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I can't add anything to the excellent replies already here, but I do want to give praise for the amazing description in the original question!

Don't underestimate the humble ladle! I make big batches (8kg oils!) and trying to lift and tilt that when it's totally full is not fun at all. So I ladle most of the batter in to the mould before I look at tipping the rest in. Of course, seizing batters could be an issue with CP, but with hp...

With this being very liquid oil based, you could have waited longer to unmould. I know it's not overly helpful, but the best time to unmould and cut a soap is when it is ready for it - and that can vary even if you make the same batch another time based on slight variations in so many of the...

Do you do much stirring to get the heat evenly spread, or just cook it low and slow?

Because it's the emulsifier that I have here, and having the oil able to bind with the water whilst washing is a good idea, in case some of it is on the clothes

If you have hard water, I would certainly look at using a chelator of some type (sodium citrate, for example) as that will help reduce soap scum and improve how the soap feels on your skin

Too hot and many people find it can smell a bit piggy, so I can understand people erring on the side of caution

I think it would work as a stick, unless it got quite warmer. We use a finger to apply it, though. If you up the ca in exchange for some babassu, it should make it harder if needed

Decaying animals are often found around in nature, have been for a long time. The birds seem to know what they should eat and what not to eat /hijack

Yes, with lemongrass. My last batch of lemongrass was a lovely green colour, a shade which really matched the fresh and vibrant scent. But I have either forgotten that I used it up, or misplaced it. Both are totally possible options 😂 It actually set up very quickly. I soaped hotter than I...

I have a block of that for stopping any bleeds post shave, but my lady wife never got on with using them

Something I forgot to add, for the gents and most likely some of the ladies - this works even without having to shave your arm pits! A great relief

I always wonder how wild birds can survive in the wild if they are unable to tell what is good for them to eat or not. With all the mouldy food they might find, it's a wonder we have any birds left at all..... ....or maybe they do know when something is off and no good for them, much better...

It's been a while since I made a soap without colouring it and I had forgotten just how lovely a soap with a high lard content can look -

I wouldn't make any small changes until you have used a cured bar - you don't know what things you're not going to like about the bar and so you don't know for certain what you will need to change. High co can be subjective, what one person finds too high can be fine for the next one. But...

It works! Been using it for a while now and am amazed. No marks on the clothes, no smell, pits feel much better than when I was using sprays. Cost wise I still need to see. I think the commercial spray was cheaper maybe, but The Admirable Lady was using a product which was 15€ for 50g! So I'm...

As I have the space and time (as in, I don't need my soaping equipment daily or even weekly!) I also leave it to saponify and then just wash it with water as there is soap enough. My lye pots get rinsed out very well as I carry on soaping and then washed with washing up liquid. Confession time...

Well, I finally made it! 48.5% babassu 27% Magnesium hydroxide 12% cetyl alcohol 12% polysorbate 80 0.5% scent (lemongrass) Has a good consistency and isn't greasy at all. Will let you know how it works out (from my side and also The Admirable Lady)

A narrow container gives less space for the batter to rise up before spilling over than a wider one, especially if it builds up on itself (imagine pouring fizzy drinks in a narrow glass or a wider glass - the fizz has less space to spread out so it spreads up!) but narrow has the advantage of...

Coffee in soap is good for removing odors (so for a kitchen soap, as an example) when the actual brew is used as part of the water. If that is what you are going for, I would make a brew and use the liquid as part of the liquid needed for the recipe itself. As @Arimara said, the coffee in the...