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Cool, thanks to you all. There are a lot of stainless steel work tables available. I think I may get one.

Hello, I'm creating a new work area for my soap making. What is the best countertop surface? Formica? I've also seen some commercial grade stainless steel work tables available. So what's the preferred countertop surface for soapmaking? My highest priority is "Easy to clean." Thanks!!

I've been having some major problems lately with my batches cracking. I've been fixing them after the fact by just squishing some soap from the ends into the holes and smoothing it out. I've posted on this forum multiple times about my issue. I've blamed it on everything from hard oils, to...

Yeah thanks for the tips. Maybe I'm confused on what photosensitive means. I've always thought it meant changing your skin color permanently when exposed to the sun.

I've been reading about Citrus Essential oils such as Lime, Lemon, and Orange. That they are photosensitive and can alter the color of the skin permanently. I'm pretty certain that we are "Good to go" with products such as soap since we are rinsing it off. But, what about leave on products...

Thanks, I noticed a lot of the ingredients were almost exact. If you look at a lot of the recipes out there it seems almost like they are the same thing with people just labeling them differently. I think the consensus here then is that the solid perfume would be more heavily scented.

What's the difference between Solid Perfume/cologne sticks and Solid Lotion sticks? I've been recently making sticks out of Beeswax, Shea Butter, Carrier Oils, and Fragrance. I've been putting it in those .5 ounce tubes that are similar to large lip balm tubes. It's been working out really...

Funny you ask. A few months back, I did get a new stick blender. You think that could cause this problem?

My lotions seem to be settling a little more than normal. When I pour, I fill the bottle up. The temperature is usually about 100 (maybe 105) degrees when I pour. About an hour or two later after cooling, I now only have about 3/4 of a bottle full of lotion. I have about 10% liquid oils, 4%...

Technically, we really don't have to put ingredients on soap, right? I'm really looking more from an etiquette perspective. My website address on the back of the bar is advertising for me. Is it right for me to do this?

When you do bars as wedding favors or baby shower favors, do you put the name of your business on the label anywhere, front or back? I've seen a million pictures of fronts online and no one puts the business name on the front of the bar. Is it common to put it on the back though?

OK, I'm about convinced. It's the weather!! Yesterday was a bit less humid and cooler. Exact same batch. Exact same procedures. Same mold. Same containers of oil. Same everything! 1 month ago I had a cracking nightmare! Two days ago perfection!!! Nothing else changed!

Wow, lots of responses since I last checked. Just did 3 batches tonight. 1 Cracked, 2 did not. Only difference was the fragrance. Other than that, all batches were exactly the same. I've actually figured out a way to repair the cracks. When I unmold it, I pick some pieces off the end of...

Yes I tried both 28% and 33% lye concentrations. Could it potentially be the weather? I wasn't having these issues in January with similar recipes. Although I am working in the AC, outside it is extremely hot and humid.

When I first started soaping I started with a basic recipe. Olive Oil 44% Palm Oil 32% Coconut Oil 24% I would always select the default for the water on the soap calculator (water = 38% of oil weight). I use wooden molds and I would cover them and insulate a lot. I usually soaped at around...

@DeeAnna thanks again for great info. "Um, well, yes, I think that's true. Isn't that what I said in the quote you quoted? " Yes you did say this, but I initially thought you were only applying it to recipes high in coconut oil. I was just confirming that it was applicable to all recipes...

Thanks again @DeeAnna Another thought from my mind. Can't we also slow saponification by simply just adding more water to any recipe (regardless of the composition of the recipe)? I'm thinking about the high specific heat of water. That is why people have been using water to heat their...

I'm a little late to the conversation here, but here is a copy/paste from @DeeAnna website. By the way, thanks a million for the valuable information! "If you want to slow the rate of saponification, use more water in proportion to the alkali. This is helpful for soap that has a lot of...

Does the selection of base soap oils affect the scent retention of the bar? For example, is it possible that coconut oil retains scent better than palm or olive retains scent better than coconut?? Etc.

Thanks everyone! next batch I'm going uncovered and hopefully the rubbing alcohol spray will protect me from the ash!!