First attempt at layered CP a success! Pics included

[erniemay]

What a difference a hand blender makes! I've never been able to try out the different techniques for CP before as it took soooo long for my soap to trace when hand stirring. I used to take my soap into the living room, watch TV, and stir it during the adverts. Otherwise I would have been in the kitchen stirring away, bored rigid for hours while I waited. It used to take a good 4 hours to reach light trace.

But with my new blender...! It reached trace so much faster and so for the first time I could try out some layering and it worked PERFECTLY! I had to share my joy. I also reduced the water slightly (from 250g to 210g for 745g of oils) which also helped. So happy! I can't wait to try more! My dad has his own company selling activated charcoal so you can guess what I will be experimenting with next.

It's gentle soap with lots of Shea and Olive oil and a hint of Hemp and Almond oils along some CO for lather. The additives are nettle (infused in the OO and also ground up and added for the green colouring) and rosemary (EO and also ground to powder to add with the nettle).

I think my only change would be to change the EO blend. I used 50:50 lavender:rosemary and the lavender dominates too much. If I made this soap again I think I'd use a 25:75 blend.

 

[Dennis]

Great result! Can't wait to see more. Very nice.

Stickblender - Man's greatest invention after Alka Seltzer.

 

[carolyntn]

Lovely! I like the green of your nettles and rosemary powder. Lavender and Rosemary is one of my favorite EO blends as well.

 

[paillo]

gorgeous soap!

 

[Hazel]

Beautiful! You did a great job and the soap sounds like it's going to be wonderful.

 

[LadyM]

Beautiful!! Nice job!

 

[PreciousSoaps]

I love the pictures. You did an awesome job with the layering

 

[Sunny]

really nice! i love the green

 

[erniemay]

Thanks for all your lovely comments - I'm just so pleased with it. Can't wait to try it out!

Lovely! I like the green of your nettles and rosemary powder. Lavender and Rosemary is one of my favorite EO blends as well.

What proportion of each do you usually use? I was thinking I should really tone down the lavender next time. I love lavender but I wish it had a bit better balance with the rosemary. Hopefully as it cures the scent will mature a bit.

The green worked better than I expected! It looked a bit light in colour when I poured it in the mould but when I unmoulded and cut it I was delighted with how the colour had darkened. The rosemary has browned but this has left lovely speckles amongst the green and looks great. I was a little surprised by the creamy colour of the rest of the bar. I had used EVOO that I had infused with nettle but it seems to barely be green at all. It will be interesting to see whether it gets greener over time.

 

[saltydog]

Beautifully done! I love the soft, natural colors of your soap.

 

[green soap]

This is very pretty, natural looking soap.

I was wondering how firm is the bottom layer when you pour the top layer? Do you make them in two different batches? or color half the batch?

 

[semplice]

Very pretty soap!

 

[TuxedoKat]

Oh I wish I could make soap like that! So pretty!

 

[Soapy Gurl]

Wow, you have been a trouper hand stirring. I don't think I would make soap if I had to hand stir! I would have done the same blend on EOs as you 50/50. I am surprised the lavender is so strong. I thought rosemary was. I am interested to see if it balances out as it cures.

 

[Dragonkaz]

Beautiful result! Stick blenders are great!

 

[dcornett]

Wow! Very pretty. I love the color you achieved on the bottom portion. Nice layers.

 

[dixilee]

looks great good job

 

[erniemay]

Wow, you have been a trouper hand stirring. I don't think I would make soap if I had to hand stir! I would have done the same blend on EOs as you 50/50. I am surprised the lavender is so strong. I thought rosemary was. I am interested to see if it balances out as it cures.

I have to admit I did rope the husband in occasionally for some stirring! Now that the soap is settling is getting much better, more balanced. The lavender is still a bit stronger than I'd like but it's much much nicer.

 

[welovesoap]

Beautiful! And, yeah, I can't imagine hand stirring!