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Welcome to the forum! I have found that if I weigh out my liquid oils and then take the needed oil from there to mix with my mica that I do not have to recalculate anything. I've been doing it this way for years and have not had any issues. If I am making a soap with multiple colors, I...

It is possible that the combination of the kaolin clay and activated charcoal along with the fragrance oil labeled "medium trace" is the culprit. I am unsure how your supplier labels fragrance oils but I have seen fragrance oils in the U.S. labeled as "accelerates trace". When I am working...

Both the kaolin clay and activated charcoal will accelerate trace. Try the soap without fragrance and without the kaolin clay. I have had clumpy lye before and I put it in a bowl and carefully smashed the lumps out with a spatula before adding to my water.

The Nerdy Farmwife has a dog shampoo recipe that I have used successfully. https://thenerdyfarmwife.com/homemade-dog-shampoo-bars-recipe/

I found this 10 page summary of the changes that I personally found helpful. However I will be reviewing again to see if I can find answers to my own questions. https://www.afslaw.com/sites/default/files/2023-02/Modernization_of_Cosmetics_Regulation_Act_of_2022.pdf

I love their colors. They look healthy and happy.

I used to make bath bombs. I live on Ohio so humidity is a thing here. Ugh. I read and don't remember where that baking bath bombs in a low temp oven helps harden them and helps with fizz. If I can find the article I will post it. I did try baking and it did help harden the bombs and...

I have no advise on the GoFundMe except to say that many people in my area do not donate through there because there are so many scams. I am NOT saying that yours is a scam, just pointing out the mindset that I have seen. I would hate for both you and your friend to not have a successful...

Here are a few of the things that we have used the Cameo for. Unfortunately, I cannot find a photo of the tent with the signage on it. All of the product labels are on printable vinyl which withstands the wear and tear of packing and unpacking. The wooden sign is regular permanent vinyl and...

I own a Cameo and use it for labels using printable vinyl. It also gets used for signs and other display items. I used to use it to do our boxes buy could only do one at a time and when looking at the cost of my time to cut then decided pre-made boxes were a better use of my time. I have...

In my experience this depends on your initial recipe and if you are allowing for a water discount, among other things. However, in my experience, the entire bar of soap does shrink. I used to shrink-wrap my soaps and found it necessary to touch them up as they aged because they would continue...

I embrace the brown and add mica to get a less muddy color or add some activated charcoal to get a black. I do use a VS when I don't want to embrace the brown.

Try running a fan on them. I made a peppermint soap and my entire house smelled like peppermint for days. Adding the fan really helped reduced the peppermint throughout the house.

I beveled soap and wanted to steam it since it had some soda ash. It's a custom order so I wanted perfection. I don't normally steam my soap. However my steamer has died so I had to get creative! I used the steam setting on my iron which worked nicely. Now to shop for a steamer for...

I have my production set up in our basement in a dedicated space. I also live in Ohio. I run a dehumidifier after I cut my soap because our basement is concrete block walls and can be damp. I have never had crumbly soap from running the dehumidifier. I run the dehumidifier more in the...

Competition is good. It gives customers choices. In a market of 20 - 30 you can successfully have about 2 of the same type of vendor without hurting any one vendor's profit. We did a farmers market last season that had about 25 - 30 vendor's every week. The market manager wanted more...

I use arrowroot in my lotion bars and it does help with that sticky feeling. I would recommend remelting one bar and testing before remelting all of them.

I use it in my lotions and lotion bars. I am in Ohio and in the heat of the summer at outdoor events we have noticed our lotion bars get soft and our lotions get a little melty with regular CO.

Olive oil from Sam's. Sunflower oil either Meijer or BA. Other bulk oils from Bulk Apothecary or wholesale Supplies Plus. WSP I usually only buy from when they are on sale. Bulk apothecary is about an hour from me so I can pick up if I have a large enough order. Coconut oil (92degree)...

@Zany_in_CO I just saw this and am so very sorry your loss. Wishing you a holiday filled with love and wonderful memories.