Feeling the pressure

[ToniD]

This is silly, I suppose, but I feel so intimidated. My neighbor ha s been making soap for 30 yrs. she got instruction and a recipe all those yrs ago--and that is all she has ever used. No scents, colors, no exploration of diffe rent oils or recipes. She never knew lye calculators exsisted. She has a to die for mold and cutter, but it is huge. When she asked how many bars I make at a time and I said 10 , she was a bit shocked, I think. She is used to making one batch a yr, that gives her all the soap she uses.

Anyway, she wants to explore some different recipes and scents...and I am supposed to be the guide.

Ive taught a few people to make soap, but it seems easier when starting from zero knowledge. I need to respect all those yrs of experience, and yet in some ways she is completely inexperienced. It's hard to figure a starting point.

 

[Genny]

Maybe start her off with natural colorants, like herbs & stuff? Or is she wanting to go full on ultramarines, neons, & micas?

 

[Dorado]

How about starting with a small batch of her old reciepe, with the oils she is used to, dont forget to run them through soap.cal.
but make the oils lavender- or camille infused, or another herb/flower.
Small change in colour and scent, but the same soap.
I bet she has some ideas, what she would like to try, after so many years with the same soap.

 

[Cosmo]

I think a good starting point is to ask her specifically what she wants to learn and start there. If she wants to make smaller batches then showing her how to use use a soap calculator is an essential starting point. Then maybe go over different properties of oils to see what she desires in a new recipe? From there, if she wants to try new colorants, etc. then let her be your guide in what she wants to learn.

I think working with your neighbor could be a lot of fun!

 

[Lynnz]

Wow all your soap for the year in one hit........................Oh my introduce the dear woman to colour and fragrance makes soaping fun fun fun

 

[ToniD]

Wow all your soap for the year in one hit........................Oh my introduce the dear woman to colour and fragrance makes soaping fun fun fun

Yes, make soaping fun as well as a means to a soap that is kinder to her skin, which is why she makes it.

One of the soaps I gave her had a Lynn top--she was sooo impressed! (your fame and name continue to spread ) Couldn't imagine how I did that. Her recipe must have an incredible amount of water in it. She leaves it in the mold for about a month till it is firm enough to cut. So naturally it is way to soft to do a textured top.


Thanks for the thoughts and input, everyone. We will do a recipe with a hard oil (she has always used all liquid oils and wants to add a hard one) and a in the pot swirl.