First batch!

[Guest]

I'm happy to say I did my first batch yesterday! It's Castile soap: olive 70%, coconut 15%, palm 15%.

It traced in about 10 minutes after being helped along with a stick blender, then I added tangarine EO and molded it into two milk cartons. I unmolded and cut it today, as in the picture:

The bars are 3¾" square and 1" thick, and about 3.5-4 oz. each.

The soap smells only faintly of the scent so perhaps I didn't add enough. I used 1 oz. (NOW brand) in 3 lbs. oil.

Anyway I'm satisfied with my first attempt.

 

[Laurie]

Wow, what a beautiful color. I would say you probably needed at least double the amount of EO for 3 lb. Very nice soap though.

Laurie

 

[cdwinsby]

Beautiful soap! Awesome first try. What did you use for color?

Bet you're already planning the next batch!

 

[Guest]

OM! They look awesome! I wish my first batch looked like that I would have bumped your EO's up to 2oz, but I'm sure they'll ripen.

 

[Guest]

You're both very kind! Thanks for the compliments!

Beautiful soap! Awesome first try. What did you use for color?

The color is presumably what the OO contributed. I didn't add any colorants. The EO might have tinted it slightly.

Bet you're already planning the next batch!

Certainly! In fact I just returned from Home Depot, and did you know they sell soap molds? I bought a two foot section of 3" diameter PVC pipe, and tomorrow I'm going to make round soap! I haven't on a recipe yet. Decisions, decisions.

OM! They look awesome! I wish my first batch looked like that I would have bumped your EO's up to 2oz, but I'm sure they'll ripen.

Yes, I should'a done that, and wish I'd had your advice before I had to make the decision. I've still got 3 one ounce bottles of EOs that I bought at the nutrition store, so I'll cut the batch size in half and use the whole bottle.

 

[jadiebugs1]

Wow! Those are really awesome looking firsts! Great job! I'm jealous. :mrgreen:

 

[dragonfly princess]

Good job! Those are wonderful looking! I love the color too. Fits the scent!

 

[Guest]

No need to be jealous Sharon, I bet you've done hundreds of batches. But thanks for the compliment!

And thanks to you also DP!

 

[jadiebugs1]

No need to be jealous Sharon, I bet you've done hundreds of batches. But thanks for the compliment!

And thanks to you also DP!

(I wish) More like about 25. going for 30 next week. My "mold" is also my display for my glycerin soaps when I sell at craft shows and I have a show this weekend. So I have to wait until afterwards to make some more. I need to start buying my milk in the carton! Where did you get the wavy cutter?

 

[Guest]

Well I'm going for batch #2 today, so I have some catching up to do.

I got the wavy cutter at a restaurant supply store. If you don't have a restaurant supply near you, you can find them on eBay but at 3x the price, about $6 or so plus maybe $5 shipping, a disgrace if you know how cheap they are in restaurant supply stores.

I've really had a ball the last week stocking up on equipment and materials at restaurant supply stores, hardware stores, supermarkets and stores like Bed Bath & Beyond. It's amazing that they had all that soaper gear and ingredients there and I've passed all that stuff countless times without realizing it!

 

[deanpurple]

I'm happy to say I did my first batch yesterday! It's Castile soap: olive 70%, coconut 15%, palm 15%.

It traced in about 10 minutes after being helped along with a stick blender, then I added tangarine EO and molded it into two milk cartons. I unmolded and cut it today, as in the picture:

The bars are 3¾" square and 1" thick, and about 3.5-4 oz. each.

The soap smells only faintly of the scent so perhaps I didn't add enough. I used 1 oz. (NOW brand) in 3 lbs. oil.

Anyway I'm satisfied with my first attempt.

I had some very similar looking soap Christmas 2007, only that it was a little thinner and longer and smelt like pineapple.

 

[Guest]

Mine ended up square of course because I used 1 quart milk cartons as my molds. Actually they worked quite well, although I'll try 3" diameter pipe next.

I never new the supermarket sold soap molds...

 

[gallerygirl]

Those look awesome! Great job. k

 

[Guest]

Those look awesome! Great job. k

Thanks GG! Hey, I'm doing my second batch right now! I decided to take a break while the lye cools. I'll post details when I get it done. I'm doing Kathy Miller's favorite lard with coconut and OO.

 

[Guest]

Got my 2nd batch in the mold and this is really neat, after 4-5 hour of pour the batch is going fairly exothermic generating about 123 deg F in an ambient of 75 or so. I just know that batch is gellin' inside!

 

[jadiebugs1]

huh??

 

[Laurie]

Interpretation, Spock!!!

I think what Lovehound might be saying is that the soap is
gelling at 123 F in a 75 F room. Would that be right Lovehound?

lol
Laurie

 

[Guest]

Interpretation, Spock!!!

I think what Lovehound might be saying is that the soap is
gelling at 123 F in a 75 F room. Would that be right Lovehound?

lol
Laurie

Yeppers, that's exactly what I intended to say. Do I get the "eschew obfuscation" award now?

I really love this soapmaking collision between chemistry and cooking. I took chemistry in college, and I've been a lifelong cook always enjoying cooking. Check my user profile for my website and you can view my favorite cooking recipes. (Non-commercial website, just recipes there, nothing else.) Perhaps I'll add a section for DIY soap.

 

[jadiebugs1]

huh again??? :shock: :shock:

kidding.....thanks for the interpretation! I needed that!

 

[itsmeroro]

Gosh! What a nice looking first batch! You should be really proud...

Good Job!