It looks like stearic acid flakes to me.
My question is this: if the steric acid was not reacted because it was not melted and mixed well, what chance is there of free lye still in the soap?
This weekend I made my first shaving soap. It was a hot process soap, and used a recipe posted by a fellow forum poster at one of the wet shaving forums.
I did a small batch (8 oz). 52% stearic acid, 48% coconut oil, saponified with KOH. I added 1.5 tablespoons of glycerin after it was done cooking, along with 1/4 oz of essential oils: 2/3 lemon & bergamot, 1/3 rosemary.
The soap making went fine, with no surprises aside from the soap never becoming truly translucent like my olive oil soap did. It passed the zap test, though.
I used it to shave tonight, and it was lovely. Nice and slick, and there was no skin reaction to the EOs. My face feels very nice afterward.
The scent turned out too lemony, and the rosemary was lost underneath. Next time, more basenotes and less lemon.
Just after pouring:
After 24 hours to set:
Whipped up a great lather:
It was very stable. This is after sitting 15 minutes while I showered and brushed my teeth:
This one came from another soaper trying to reverse engineer Martin de Candre over on the Badger and Blade forum
I added it right at the beginning. I melted it along with the coconut oil.
This one had a 5% superfat.
Does this make a hard shaving bar or puck?
Hi, Mark -- You are right: DH = dear husband. DS = dear son.
Yes, I do very much like the soap. DH has continued to use it to shave with as well -- he has a half dozen other bars of soap to lather up with, but he is consistently grabbing the shaving soap when he reaches for his razor. (I am monitoring his shaving activities with a stealthy hawk's eye -- I figure if I pry, he will get self conscious and use the shaving soap just to please me, but if I just watch, I can gather the unbiased info I want.)
I have given samples to several friends, but I have yet to get a sample to my stepson (aka DS) who lives a few hours away. I have one bar earmarked just for him. Hubby eagerly begged a couple of samples to give to the gals who work in his office. After all that sharing with others, I have almost nothing left of my first batch.
Such a sad state of affairs -- I get to make more soap!
I have been reading about shaving soaps off an on. It seems as if there are several broad groups, only a few of which that I've read about. The first, obviously, are the coconut oil based soaps like the MdC (probably the least common type?) You and FFC talked about soap that have added lanolin such as Mitchells Wool Fat (kind of an old-school recipe?). Another type I'm picking up on are the soaps that have tallow as the main ingredient (I'm thinking of Williams Mug Soap). Any other types that you know of?
I can see each type has its ardent fans and detractors -- the reports and ensuing debates are amusing to read. I think it would be fun to develop two distinct types of shaving soaps. The MdC type is obviously one I am going to play with more. What would you say is another generally popular type that would be worth learning about and developing?
Does this produce a firm shaving soap bar or puck?? Or is it too soft to sell at Craft Shows???
I would strongly recommend against copying a recipe and selling it at craft shows. Soapmaking Forum has a great article that explains the pitfalls which can occur. Having limited knowledge of your products and what they contain can open you up to severe legal repercussion, let alone getting sued because someone gets a rash or whatnot.Does this produce a firm shaving soap bar or puck?? Or is it too soft to sell at Craft Shows???
There is plenty of information on the recipes used already posted, in this thread and many others. As you just want to get something spoon fed to you for you to go on to sell, I would hope the least you could do is actually read the posts
I highly suggest you start by making it and then testing it. Then you will likely want to tweak it to your liking. Selling shouldn't even be a thought until well tested.
This weekend I made my first shaving soap. It was a hot process soap, and used a recipe posted by a fellow forum poster at one of the wet shaving forums.
I did a small batch (8 oz). 52% stearic acid, 48% coconut oil, saponified with KOH. I added 1.5 tablespoons of glycerin after it was done cooking, along with 1/4 oz of essential oils: 2/3 lemon & bergamot, 1/3 rosemary.
The soap making went fine, with no surprises aside from the soap never becoming truly translucent like my olive oil soap did. It passed the zap test, though.
I used it to shave tonight, and it was lovely. Nice and slick, and there was no skin reaction to the EOs. My face feels very nice afterward.
The scent turned out too lemony, and the rosemary was lost underneath. Next time, more basenotes and less lemon.
Just after pouring:
After 24 hours to set:
Whipped up a great lather:
It was very stable. This is after sitting 15 minutes while I showered and brushed my teeth:
Can you share where you found the recipe? Im looking for one for my husband. Thanks!
When do you add the stearic acid? I really want to make this.
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