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I would not be advocating online the merits of not using a lye calculator, especially for newbies, of which there would be many on this site. It's best to be safe and if you find a soap recipe online, it is still safest to run it through your calculator to check the ingredients and measurements.

If you're talking 100 degrees F, then that's much too hot for soap if you don't want partial gel. Your results will be perfect if you just leave your oils and lye to cool to 80F or less before combining, then pop in the freezer for a day. I do this all the time. One time I was in a hurry and...

Wondering why you're not keen on cocoa butter in soap? I'm interested because I've just made a batch with some and waiting to test it. Thanks.

I use olive, castor oil and rice bran oil and sometimes a dash of something like argan or apricot kernel. Glad to hear you use the same hard oils as well.

I'm trying a new recipe. Coconut oil, Shea butter and cocoa butter for the hard oils. Very keen to see if it's going to be lovely. I've been using vegetable oil to replace palm, but I understand only recently, that that's palm oil - I'm mortified.

Looks amazing! I'm off to check that link, thanks for sharing.

I turned out my cinnamon and spiced mahogany goat milk soap today - smells gorgeous - nice for men I thought.

How did it turn out?

Oh dear, I've been using Frymasta vegetable oil, not realising it's Palm - and saying my soaps are Palm-oil free! Oh what to do...

I'd be using goat milk for sensitive skin, no fragrance and no colour. Also, aloe vera would be a nice additive as well. And honey.

Does anyone else here not gel? I don't anymore. I soap at 85 degrees F, and pop it straight into the freezer for 24 hours. So easy, and I love the soft pastel colours it produces and that I'm sure the fragrance is stronger and lasts better then the insulation method. This is my latest made with...

Thanks, it's painted metal and I put paper towel down over it. There are air holes, but you're right, one of my cake cooling trays caused yellow stain lines on the bottom of my soap, even with paper towel then I started using a tea towel but don't know if it's better if not yet.

This has always been an issue for me. I've been using cake cooling trays covered with paper towel and in a cupboard. But recently I found a 3-tier shelf on wheels which is good. I like that I can move it about and I get my shelves back fir my soaping ingredients and supplies. I do put a cloth...

Ditto.

Yum that looks amazing! Well done.

Well I haven't encountered any, because I just always went with the recommended qty for Shea butter which is around 10%, it is expensive, but I'm interested that you and others have used so much and had success.

I do not use palm oil. My soaps are perfectly lovely without it. I use vegetable oil and coconut oil for the solids. I will add about 15grams (1/2 oz) Shea butter per 1kg (2 lb) for luxury and silkiness, but you can't use a lot of shea in a batch. This is my latest, Cherry Almond, made with...

Today I made soap (CP) using 100% unsweetened almond milk, and I'm absolutely delighted with it. It's even easier than goat milk, and I found the lye dissolved perfectly. I don't actually unmould it until tomorrow - but just really excited about it! Cherry Almond.

My AHA moment came last week after 6 years of making soap, that I could avoid the risk of partial gelling completely by just popping all of my soap into the freezer. I've been making 100% percent goat milk soap for a long time and it just never occurred to me that I could freeze water based soap...

Thanks ladies - I'll take your advice and for one, not freeze, just keep cool. I understand that gelling results in more vivid colour but I don't mind, in fact rather like the pastel tones in soap. Tomorrow I will try using a mixture of coconut milk and water, using my cold process method and...