I love adding dragonfruit powder to my smoothies so they turn bright pink. Thought I'd try adding it to clear melt and pour soap base. Stayed a very dark pink for a few hours and the next day it was brown. So it doesn't color soap, just food!
I think that's a gorgeous mold. I'd recommend getting an infrared thermometer [they're about $12 at Amazon] so you know the temp you're pouring at. Generally, M&P soap melts around 130 degrees F. Also, make at least one or two plain batches of soap just so you get a feel for M&P.
I recommend SFIC's low-sweat soap base. The white is even less inclined to sweat than the clear.
The company's located in California, near San Francisco. Here's their website: http://www.sficcorp.com/index.php?cs_brief=1
I highly recommend the SFIC and Stephenson's brands. Crafters Choice is another good one, as are M&P soap bases from Essentials by Catalina.
It's good to test different brands, so you and get the feel for what you prefer and what seems to work the best. You can choose bases with additives in...
Practice with different methods. The first pour is easy. The second is harder to gauge if you don't have a thermometer. Make sure it's hard and you can test this by gently pushing the mold a bit. Does it move? If not, it's ready for the second layer.
If using a thermometer, a temperature of...
I'd also suggest taking notes for each batch of soap you make. Note the date, amount of soap, amount of additives, type of fragrance and where you bought it, the mold you used, how long it melted, and anything else you observe.
Thank you for sharing this incident with us so that others can learn from it. I've found that adding a small amount of Pink Himalayan salt to the soap base is a very nice additive. However, I only add up to 1 Tablespoon per pound of soap base.
I was a member of The Dish Forum for many years. I got involved in other things for a while, and when I searched for it on Google, this place turned up!
You can add milk to melt and pour soap base. However, it must be POWDERED milk. I only add about 1 teaspoon per pound & the finished soap has a richer lather. I also add the powdered milk at the beginning so it'll mix well with the soap base.
It's great in M&P soap!
I also add a little bit to my jasmine green tea. Matcha is an acquired taste but I like it in small doses when mixed with a milder tea.
I'd recommend the SFIC or Stephenson bases. Both are excellent.
Here are the main websites for each company:
http://www.sficcorp.com
http://www.stephensonpersonalcare.com/products/melt-pour
Hope this helps!
Hi Alek,
Welcome to the wonderful world of M&P!
I've been crafting the stuff for years. I've never used a microwave.
The best method for melting & pouring is the double boiler [bain marie]. You can use a proper double boiler, they can sometimes be found at thrift shops or garage sales for a...