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They are beautiful, that's for sure. Could they be melt and pour? I find M&P holds the scent better and for longer because you add it afterwards.

Stearic acid contributes to a harder bar but can be tricky to use when making CP soap. It takes longer to melt and accelerates trace quite a bit but not to the point of seizing. I'm experimenting with it at the moment with both CP and HP (a breeze in HP!), and the only real issue I am having is...

That's interesting. I always wondered if certain oils influenced the PH. I will have to commit some time to research more.

The PH will always be higher so don't worry about that. Do the zap test after a day or so. You will know if it zaps or not. If you've ever stuck your tongue on a 9 volt battery, it's a similar experience.

I don't know why but when I think of Celtic I think of Wicca, so Dagmar's suggestion of earthy and floral fits the description. You can always play with the fragrances though. It's all part of the fun.

I found that adding a small amount of the batch oils to the misbehaving FO beforehand and letting it sit for a while and then adding it right at the end helps. I love gardenia but it likes to act up and it will regardless, but tempering it buys me enough time to get everything blended the way...

You're welcome. :) It looks like it will smell wonderful.

Yup.

http://www.fragrantica.com/perfume/Fragrances-of-Ireland/Connemara-5381.html

A boar wearing a helmet? Whatever it is, it sure is cool to look at!:mrgreen: Oops, just noticed you said you saw warthogs, lol. It's the snout that makes it hilarious.

SL Sodium lactate. Looks great!

Well, I like them Hazel. I think they have a 'monster mash' appeal to them, which is probably not what you were striving for but I like the contrast and texture, especially with the stars. :thumbup:

You probably could safely but it's best to let it cure for a few weeks. Trying it out won't harm you though. Did you do a zap test? Just curious, did you HP or CP?

I wondered where you went...;) Nice stuff as always. Hope you enjoyed your break.

Nope Soap...Love it! :p

Is it the same EO giving you grief? I can't answer your question but maybe what you can try for next time is mix your EO with a small amount of the batch oil at the beginning and set it aside to temper. Then go about doing what you do with your recipe and add it at the end. I can't guarantee it...

It's called the 'zap test', where you check to see if the lye has been neutralized. Touch the tip of your tongue to the soap and if it feels like you've touched a 9 volt battery then your soap needs to be rebatched. If it doesn't 'zap' then it's okay.

Well, what you lack in experience is made up with talent. Those are lovely!

I think I calculated the percentages as 45% lard, 40% OO and 15% CO, which can be tweaked to your preference.

You won't get much bubbly lather with that combination. Have you considered adding coconut oil? If you remove the castor oil and add 15% coconut oil, you still get high hardness and conditioning numbers, plus more bubbles. The lavender infused oil is ok to add but the scent will not likely...