My First Batch!

[christinak]

Hello everyone! After ALOT of research I finally worked myself up to making my very first batch of CP soap. I have a fully stocked pantry of supplies, scents, herbs...you name it. I even bought these nifty bar molds that don't need liners

I have a few questions though...

1. The molds I bought are 1 lb. molds and I made a 1 lb. recipe. The bars look short though, like half a bar? Should I doulbe the recipe so the soap goes to the top of the mold?

2. I peeked during the process to see if it was gelling and it only gelled in the middle, like a big oval that didn't quite reach the edges.

3. I unscrewed my mold after 24 hours and cut it into bars but some of the parts on the bottom had some FO leaking out....will that absorb after it cures?

4. I did a zap test and it actually tastes good..like the fragrance

THANKS for any help or comments

 

[AlchemyandAshes]

Congratulations on your first batch! Let's see if I can help:
1. 1 lb of oil plus water/lye solution should fill a 1 lb mold...are you sure its capacity is 1 lb?
http://www.soapmakingforum.com/f11/how-figure-how-much-oil-mold-2909/

2. That's partial gel...try insulating your mold to promote gel...or putting it in the fridge or freezer to prevent gel.

3. Are you sure it was FO that leaked out? How much did you use per pound of oils?

4. Yay for zap tests!

 

[melstan775]

Congrats on your first batch! And What Shawnee said! I'm curious about your bar molds that don't need liners though. Do you have a link I could look at? Also it's cool to post pics if you want.... You know.... *whispers, "soap porn."*. Welcome to the forum

 

[Amybell]

Congrats! It's completely addicting! Have fun!

 

[christinak]

Thank you so much guys. Let's see here....

https://www.etsy.com/transaction/118143240

That's the link to the molds I bought. I have to tell you that since this was my first try I have no idea if it's a pain to line molds....but this is AMAZING. You just unscrew it, pop off the sides and the bottom and BAM...the soap is right there. The sides wash up super easy and NOTHING sticks. It's also completely easy to assemble.

I am assuming that the liquid was FO because it's the same color and very concentrated smell. It seems like since it's been sitting it's absorbing a little? I've washed my hands with a piece and it's wonderful. I am hoping to sell it though and I want it to be perfect!

As you can see from the link, it's definitely a 1 lb mold for cp and 2 lb for glycerin. They really are about half the height I wanted.

 

[CaliChan]

1. The molds I bought are 1 lb. molds and I made a 1 lb. recipe. The bars look short though, like half a bar? Should I doulbe the recipe so the soap goes to the top of the mold?
Measure your mold. When you bought it did.it say how many oz it holds? Mines a 50oz and will hold 2 lbs of soap

2. I peeked during the process to see if it was gelling and it only gelled in the middle, like a big oval that didn't quite reach the edges.
Its either a parcial gel or you missed part of it. You can leave your load uninsulated. Or put it in the fridge or freezer to prevent gel or put it in the oven to force gel.
3. I unscrewed my mold after 24 hours and cut it into bars but some of the parts on the bottom had some FO leaking out....will that absorb after it cures?
I doubt it was your FO leaking. Most all of my soaps sweet for the first few days whether or not they are scented
4. I did a zap test and it actually tastes good..like the fragrance
Lol not totally sure what your question is there

 

[christinak]

Lol, that last one wasn't a question

No, I don't think it mentioned the ounces...

I'm fairly certain it was FO. It's not just beading up, the layer of soap actually peeled away and the liquid poured out like a pocket. It smells just like the FO when you pour it out.

What is the point of gelling? Is there some benefit to do it or don't do it? Is my partial get anything significant?

 

[AlchemyandAshes]

Thank you so much guys. Let's see here....

https://www.etsy.com/transaction/118143240

That's the link to the molds I bought. I have to tell you that since this was my first try I have no idea if it's a pain to line molds....but this is AMAZING. You just unscrew it, pop off the sides and the bottom and BAM...the soap is right there. The sides wash up super easy and NOTHING sticks. It's also completely easy to assemble.

I am assuming that the liquid was FO because it's the same color and very concentrated smell. It seems like since it's been sitting it's absorbing a little? I've washed my hands with a piece and it's wonderful. I am hoping to sell it though and I want it to be perfect!

As you can see from the link, it's definitely a 1 lb mold for cp and 2 lb for glycerin. They really are about half the height I wanted.

I have those same molds but have to line them if I want to unmold within 24 hours...except mine are 3lb molds. I have used them unlined, but had to stick them in the freezer to unmold without damage to the soap.

Selling your first batch is a bad idea. I'm not saying that to be discouraging, but to keep you from embarrassment (or worse) later down the road. If you didn't know what partial gel is, or if the FO was leaking, or how much oil it takes to fill your mold...you're not ready to sell. You don't know how this soap is going to hold up, whether it will be prone to rancidity, and if you haven't tested it yet...how do you know how it lathers or feels on the skin? Do you know what your soap will be like after a 4-6 week cure? Think of it this way: would you buy the first car a new car maker ever made the day after they made it? No, you probably wouldn't...who knows how well that car will perform over time? They haven't had time to work out the bugs...and neither have you. Just keep soaping, make as much soap as you can...work out any kinks in your recipe and method and before you know it, you will be selling with the best of them!

Here's some food for thought:
http://www.soapmakingforum.com/f23/you-ready-sell-your-soap-16002/

 

[ruby61]

Welcome to the world of soapmaking! It may take a while til you are ready to sell. I have been a soapmaker for about 6 years and selling for around 3. The best thing to do is have some lucky friends and family who will be your testers. Watch people will be knocking down your door! This will help you create the most awesome recipes and when you may need to tweak here and there. Don't worry you will get there. There are a lot of really well informed soap customers out there and you want to give them a soap you can be proud of and be knowlegable about your product. In this day of sue/sue/sue lots you need to know about your oils/ herbs and product.
Also for your mold if it was not mentioned there is a recipe resizer, you measure your mold/oils and put it in the calculator. www.summerbeemeadow.com

 

[christinak]

Oh thanks guys!! I didn't mean I want to sell THIS batch, I just mean I want to sell in the future I want to use these molds but want nice big bars to sell so I am thinking I should double the recipes.

I actually cut 6 bars and sliced the 7th into sample pieces! It is SUPER nice and smells great! It lathers nice and has big bubbles.

 

[ruby61]

Make sure you post pics of your batches. We love soap (porn) umphh...pics!

 

[danahuff]

I have those same molds but have to line them if I want to unmold within 24 hours...except mine are 3lb molds. I have used them unlined, but had to stick them in the freezer to unmold without damage to the soap.

I have them, too, and despite the fact that they are sold as no-line molds, I have always had to line them, too. :roll:

 

[christinak]

Wow, well mine are excellent so far! The soap popped right out

 

[melstan775]

Ah-ha. Some people still line the bottoms or thew whole thing with pper, or they put it in the oven for a few minutes prior to unmolding to ensure a clean removal. Sayin'.

 

[nebetmiw]

OK, since no one asked this. What was your formula for the soap and FO amounts. That will help us out if you put too much in. Link for mold say 1 to 2 lbs so I am guessing here that it is closer to 2 lbs than one.

 

[christinak]

Well, the mold says 1 lb CP and 2 lb Glycerine. I made CP so I did a recipe for 1 lb. It only filled it half way up though so I think the next time I will double the recipe and see what happens.