Hope to be a new soaper next week!

[The Efficacious Gentleman]

I think it's not so much of an issue if you're going to make more batches during the cure time rather than waiting 3 to 6 months to try out any soap at all!

But bear this in mind - the first few batches are good for learning. If you make a mistake, you can learn from it. If you're making multiple batches before trying at least one of the batches out, how do you know if you're making mistakes? You might find out that there is something that you'd do differently, but you've not found that out until you've done the same in multiple batches.

That's why I think the cure time of a Castile/Bastile is not grand for the first batch. My Castile was my third batch - not too long to wait in the grand scheme of things, but it does mean that I was fairly comfortable making it and, apart from a little dryness issue, I'm able to leave it on it's long cure totally at peace having confirmed with other batches that my general process was sound and produced usable soaps.

 

[neeners]

good point Efficacious. my castile attempt was about the 15th or so batch of soap. I want to try it, but I have plenty of other batches to play around with to distract me from my waiting.....

 

[judymoody]

For a first batch I would do one of the following in a 1.5-2 lb batch:

1) New Crisco (hydrogenated soy & palm), coconut oil, and olive oil, at 25/20/55% with a 7% superfat.
2) coconut oil/olive oil at 20/80% with 7% SF
3) lard, coconut oil, and olive oil at 30/20/50%, 7% SF

All of these oils are readily available at a Walmart or large supermarket (assuming you are in the US)

You say your skin tends towards dryness so I'd keep the coconut oil low and go above 5% SF.

If you use lard, I'd throw in a little essential oil. You can pick up a half ounce of lemongrass EO pretty reasonably at health food stores or natural grocers like Whole Foods. Lemongrass is easy to work with and lasts in CP soap.

Good luck and enjoy!