Richard Perrine
Well-Known Member
Hi Cassie! Welcome to soap making! Whoop whoop! I'm also new to the art and science of soap making and love it! From one newbie to another, I have discovered that there are differing opinions on a few things that I would have thought was fundamental. Either that or I am not paying attention. 
Temperature, for example. I have heard, read in so many places about allowing the oils and lye solution to cool to a certain temperature before mixing and I have found that information to be inconsistent. I have heard 110 degrees and I have found 'within' 10 degrees of each other, etc. I do make certain not to have a disparity in temp of either component of greater than 10-degrees before mixing, but I always mix my oils and lye solution at temperatures above 100 degrees and have had no problems. BUT, not much higher than 100 degrees. I do not go above 120 as one concern may be gelling (not in itself bad, but creates more translucency in the soap. Also, your essential oils may be weakened by too high of temps). So, in addition to paying attention to your choice of oils (hardness), keep the temperatures higher so that the mixture remains smoother, more workable. As a beginner, I would also refrain from using the more expensive, exotic oils and butters. I have found and confirmed by others who have done this much longer than I have that you can get very similar feel, effects, benefits from cheaper oils. In fact, since I do this as a hobby and not to sale, I rarely use butters such as cocoa or shea as they are more expensive and really unnecessary for my needs. I can get similar benefits from other, much cheaper oils. I have learned tons from the soaping community and watched hours of youtube videos, online sources and love how free and open (and creative!) the soaping community is. And don't get me started regarding the various HP methods there are! Happing soaping! Just my humble 2-cents.
Temperature, for example. I have heard, read in so many places about allowing the oils and lye solution to cool to a certain temperature before mixing and I have found that information to be inconsistent. I have heard 110 degrees and I have found 'within' 10 degrees of each other, etc. I do make certain not to have a disparity in temp of either component of greater than 10-degrees before mixing, but I always mix my oils and lye solution at temperatures above 100 degrees and have had no problems. BUT, not much higher than 100 degrees. I do not go above 120 as one concern may be gelling (not in itself bad, but creates more translucency in the soap. Also, your essential oils may be weakened by too high of temps). So, in addition to paying attention to your choice of oils (hardness), keep the temperatures higher so that the mixture remains smoother, more workable. As a beginner, I would also refrain from using the more expensive, exotic oils and butters. I have found and confirmed by others who have done this much longer than I have that you can get very similar feel, effects, benefits from cheaper oils. In fact, since I do this as a hobby and not to sale, I rarely use butters such as cocoa or shea as they are more expensive and really unnecessary for my needs. I can get similar benefits from other, much cheaper oils. I have learned tons from the soaping community and watched hours of youtube videos, online sources and love how free and open (and creative!) the soaping community is. And don't get me started regarding the various HP methods there are! Happing soaping! Just my humble 2-cents.
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