My first halfway decent swirled soap - Pics

[oldragbagger]

I tried some new stuff last night, some of it worked, some of it "not so much".

First I swirled in the pot. That came out okay. Certainly not as artistic as what most of you girls do, but I it's not awful. I used ultramarine violet from Brambleberry. I also put a half teaspoon of TD in the base to have a nicer contrast. That was also a first. Okay, but the powder seems to be a bit messy. I have ordered a LabColor to try. I think I'll like that better.

Didn't use shea butter. I'll have to see about that. I ALWAYS use shea butter (except on the rare occassion that I use cocoa butter). Also used powdered goatsmilk which I added at a light trace.

But the shocker was the Brambleberry Lavender FO. I had read good reviews of it, but I have to say I don't like it one bit. My husband smelled it and said, "hmmm. it smells like soap". He didn't mean "your wonderful handmade lavender soap" (which he absolutely loves), he meant "from the grocery store soap".

Unfortunately I bought 8 ounces of the FO. In the past I have made my lavender soap with finely ground grosso lavender buds and fine french lavender EO from Camden Grey and I tell you, it's to die for. Everyone that has smelled or used it absolutely loves it. But the fine french is expensive and I had read good things about Brambleberry's so I thought I'd save a couple of bucks and give it a try. Big mistake.

I didn't use the ground lavender buds in this batch, maybe I'll do that next time and see if it improves the smell. But from now on I'm buying the EO, expensive or not!! I guess you have to pick your battles, some things just aren't worth compromising on.

It's only been 12 hours and still is too soft to cut into bars. I probably shouldn't even have unmolded it but I couldn't wait any longer to see how it turned out.

 

[Guest]

Beautiful now and gonna be "kicking" when you slice it! What you said is so very true about fragrant oil. I'm a returning soaper to the scene and know nothing of the current FO's. I've already learned some hard lessons.

15 years ago, soapers worried if their soap would trace and if they would have any scent left --- these days, soapers wonder about FOs.

Congrats on "branching out" -- trying new things is the most-fun part of soapmaking, I think.

 

[MsBien]

Wow, that's really beautiful, and huge! How many pounds of soap did you make?

Maybe the scent will change with time...

Stacie

 

[oldragbagger]

Wow, that's really beautiful, and huge! How many pounds of soap did you make?

Maybe the scent will change with time...

Stacie

Actually, I guess the photos just make it look big. It's a 1.5 lb. mold, will make 6 bars. I always use my baby mold when I am trying something new.

 

[rubyslippers]

Beautiful soap oldragbagger! I bought some lavender FO from Wholesalesuppliesplus - the stuff makes me want to gag. I thought what is all the fuss about lavender - I can't stand the stuff. Then I went to a local oil shoppe and smelled the REAL stuff. Oh my gosh - that is definitely on my wish list. Same can be said for Sandalwood - there are just some things you should not compromise on; two being lavender and sandalwood.

 

[LJA]

That's a gorgeous swirl, ORB!!

 

[Vic1963]

I love it...for some reason I am always drawn to purple swirls...lol.

 

[jadiebugs1]

Beautiful soap oldragbagger! I bought some lavender FO from Wholesalesuppliesplus - the stuff makes me want to gag. I thought what is all the fuss about lavender - I can't stand the stuff. Then I went to a local oil shoppe and smelled the REAL stuff. Oh my gosh - that is definitely on my wish list. Same can be said for Sandalwood - there are just some things you should not compromise on; two being lavender and sandalwood.

I think WSP has different Lavender FOs but I tried one from them and loved it. I think it smells most like the EO that I've encountered so far. And sandalwood is yet another that I can't seem to find a 'real' or earthy FO. They are either too perfumey or have no scent.
I make my Lavender Olive Oil soap with ground buds and EO (i think I'm also going back to another supplier after trying WSP's, I didn't like their EO) also, and love it. I use the FO in my MP soaps.

Oh, beautiful swirls (soap) btw!

 

[Healinya]

"Halfway decent"?? No way, they are perfect! I have lavender fo from wsp too. It doesn't make me gag, but I definately wasn't as impressed as I hoped I'd be.. but, mix it with patchouli... and it's delicious. Or peppermint - I love the smell of lavender and peppermint together - relaxing and refreshing.

 

[wookie130]

Your swirls came out beautifully! The color is perfect!

As far as the lavender FO goes, I agree with Healinya...try mixing it with another fragrance, and see if it makes it more appealing to you.

 

[jarvan]

I'm a sucker for the purple. There is no such thing as a "bad" swirl, some are just very unique and yours is anything but halfway decent...it ROCKS! You are a swirl rockstar! Congrats and I cant wait to see cuts.

 

[Guest]

You nailed the swirling thing , it looks fantastic , I love purple too. The scent will change a bit as it cures . You might end up loving it

Kitn

 

[heyjude]

Lovely swirls and thanks for the heads up on the BB lavender Fo. I only have a 1 oz sample, but I'll be sure to mix it with something!

Jude

 

[Rosey]

it's beautiful! I can't wait to see what it looks like when you unmold it!

 

[Egzandra]

That is a beautiful soap. Looking forward to seeing it cut up!

 

[artisan soaps]

..

 

[Guest]

Very pretty soap, it DOES look huge in the pic LOL

 

[oldragbagger]

Cut Pics - Problems

Wow... thanks everyone for all your kind comments. I really appreciate the support, and also the suggestions. I will definitely take a look at combining this lavender with something else to improve it.

Well, here are the cut pics and there are a couple of disappointments here. First of all, even though I used goats milk powder and added it at trace I have (in addition to stinky lavender) that burned milk smell going on, and the insides are an orangish color even though I used TD. AND if you look at the second picture, it almost has a curdled look to it or something. I washed my hands with one of the shavings I cut off the end and it lathers nice and all that, but all in all, even though I do like the swirl, I would not consider this soap a success.

:cry:

 

[oldragbagger]

That looks wonderful - can't wait to see it cut into bars!!

As for the scent, Lav is the one EO I'm sticking with too after a similar disappointment, but to use up your FO you can do a 50/50 mix with the real thing

Great suggestion Artisan, and with some ground up lavender buds thrown in, that should disguise it pretty well. At least it will make that expensive EO go farther, right?

 

[topcat]

Definitely gorgeous swirls ORB! Give the bars time to cure and they may grow on you :wink:

I do an eo blend that you may like to try with your lavender fo....3 parts may chang (litsea) to one part lavender. Everyone loves it, and I do mean everyone, and the lavender is the base/grounding note, so not crucial that it is high quality eo....the fo may work well?

Tanya