First Batch- Lavender Alkanet Soap

[liafrank]

Hello, all! I'm new to this forum and this is my first cold process soap batch. I'm intrigued with the idea of natural soap coloring with infused oils, so I decided to start with an alkanet infusion, looking for a nice lavender color. Things seemed to go along pretty well. I regret that I was too impatient for the soap to set up, so 36 hours after pour, I forced it out of the silicone mold. It had a good bit of castor oil, so this may in some part account for the slow set. I also forgot to spray the top with alcohol so it has a bit of ash. On the whole I had a great time and have a soft spot in my heart for my first mangled bit of cold process soap.

 

[Momonga]

Very daring first batch! I thought I was really something putting in a couple of drops of FO in my own first batch... looks like you braved the colorants and additives too! I hope it was fun for you. I love the framing effect.

 

[AngelMomma]

Good job! I love using alkanet. The color is so neat by the time 6wks comes around. It looks like you used a good amount to get a nice color. Its cool to watch it change over the next few weeks.

 

[Badger]

Very nice first batch, much more daring then mine also! Congratulations and welcome to the addiction!

 

[liafrank]

Thank you

Thank you for your kind words of encouragement. I do believe I have officially caught the soaping bug. I've ordered the basics in natural colorants and plan to be making colorful infusions soon. I'll post a picture to let you know how that progresses.

 

[dianne70]

Well done.....I too like your mangled first soap....although it isn't that mangled really!

 

[melstan775]

It's not bad, and you learned something from it right? I am curious as to what you used to cut it that cuased the drag marks in it, or is that from resting on a wire rack?

 

[liafrank]

I used a basic cutter from brambleberry, but I put lavender on the top of the soap and I think with the soft set, the pieces of lavender stuck to the cutter and caused the dragging marks. Hopefully next time I'll wait for a more solid set before cutting.

 

[DWinMadison]

Great first soap! You got volume/mold ratio right, and the color is very nice too. How did your fragrance come out?

 

[liafrank]

I used that handy guide at the top of the CP forum about using the measurements of the mold and multiplying by .40. The fragrance came out just as I'd hoped, clearly lavender, but not overpowering.