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If I can add a common sense suggestion - the first thing you should do is look at your soap. Does it have a smooth even firm consistency? If so, it is likely that the zap test will be uneventful. However, what if there are there oozy pockets? Are there any visible crystals? Is white or...

Looks great! Who knows, this accidental batch might be your best yet!

It's a great place to learn and have fun. I also appreciate the culture of civility here.

Hello and welcome! If you have questions, don't be shy!

As Obsidian said, you are talking about an infusion and to make EO you would need distillation equipment. Anise EO is relatively cheap and available to buy from on-line suppliers. Try Camden Grey, 1rawplant, or brambleberry for starters.

Those are gorgeous! You've inspired me!

It might be a bit of patchouli oil that wasn't completely mixed in. I have used dandelion and juniper berries and over time the soap went from sage green to tan. So this might be the beginning of the process of discoloration.

Lard, rice bran, and olive oil (but not pomace!) will slow things down. Coconut, PKO, and shea will speed things up. Given that you have more of the former than the latter, it should be fine. You could up your water amount if you want to slow things down further. For in-the-pot this should...

Welcome! Don't be afraid to ask for help as you need it.

What doesn't go with patch? :) Patch, vetiver and vanilla is lovely (use peru balsam or vanilla absolute if you don't want to use a vanilla FO). Also sweet orange, patch, cinnamon and clove in a 8:4:1:1 ratio is a lovely blend for the holidays. You could substitute any citrus oil you like for...

I used a marijuana scent from AHRE for an old hippie friend of mine. Never again! It stunk up the whole house and smelled like a nasty ashtray. Still can't wrap my brain around showering with bacon-scented soap.

The idea of tossing the soap dish in the laundry is great! I will try this the next time I have a soap dish with lots of residue. The product is very attractive in its simplicity.

Thanks for reporting your experience. Their prices seemed high to me but if you're satisfied with the quality, then the price is right!

Peak Candle's version is not bad.

You also might want to try a recipe with no coconut oil at all. Some people are skin sensitive/allergic to it. But before that, as has been already mentioned, I'd up the SF to 8% and give it 6 weeks' cure.

I have never made it by hand. It is easy to find the commercial stuff, though. On line, try Amazon. If you are in a rural area, farm supply stores will carry it.

You can never have too many supplies!

Well, a lemongrass/lavender combo, maybe at a 1:2 or 1:3 ratio would be a good place to start. You can tone down that aggressive lemongrass note with a little bit of regular lemon EO, or any citrus really. It also pairs well with mint and with anise (also aggressive!). Or if you're at a...

Those are simply adorable! Well done!

Tallow and lard, for me, are natural products (they come from animals that exist in nature). I wouldn't call lye that is manufactured in a lab natural. Lye that you make yourself from wood ashes, sure. But the former is a much more reliable and consistent substance that will produce safe...