Hello from WI

[IsItSoapYet?]

Hello everyone. I am so excited to be starting out as a new soaper. I have my first batch curing right now. I have so many questions, and ideas that I would like to try. I am looking forward to meeting other crafters as well.

One question right out of the chute...I unmolded my soap about a week ago and I am wondering about how it smells, kind of greasy. I did my measurements carefully, using a scale but did not add any fragrance at all, just to see what the soap will smell like "au naturel". Will that greasy smell fade? I used coconut and olive oils, cocoa and shea butters and a bit of beeswax and then, of couse the sodium hydroxide and water. The curing time on the recipe is 3 weeks, and I am on week 2.

I have purchased unscented homemade soaps that do not have that fatty smell, and the ingrediets do not list any added fragrances, and list the same oils that I used in my current batch. I realize that there will be some smell, and that using essential oils is meant to cover cover the odors of fat / lye.

Any advice is welcome.
Many thanks!

 

[artisan soaps]

..

 

[Guest]

Hi Welcome to the forum , it is great to have you join us .
CP soap should cure at least 4 weeks , I cure mine 6 weeks , there is a difference between a 4 and 6 week cure. . The smell of the fresh soap does change as it ages and hardens up . I haven't had a soap that smells , yet , but you don't have to use FO's or EO's to mask the smell , it should just smell like , well ,soap after the cure. If you used a lot of olive oil , it will definitely take at least 6 weeks to cure , sometimes longer. It is worth the wait , that is not to say you can't try a little bit , but it will be nicer soap after a good cure.

HTH

Kitn

 

[IsItSoapYet?]

I am trying CP for now. Thanks for the advice. Its so hard to be patient!!!!!

 

[fireweed]

Welcome, welcome-- your first batch, how exciting!! Well worth the effort, as I'm sure most here will agree. Let us know how it turns out! By the way, the only soap I've made that has a fatty smell is tallow, but I like it anyway...

 

[heyjude]

Welcome!

It's great to have you here!

Jude

 

[gardengoat]

Welcome IsItSoapYet?

 

[jarvan]

I'm in Wisconsin! I just don't know anyone who wants to soap together here. Could be fun to have a little soaping group of locals.

 

[cwayneu]

Hello and Welcome.

Get ready to be addicted.

 

[namastecreations]

I am from wisconsin too ~Appleton Area. Just made my first batch two nights ago and joined forum last night. How did you soap turn out??

 

[IsItSoapYet?]

To jarvan & namastecreations: Hi fellow Wisconsinites! I am in the Fox Cities Area. Still waiting for my first batch to cure, though I "sampled" a little piece that broke off when I turned one of the bars that had some edge left on it from overfilling the mold. I wanted to see if it got sudzy. It did! So I will wait until the 2nd week of October which will be a 6 week cure, for the true bath/shower test. In the meantime we are moving house, so I am resisting the urge to make a new batch until we are settled on the other end. BTW, I am already addicted, and I think this is a really fun and creative activity and I can't wait to produce multiple batches after our move is done! I have picked up some EO's to try out. Exciting.

 

[cranberrylk]

I'm in WI also- we have a retail "soap shop" in Eagle River- open from May- Oct- we're starting our 10th year! so I've been making literally "tons" of soap over the past 20 years!
We also sell our Fragrance Oils and other supplies at www.scenterstage.com

we ship out of SE WI- but have met many soapers to deliver orders-

we hosted a "gathering" of many WI soapers at our shop this past June- so maybe we will do it again- if there is enough interest!

I hope to be able to contribute here- when I have time to e on the computer!

jean
www.cranberrylaksoap.com
www.scenterstage.com4E16c4

 

[namastecreations]

crazy small world. I am live in the fox valley now, but I am originally from eagle river ~ Can't believe there are so many of us Soap makers in WI! My first batch is curing now, but I am addicted and will be making more.

 

[IsItSoapYet?]

Eagle River....sweet. I love the Northwoods! My hubs grew up around the Rhinelander area. I think he has family in Three Lakes (maybe)? I used to spend some time around Conover years back. A soapers convention, nice. That would be really fun and a great excuse to travel up that way! Keep us posted!

 

[MikeInPdx]

Hello and welcome!