cedarwood. It smells interesting. I also mixed a little spirulina powder with part of the batch and swirled it all together so the soap will be green and yellow. I traced this soap thinner, but I noticed that the spirulina made it get hotter.

I'l take photos when I cut em. I hope they come out ok!

 

[Bettacreek]

Way ahead of you! I used the individual cavity molds to totally pass that step! I'm hoping that with the new loaf molds though that I won't have an issue with them.

 

[itsy]

Could anyone recommend a good soap recipe for hot process baby shower favors? It'll be my 3rd batch of soap ever, now and my first hot process. I believe I'm going to get a crock pot for my hot soaping. My sister is having her first baby (a girl) and we're all so excited. The shower is in the beginning of March and my CP soaps won't be ready by then.

I don't like FO's and prefer EO's. I'm thinking of making something with lemon, or perhaps lavender?

I know there are recipes all over the internet, but was wondering if you guys had any favorites?