I don't really have to think back very far as I made my first batch of CP last week. My obsession at the moment is with Castile. About two years back I visited the island of Crete. My Greek vacation consisted of walking everywhere, eating most everything, climbing up mountains to old venetian fortresses, and shopping.
Shops were full to the brim with homemade beauty products. Olive oil hair masks, castile soaps, sea salts, natural sponges, if it could be made with local products it was there.
Naturally I bought about 8 gazillion tons of stuff, because honestly who could resist? It was natural and inexpensive. I gave a lot of the bars away as gifts, but also kept a lot of them for my own personal use. About two months ago I realized I was down to my last sliver!!!!! :shock: NOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!
And since I've been wanting to learn to make soap for a long time, and I'm not getting back to Greece any time soon it's time to learn. I purchased "The Soap Maker's Companion," by Susan Cavitch and the "Everything Soap Making Book", by Alicia Grosso. I spent about a month researching, reading, learning and absorbing as much knowledge as I could because let's face it Lye is scary stuff. I didn't want to blow up the house, or end up being like the phantom of the opera I wanted to understand the chemicals and fats as much as possible.
I also decided that for economic and learning reasons I would start off with small batches, 1 or 2 pound batches. That way I wouldn't get overwhelmed or possibly use up way too many ingredients on a failed batch. My first was Coconut, Palm, and Olive Oil. My second was Olive and Coconut superfatted with Castor Oil, and my third batch last night was 100% Olive Oil Castile, I'll check it tonight to see if I can unmold it. All the recipes I used were from the Everything Soapmaking book as the recipes in it are broken down into batch sizes for you. I plan on attempting the larger recipes from the Soap Makers Companion once I become more confident.
I have a full wood shop at my disposal so I built my own molds out of 3/4 inch pine planks and they work beautifully so far.
I do need a better scale though. Any suggestions?