Abominations!

[Ganiggle]

I finally got around to take pictures of the soap that I have done so far!

Here's the first one, which was 65% palm, 25% coconut and 10% shea butter. As you can see, it didn't play nice with the molds, so it's a little mutilated.

Here's the second batch I made. It's 40% lard, 20% coconut oil, and 10% each of olive, safflower, sunflower, and shea butter. This is the one where I added grapeseed oil, oats and honey at trace. ABOMINATION. I'm pretty sure that this might be the worst soap ever made... evar! I honestly don't know why I haven't chucked it out yet.

Here's the third batch I've made. It was 35% lard, 25% coconut, 15% sunflower, 10% shea butter, 10% olive and 5% grapeseed. I added 2tbsp PPO of honey at trace. It also didn't play nice with the molds.

I have a third batch in a silicone mold now. It's 60% olive oil, 25% coconut, 10% shea butter and 5% grapeseed. I have a good feeling about it!

 

[Guest]

dear...u are getting there just keep tryin... 8)

 

[Ganiggle]

dear...u are getting there just keep tryin... 8)

Thanks! The good thing about the abominations is that I have learned something from each of them I'm starting to get the hang of it, and I'm almost positive that the batch I made tonight is going to turn out nicely At least... I certainly hope so!

 

[LJA]

dear...u are getting there just keep tryin... 8)

Thanks! The good thing about the abominations is that I have learned something from each of them I'm starting to get the hang of it, and I'm almost positive that the batch I made tonight is going to turn out nicely At least... I certainly hope so!

That's exactly right, Niglet. Each batch is a learning experience. Save the abominations for our "Fug-Offs" in which I was a proud contender. :wink:

 

[Ganiggle]

dear...u are getting there just keep tryin... 8)

Thanks! The good thing about the abominations is that I have learned something from each of them I'm starting to get the hang of it, and I'm almost positive that the batch I made tonight is going to turn out nicely At least... I certainly hope so!

That's exactly right, Niglet. Each batch is a learning experience. Save the abominations for our "Fug-Offs" in which I was a proud contender. :wink:

Hehe Niglet... I love it! Oooh Fug offs sound interesting! When do those happen?

 

[LJA]

We've only had our first just recently, and it was a dooz! See this thread: http://soapmakingforum.com/forum/viewto ... hlight=fug

 

[Ganiggle]

We've only had our first just recently, and it was a dooz! See this thread: http://soapmakingforum.com/forum/viewto ... hlight=fug

Love it! I love competitions like that. It gives everyone a chance to laugh at themselves. There's something similar on a knitting forum I'm on called Ravelry. For really really fugly knitted things. So awesome. Thanks for linking the thread!

 

[Dixie]

I don't think they would have looked bad at all if you had been able to slice them verses trying to get them out of those small molds. Your doing great!

 

[heyjude]

Another proud fug off contender here!

First of all, abominations is a rather strong word for your soap. You did a fine job for a first timer.

Secondly, I notice that your most successful looking batch ( imho #1) contained the fewest ingredients. Make it easy and try to limit
yourself to using as few oils as reasonable until you feel you have the process down.

Thirdly, don't give up! You're doing great !!

Jude

 

[Guest]

Fug-off winner here, I think , I am scared to look :shock: . Trust me I don't think yours would be contenders in a fugly contest. For your first soap batches you are doing great .

Kitn

 

[carebear]

OMG you should see some of the soaps I've made. I wish I still had picutres of my salmon loaf soap! Pink, orange, white, and UGLLLLY!!! Many of us have made raw beef soaps as well!

I think your soaps aren't half bad - especially if you like the way they FEEL! Because looks can come later.

some thoughts:

- for high solid fats soaps, (esp like the first and 3rd one), you should actually soap pretty warm - in the area of 110F. I find you get less of the crumbly thing going, and less ash. I don't recommend a "touchy" FO with this type of formula

- for individual soap molds you PROBABLY won't get your soaps to gel without adding heat - so stick them on a heating pad if you want gel.

- soaps are hard to get out of individual molds. if you don't gel then it can take (gasp - who has the patience) up to 2 weeks in some cases. if you do gel it speeds things up considerably. Also be sure to lubricate your molds. IME silicone spray is best (but can marr plastic, so test first), then mineral oil, then Pam, then vaseline in last place. Mineral oil can leave a bit of ash though.

Honey can be tough - I def recommend diluting it with some warm water (subtract the amount of water before you make your lye solution). Soaps with honey tend to heat up, so you might not need the heating pad for those - figuring out how much heat is too much is something you need to do based on experience.

Don't give up!!!

 

[artisan soaps]

..

 

[Ganiggle]

Thank you so much everyone! You have all given me such wonderful advice

The only soap that smells really bad is #2 lol. It smells pretty gross! I'm loving the silicone cake mold so far. It's probably going to be tons easier to unmold compared to the individual ones!

 

[Deda]

Your first soaps look great, cherish these pics!

We all make some crap soaps once in a while. Sibi can tell you about my Dead Fish Grey, Lilac & Infection Scented Log. I still have it, I'm using it to test cure rate and hardness.

 

[Milla]

#1 and #3 would've been perfect in a loaf mold where you could've sliced them like dixie said. I love the color of honey soap. You know what's funny...I have all of the same molds you do from Michaels, but I only use them for HP and rebatches so at least you can use them in the future! I used them once for CP and had to throw my soap away. I thought all of your recipes seemed great. Once you find a mold you like (hopefully your green one), it will be so much easier!

 

[Ganiggle]

We all make some crap soaps once in a while. Sibi can tell you about my Dead Fish Grey, Lilac & Infection Scented Log. I still have it, I'm using it to test cure rate and hardness.

Maybe if I hate them even after curing I'll keep a bar of each anyways, in a ziplock bag or something so that I can keep one always to remind myself of my first batches

 

[Ganiggle]

#1 and #3 would've been perfect in a loaf mold where you could've sliced them like dixie said. I love the color of honey soap. You know what's funny...I have all of the same molds you do from Michaels, but I only use them for HP and rebatches so at least you can use them in the future! I used them once for CP and had to throw my soap away. I thought all of your recipes seemed great. Once you find a mold you like (hopefully your green one), it will be so much easier!

Thanks! It was definitely easier pouring the soap into the green mold rather than trying to pour it into each individual little mold. I'm still waiting on my wooden log mold, but until then it's silicone all the way!

 

[Guest]

We all make some crap soaps once in a while. Sibi can tell you about my Dead Fish Grey, Lilac & Infection Scented Log. I still have it, I'm using it to test cure rate and hardness.

Maybe if I hate them even after curing I'll keep a bar of each anyways, in a ziplock bag or something so that I can keep one always to remind myself of my first batches

I kept my fugly first borns for about 6 months , then turfed em . The poopy looking fug-off winner went in the G file right away. They simply waste space on the curing shelves. imho :wink:

Kitn

 

[gekko62]

ah ganiggle I know just how you feel! lol...Your soaps are masterpieces compared to my 1st three! :wink:

..and hey,learning thru 'abominations' (luv that word! might have to be my new fave I think ) is what we humans do best

...so tell the soap gremlins to take a hike & get going with that next batch girl! :wink:

 

[Ganiggle]

ah ganiggle I know just how you feel! lol...Your soaps are masterpieces compared to my 1st three! :wink:

..and hey,learning thru 'abominations' (luv that word! might have to be my new fave I think ) is what we humans do best

...so tell the soap gremlins to take a hike & get going with that next batch girl! :wink:

Abominations is definitely my favorite word when it comes to something i mucked up. I'll definitely tell the soap gremlins to bugger off while I continue on my soap makingness