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That's a brilliant idea, Irishlass! I use silicone lined wood molds from Nurture Soap supplies. There is at least a half inch of head space between the liner edge and the top of the wood mold, thereby ensuring that textured tops don't get smushed.

Wow, that is one complex soap! My first batch was stone simple and I used some well-behaving scent like lemongrass. For the future, it's better to do batches of about 2 lbs. With a 1 lb. batch, especially with so many ingredients, small measurement errors can multiply. Enjoy, I hope it turns...

Love the colors, very vibrant!

I do the same as Navigator9. Then I wait for the lye mixture to cool down and that way the soap doesn't overheat.

I would try something herbal to tone down the sweetness. You might consider a hint of rosemary or basil EO. Mint also would be nice, as has been mentioned already. And while I am a patch lover, I think the combo would be terrible. I'm thinking, maybe, that suggestion was in jest?

Very nice! I tried this once and my soap ended up more tan than green. You got a great result.

Welcome to the forum! We're here to help.

Another vote for lemongrass - it's cheap, non-irritating and it sticks.

NDA, MMS, Camden Grey, Soapalooza, Peak Candle

For me it sticks better than lavender 40/42 or Bulgarian. I add a tiny bit of patchouli (maybe 1/10 of the amount of lavandin that I use) and it deepens the scent without smelling like patch.

20%, no added fragrance.

For me, beer soap smells a bit yeasty, like bread. It's not unpleasant but I'd take it into consideration when choosing a scent so it doesn't clash.

Some questions: 1) do you strain your lye solution before adding it to your fats? 2) has it been colder than usual? Your lye solution is pretty concentrated - approaching 1:1 and the amount of lye that water can dissolve and keep in solution is related to temperature.

There are some good tutorials on Swift's blog, pointofinterest.blogspot.com regarding water in oil emulsions.

Daystar has a FO that is very similar (to my nose, anyhow) to Energy. It's called Paradise - maybe get a sample and give it a try? BB has a few FOs that I like (and one that my teenaged daughter adores). What drives me crazy about them is when you order extra things to save on shipping costs...

If you mix it with litsea or lemongrass or a little bit of patchouli, it should be fine. Also I try to avoid gel with citrus EOs and they last longer. I also use a bit more than with some other EOs. My golden rule is 3% of soaping oils' weight (the standard recommended by this forum) but for...

I wouldn't use the jalapeño due to possible irritation to the skin. As for the other, I'd open it and give it a sniff. If it smells bad, I wouldn't use it. If it smells OK, I'd make a small batch and see how it goes. If the oil's been sealed, it should not have oxidized.

Very pretty! Does the FO discolor over time?

Hi there, beer soap is not that complicated. Just make sure you have a tall container to mix your lye. It will tend to bubble and froth. Add the lye bit by bit, stirring thoroughly after each addition and let it cool down before you soap and you should be fine. If you want a two color soap...

Not my favorite pastime. I use a stainless steel meatballer contraption. It gets the job done.