Auson Pine tar soap

[BobbiOh]

I've never made a pine tar soap and I'm going to try, thanks to a post I found with instructions and videos that I found. Couple that with the fact, that I'd like to make "campfire" bar. So, my question is: Does the smell come through with the Auson Kiln Burned pine tar, will it need a boost or does it need to be created?

Thank you in advance!

 

[justsomeguy]

Campfire comes through. I did 12% of it in mine and it's potent and long lasting

 

[DeeAnna]

Yes, the campfire aroma stays strong

 

[AliOop]

If campfire is what you want, stay away from this one - smells like road paving.

 

[Servant4Christ]

If you're using the Auson brand, no worries about the smell coming through. The smell is plenty strong. DH kept walking around the house asking which neighbor was burning leaves until I had him smell the pine tar soap. DH promptly confiscated the batch and ran it out to the garage to cure once he was certain I was done playing with them (cutting and cleaning up the edges). I made mine with 10% Auson Kiln Burned Pine Tar in July.

 

[justsomeguy]

If campfire is what you want, stay away from this one - smells like road paving.
View attachment 79677

I got nothing when I used that one. Just smelled like soap

 

[DeeAnna]

I got nothing when I used that one. Just smelled like soap

That's unusual to hear. I've used that brand in soap, and it's got a definite burnt-rubber smoky tang. The soap has a black-brown color. I've always made pine tar (PT) soap with PT at 10% of the total fat weight. The odor level and the color are the same whether I used a domestic brand or Auson PT. Just the aroma is different -- burnt rubber smoke for domestic, wood fire smoke for Auson.

But I've occasionally seen PT soap made by others that's more of a honey color, rather than black-brown, so I know the results can vary.

Maybe if you used less PT than I do, could that explain the difference in the aroma level?

 

[AliOop]

… and I use 20%. The burnt rubber, road paving smell is strong. Fortunately, it does blend well with many EO blends and FOs, and it does tone down during the cure.

 

[justsomeguy]

That's unusual to hear. I've used that brand in soap, and it's got a definite burnt-rubber smoky tang. The soap has a black-brown color. I've always made pine tar (PT) soap with PT at 10% of the total fat weight. The odor level and the color are the same whether I used a domestic brand or Auson PT. Just the aroma is different -- burnt rubber smoke for domestic, wood fire smoke for Auson.

But I've occasionally seen PT soap made by others that's more of a honey color, rather than black-brown, so I know the results can vary.

Maybe if you used less PT than I do, could that explain the difference in the aroma level?

Could be. But I think I used ~15%. No smell. Weird

 

[Servant4Christ]

You only got a partial gel, too?! I've never seen pine tar not gel before. I didn't even know that was possible.

 

[justsomeguy]

You only got a partial gel, too?! I've never seen pine tar not gel before. I didn't even know that was possible.

Yeah. It's very strange
But I'm glad I found the Auson one

 

[DeeAnna]

I started making pine tar soap with non-Auson PT, but I've gotten spoiled since switching to Auson pine tar.

I honestly I don't think I'd make PT soap if I couldn't get Auson or a similar "boutique" pine tar. The odor is soooo much nicer than the veterinary/equine brands.

I don't notice a lot of difference between brands as far as how pine tar behaves when I make the soap, though. It's always an exciting process.

 

[Servant4Christ]

I got to talk pine tar with a fellow soapmaker yesterday. She's been making soap way longer than me and gave me her recipe. It's surprisingly all veggie with no palm and uses Bickmore brand at a rate of 25% because years ago she read that the pine tar isn't very effective below that amount in soap. Color me stunned. I told her about my 1 and only experience making pine tar and that I used Auson brand. She told me that she's tried Auson but that the smell wasn't consistent for her and was always incredibly strong even after cure, whereas she says the Bickmore scent does reduce quite a bit during cure. I can't believe I'm considering trying it.
@AliOop If you're using pine tar at 20% where are you taking it from in your oils, assuming you're using your standard recipe? I can tell you I'm not a fan of pine tar in ZNSC with 10 coconut and 5 castor. It feels very astringent in nature to me so I can't bring myself to even let anyone try it. I figure if I order the smallest can of Bickmore pine tar, I'll still have enough to try more than one recipe.

 

[AliOop]

Here is the last pine tar recipe that I made. Tallow and palm oil were used for more hardness, to offset the softness of the pine tar, which replaced much of the liquid oils (for the same reason). With tallow providing some cleansing value, the PKO is fairly low in order stay ~12 for cleansing, which is nearing the top of what I like for that number. Sorbitol and sodium citrate were included as usual.

I like this soap but haven't felt motivated to make more. The brand of pine tar in my soaping cabinet stinks so much at first. It does tone down during cure, esp with EOs/FOs added, but I still don't look forward to using it. Perhaps I can give this can to my friend with horses, so I can justify buying some of the Auson brand.

 

[Servant4Christ]

I won't likely order the Auson again. The smell is sooo strong even after a really long cure and it triggers my allergies terribly. I'm only considering trying the Bickmore for a family member who loves a specific pine tar soap that I now have the recipe for from the actual soapmaker. 25% pine tar sounds insane but exciting at the same time. Definitely worthy of my bucket list.

 

[AliOop]

I won't likely order the Auson again. The smell is sooo strong even after a really long cure and it triggers my allergies terribly. I'm only considering trying the Bickmore for a family member who loves a specific pine tar soap that I now have the recipe for from the actual soapmaker. 25% pine tar sounds insane but exciting at the same time. Definitely worthy of my bucket list.

Maybe we should trade cans.

But if the Auson is too strong for you, I'd think that the Bickmore would lay you out. Hopefully I'm wrong, and the difference in aroma chemicals will be in your favor.

 

[Servant4Christ]

Maybe we should trade cans.

But if the Auson is too strong for you, I'd think that the Bickmore would lay you out. Hopefully I'm wrong, and the difference in aroma chemicals will be in your favor.

I don't currently have any pine tar. I contacted Sage Restoration and asked to buy one of their sample size cans to try in soap before committing to the regular size can. They have excellent customer service. I kept the little can so I can remember the smell when I need to.

 

[DeeAnna]

"...because years ago she read that the pine tar isn't very effective below that amount [25%] in soap..."

Yeah, I've heard that too. But whenever I've asked people who make this claim to explain why this is so, I never get a decent response. I've looked on my own for corroboration that 25% pine tar is The Right Number. Again, crickets.

I am fairly certain the famous "Grandpa's Pine Tar" soap contains no more than 5% pine tar, and it gets rave reviews.

And my research and the FDA's investigations into the efficacy of pine tar have concluded that pine tar has no beneficial effect on skin problems.

My conclusion is that 25% number is based on someone's pseudo-scientific thinking, not on known facts. IMO, if you're going to use pine tar in soap, use whatever percentage you want and don't sweat it.