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I don't know about scorching but I have had the center of my log discolor in splotched affect from overheating. I was using a 33% lye solution and changed to 36% and stopped having the issue on most fragrances. Gel is ok but still the log doesn't need to overheat.

Too big is when it won't fit where you want to store it. I like my food processor to sit on the counter underneath the upper kitchen cabinets. There are many models too tall for that in my house. I use my food processor for chopping, mixing cookie dough, puree. I don't use for bread. I...

Besides ash issues, experimenting with lye concentration will provide you new information that can be helpful for your soaps. A higher lye concentration cut back any overheating in my goatmilk soaps. It also made me aware that I like a lower concentration for my confetti soaps since more water...

I consider hit/miss. I don't really understand why certain things work for some but not others. I think you have to experiment. I gel my soaps and: 1) For me, 99% alcohol spray after batter poured into mold cuts all or almost all (except for lavender and some mints) 2) When I started making...

I agree that I think the soap looks fine with small wire cutter bubbles. I don't hear others discuss it but I find that my goatmilk soaps have a different soap surface look and feel; not as smooth as my soaps with water, a more rustic look and a softer feel. I just consider it a result of...

I think how many choices is dependent on how you sell. I do craft fairs and my booth is known for the fun of choosing from a wide variety. I usually have two booths can have 4-6 people at the booth picking up bars to compare with others. I think it is considered a fun "activity" at a fair and...

I don't understand how this would be calculating a maximum safe amount for a blend of FO/EO's. It seems to me it is just calculating the amount of FO based on blend percentage. The question was how to determine a maximum safe amount for a blend. In my example I consider the maximum safe...

I used to use Pomace for half of my soaps because I could get it at a better price and was the olive oil I used when first starting. It does accelerate a little but for most soaps it wasn't an issue. I would use refined oo for florals and and spicy scents where the fragrance can also cause...

I just do a calculation based on each fragrance. If I make a blend of 50% A, 25% B and 25% C I first calculate what a safe amount would be for one batch of only A, B or C. If A has a safe full log amount of 40g then I consider 20g in my blend is safe for that 50% of blend. If B is safe at a...

Thanks all. I ordered the cheshire cat to use for my dark violet. I plan on blending it with either klein blue or kashmire blue for my vintage velvet substitute.

I wasn't aware the chesire cat was the replacement. I purchased 4 oz of ultraviolet when I last bought it and ran out this summer. As much as I like what I think of as royal purple (I think of Queen's robe purple with red undertones) they just don't replace the violet purples for my ideas when...

Thank you for the recommendation.

I do expect to blend. However, Nurture used to have an Ultraviolet that I used and it was clear from the name it was in the blue direction. It has also been discontinued. I use Purple Vibrance but it is a red purple; cyber grape also a pastel red purple and iris purple, blue violet but...

Although they lose a lot of water in the first 6 weeks, they continue to lose water for a good 6 months or longer at a declining rate. I use cigar labels and a tight label at 2 months will still be so lose at 6 months that I have to replace it.

Years ago, Nurture had a mica called Vintage Velvet. It was my favorite color for one of my lavender soaps. It was a mixture of a medium cool blue and a violet. When they discontinued it, I stocked up but am finishing my last. I need a replacement and expect I will have to blend. Do you...

I have had minimal issues with old fragrance oils. A lilac that became a darker color, a fragrance that ate through the plastic bottle. If they smell fine then I use. The bigger issue with ricing, acceleration, etc is that it isn't easy to find soaping information about a fragrance that is...

I also really like cedarwood. I use Virginia and atlas. However, I find that a small amount of cedarwood can make a blend great but a large amount is awful to me. 40% is outside of what I like. I use 20% and less. I agree with some ideas you have been given: Cedarwood 1, Lemongrass 2, mint...

I make a simple shelf with two small pieces of wood set so each log end rests on one of the wood pieces but most of the log is suspended above the counter rather than sitting on it. That small open space underneath the log really prevents a lot of heat buildup. My overheating issues are with...

If I have never used a fragrance than I always make the soap assuming fragrance acceleration. That means I whisk in the fragrance oil while pouring it in a thin stream at a good emulsion. I want the whisk to incorporate the fragrance as soon as it hits the batter. If it did accelerate I...

I have used the same Rubbermaid plastic pitchers, #5 for lye since 2005. Still no problem with them and they look good. Maybe yours is a thinner container?