So glad to have found this. I also live in NYC and therefore also have a very tiny kitchen. I haven't made my first batch yet, but am starting to gather supplies to do so. I have been nervous about it because of the size of the kitchen and I am taking a class as the end of January before I make my own first batch - just to make sure I know what I am doing before I take the plunge. Knowing that someone else is making soap in a tiny NYC kitchen boosts my confidence a bit. Thanks!
Dirty Piglet's Soap Journal
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Heck watch some youtube videos, some ppl have big kitchens that are so cluttered with crap and they are working in a space just big enough for their soaping pot.
cyclingmedic
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It went great! It doesn't really require that much room. I let me soap cure on top of my kitchen cabinets, I store my oils up there too. You don't even know they are there. I live uptown if you are anywhere close or would be interested we should have a little soap party. Where are you taking the class at? I would be interested in finding a good local store to get supplies.
lizflowers42
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Your first batch came out yellow from your unrefined shea butter-I had that kind and its super yellow! Kinda smokey scented! I got mine from amazon.com. Sadly I'm fresh out!
SpiralTouch
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Yep, it's that Shea butter that turned it yellow. I have bought Shea like that before, but all the Shea I get from soaping sites now is a light creamy tan color.
I love the yellow color, it looks great!
I love the yellow color, it looks great!
Moonshea Botanicals
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I am glad to see other NYer's here. I am a Long Island girl. 
I live in my parents house so I have access to a moderate sized kitchen. I hope to be making my first batch of CP soap soon.
I live in my parents house so I have access to a moderate sized kitchen. I hope to be making my first batch of CP soap soon.
Moonshea Botanicals
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LOL my BF has already said that I am totally lost here. Everything I see I think..."I can totally use this as a soap mold." I am currently trying to get all the equipment together. Then some basic supplies.
~Juli
I'm sure my BF thinks I spend too much time on this forum but I love it in here!!! I find myself staring into the fridge wondering what I can add to my soap this time lol....so far, coconut milk, honey, oatmeal, half & half, goat milk & beer... has made it into my batches :crazy:
lizflowers42
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lizflowers42
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Same here! I've read comments though that real shea butter isn't supposed to be that yellow and that it's actually sal butter? Don't know if it's true, but it does make a lovely color!
:sick: Mustard? seriously! I've never heard of that lol! i thought about using molassas or maple syrup. I think the molassas one would be awesome scented with my balsam peru oil.What about mustard in your lye water?!
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some mayonaise would make a creamier soap
I remember ordering unrefined shea butter off ebay and it was really yellow and smelled well...:wtf: And it did make my soap yelow. I use unrefined, deodorized shea butter now lol
lizflowers42
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Just thinking how the color would hold up...you never know!
Ya, I think i would leave it naturally colored with the molassas. It would definately be an experimantal batch
Molassas prolly wouldnt add any real value or properties to the soap but it would be different!Moonshea Botanicals
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lmao! And I was thinking about the same thing with my vanilla soymilk! :-o
cyclingmedic
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Very Basic Cheap Soap Recipe
Just trying out a cheap basic soap recipe. There are only three ingredients are Olive Oil, Coconut Oil, and Crisco.
Hardness 38
Cleansing 20
Conditioning 57
Bubbly 20
Creamy 18
Iodine 65
INS 153
Water 35% Super Fat 5%
I didn't fragrance the batch. It is mainly just a simple test recipe. Still working on a good recipe for my fundraising project.
This batch won't be ready till around the last weekend in March.
Just trying out a cheap basic soap recipe. There are only three ingredients are Olive Oil, Coconut Oil, and Crisco.
Hardness 38
Cleansing 20
Conditioning 57
Bubbly 20
Creamy 18
Iodine 65
INS 153
Water 35% Super Fat 5%
I didn't fragrance the batch. It is mainly just a simple test recipe. Still working on a good recipe for my fundraising project.
This batch won't be ready till around the last weekend in March.
cyclingmedic
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Coloring Help and Quick Soap Recipe
Ingredients: Crisco, Castor Oil, Shea Butter, & Coconut Oil 76 degrees.
Hardness 48
Cleansing 30
Conditioning 47
Bubbly 39
Creamy 27
Iodine 60
INS 164
I actually didn't realize the cleansing was that high until I just typed it. Obviously this one will take any oil completely off your skin, lol. I will lotion up after every use, lol.
I am still trying to find a good, basic, cheap soap recipe for a fund raising project I am going to be doing. I want to be able to ship the soap to people and cover all of the costs for $5, I am going to charge $20 pur bar so that means from each bar the charity will get $15.
I purchased these awareness ribbon soap molds from Brambleberry. It is a tray that makes 8 bars, it is a 2lb soap mold. I want to color the ribbons red. It is for an HIV/AIDS Charity. I know it is going to be almost impossible to get a bright red but if I could that is what I would want. I purchased a non-bleeding color from Brambleberry as well. It looks really bright till I put it in my soap batch and then it turns more of a burgundy or reddish brown. I will see how it turns out though once it is all finished. The shea butter really makes the oil base pretty yellow. I might try using it with a base that is just oils.
My main problem was after making my colored amount it was really hard to fill up the ribbons. By the time I got that part done the rest of my soap had gone to a thick trace. When I poured it on top to fill the mold it pushed all the red out of the ribbon sections and all over. You can kind of tell in the photos. I will take some pictures tomorrow when I take it out of the mold so you can get a better idea. I am not sure what to do. I have never tried to layer soap before but this is even an added challenge because I just want the ribbon part not the rest. Does this make sense? It is very possible that the design that it ends up being is going to be fun and I will like it anyway but we won't know that for a little bit.
If you have any questions let me know. I really wanna get to this work so I can start raising money. I look forward to hearing what you all have to say.
Here are the photos.
#Harlem #NYC #TinyKitchen Follow me on Instagram at cyclingmedic for these and lots more photos of my life.
Ingredients: Crisco, Castor Oil, Shea Butter, & Coconut Oil 76 degrees.
Hardness 48
Cleansing 30
Conditioning 47
Bubbly 39
Creamy 27
Iodine 60
INS 164
I actually didn't realize the cleansing was that high until I just typed it. Obviously this one will take any oil completely off your skin, lol. I will lotion up after every use, lol.
I am still trying to find a good, basic, cheap soap recipe for a fund raising project I am going to be doing. I want to be able to ship the soap to people and cover all of the costs for $5, I am going to charge $20 pur bar so that means from each bar the charity will get $15.
I purchased these awareness ribbon soap molds from Brambleberry. It is a tray that makes 8 bars, it is a 2lb soap mold. I want to color the ribbons red. It is for an HIV/AIDS Charity. I know it is going to be almost impossible to get a bright red but if I could that is what I would want. I purchased a non-bleeding color from Brambleberry as well. It looks really bright till I put it in my soap batch and then it turns more of a burgundy or reddish brown. I will see how it turns out though once it is all finished. The shea butter really makes the oil base pretty yellow. I might try using it with a base that is just oils.
My main problem was after making my colored amount it was really hard to fill up the ribbons. By the time I got that part done the rest of my soap had gone to a thick trace. When I poured it on top to fill the mold it pushed all the red out of the ribbon sections and all over. You can kind of tell in the photos. I will take some pictures tomorrow when I take it out of the mold so you can get a better idea. I am not sure what to do. I have never tried to layer soap before but this is even an added challenge because I just want the ribbon part not the rest. Does this make sense? It is very possible that the design that it ends up being is going to be fun and I will like it anyway but we won't know that for a little bit.
If you have any questions let me know. I really wanna get to this work so I can start raising money. I look forward to hearing what you all have to say.
Here are the photos.
#Harlem #NYC #TinyKitchen Follow me on Instagram at cyclingmedic for these and lots more photos of my life.
