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The only places I've purchased from so far are Brambleberry (where I started) and Candle Science. Would love to hear recommendations for other sources!

I've been doing some math about the cost of materials for each bar of soap I make. I've heard a lot about oils being expensive, and they are, but it kinda seems like fragrances are off the charts. Is this other folks' experience too or am I just too attracted to essential oils and fancy smells?

Update: it was not fully incorporated! The appearance is mottled and I got my first positive zap test (did not enjoy) from one of the lighter spots close to the surface. Guess now I get to learn how to rebatch!

Today I learned I like the smell of pine tar. I only hand mixed it, will be interested to see whether it's fully incorporated. From lye pour to mold pour in 1 min 35 sec.

Thank you!

Okay gotcha, thank you. Doesn't that affect IFRA numbers? And make it impossible to compare "3%" across batches that were calculated with their calculator vs. other ones?

Today I am learning about CHELATORS, which is so exciting. That sounds like a joke but it's pretty cool actually.

Today I'm washing dishes. 😄 But over the weekend, a friend and her 7-year-old daughter came over and I helped the daughter make her first soap ever. She chose the colors and the fragrance (which we forgot to put in, oops!), she did the stick blending, she did the pouring. And she learned how to...

Thanks, @DeeAnna . This is actually the same liquid soap you saw the recipe for in another thread. You kindly explained that it could have fully been "done" in 15 minutes since there was glycerin in the recipe (which I hadn't known was an accelerant). This is the recipe: 185 g KOH 907 g olive...

I did that just yesterday! I posted about it here but it got moved to another forum cause there was a photo in it-- I made a very pretty white, green, and blue unscented soap. Sympathies!!

Made my 12th batch overall today. First one with beeswax, so it was hot-- I was so pleased with myself for making a bit of a swirl happen despite the thickness and I totally forgot to add fragrance. Oh well! It's pretty.

Thank you. Lard isn't going to work for me but I do intend to get tallow in my life at some point, and I'll put rice bran oil on the list.

Ah, that makes sense. Thank you!

I made what was meant to be a purple/white ombre the other day and had a difficult time getting my white batter white. Some of that was an issue with undispersed titanium dioxide but I think my soap was also just extra yellow. Too much olive oil? 35% olive oil 33% palm oil 20% coconut oil 7%...

That's how I cut soap. :) I think he did great!

Thank you!

Made my 10th batch today. First time masterbatching (although on a very small scale) - I doubled my recipe, used half the oils and lye solution right away, and have the other half of each waiting until later this evening when I've got time to do another loaf.

That's the sense I had. Thanks.

Thanks so much. I appreciate this idea! It's partly that it is a good friend, and partly that I enjoy figuring out little mysteries like this. So far it's part of the fun of soap. As is talking about it here. :)

Made my 9th batch of soap today. I kept it simple: same as my first recipe (whose vibes I like), but I replaced a bit of the sweet almond oil with castor oil to see if I can get more lather. It's the first time I've felt fairly competent during the process. 30% olive 30% palm 15% coconut 10%...