Hello from South Africa

[Shay]

Hello from waaaay down South of Earth

I live in the lovely city of Port Elizabeth in South Africa, it is a coastal city (small city- almost better described as a very large town) which is known as the 'Windy City' and for it's VW cars (now you know where else they are made) and a few other things.

I live on a beautiful small holding just outside the city with my family and two lovely mutts; we share our lovely little abode with lots of birds, spiders, tortoises and some snakes and the occasional buck passing through (it's part of a conservancy).

I have always been slightly obsessed with beauty products, especially products that can go in a bath/shower and on the skin.

I decided about a year ago to try making soap, I thought I'd do melt and pour soaps and got distracted and hooked with some article I came across regarding cold process soap and decided to follow this route rather. I manufacture currently on a small scale and sell to some shops in my city and a few bars online.

As I progress I will start adding other items to my product line. I am busy looking into doing liquid soap but the first batch I made I burnt and the second batch.... I had to throw away. Third time lucky I hope

Sadly there aren't many soap-makers that I have come across near me to discuss ideas etc with so I have decided to go modern and go international

 

[lsg]

Shay, here is a recipe that I got from YouTube, but cannot seem to locate the video again. This has worked every time.

Castor oil--101.83 grams
Coconut oil, 76 degrees --324 grams
Palm oil--27.76 grams
Glycerin--255.15 grams
KOH--100.69 grams

.3% Germall Plus added to diluted and cooled soap paste.

Heat glycerin in fairly large kettle, to about 180 degrees F. Add KOH and stir. This will foam up and you may have to remove it from the heat and stir well until the foam dies down. Stir KOH/glycerin mixture until the KOH is completely dissolved. Melt oils in Crockpot or other slow cooker. Add KOH/glcyerin mixture to melted oils and stick blend until mixture is thick. Cook in Crockpot for about 1 1 /2 hour to 3 hours and turn off Crockpot. Take a little of the soap paste out of the cooker and place on paper towel. Test pH by squirting a little Phenol P liquid over the paste. If the liquid doesn't turn pink, then your paste is ready. If the test turns pink, leave paste in covered Crockpot for 2-3 days and test again. When soap test is clear, dilute soap paste. Remelt soap paste and add 19 oz of boiling distilled water. Cool diluted paste and add preservative. I just scented my liquid soap as I was ready to pour into containers to us.
Hope this makes sense.

 

[Hazel]

Hello and welcome!

 

[Relle]

Hello Shay

Welcome, have fun.

 

[Shay]

Thank you for the warm welcomes

Isg, thanks for the recipe I will give it a try asap and let you know how I progress. Question: what is ".3% Germall Plus" ? I haven't come across anything by that name here.

 

[Hazel]

Not lsg - Germall Plus is a preservative http://www.lotioncrafter.com/reference/ ... l_plus.pdf

You can just use another preservative at its recommended usage as long as it is effective in high pH products.

 

[Shay]

Thanks Hazel, thought as much, wasn't sure.