My first silk soap

[Jaaret]

Okay, I made my first batch of soap with raw silk dissolved in the lye back in early December and am now using it. Here are my initial impressions:

- It feels like the bars have more slip to them
- I think the lather is a littler creamier

I could be mistaken, but I think a tiny amount of silk added to a 4.5 pound batch of soap did make a difference in the resuling bars. I will continue adding a bit of silk to my soaps. The small amount of raw silk I purchased will last me for years, I am sure.

Fellow silk soap makers, are there any other qualities you feel silk adds to your bars?

 

[Lindy]

Hey there Jaaret,

Haven't seen you for a few days! I have become totally addicted to silk in my soap. Like you I find it does add slip and smoother lather. I also find that I like the "feel" of the bar more and I feel like it is more moisturizing.....now that could just be because I like the soap.... 8)

 

[Jo]

How much?

Hello ya'll.
How much silk is a "tiny amount"? In your 4.5 lbs of soap.....how much would you use? Maybe about the size of the end of your thumb?..or more? Thanksss....I"m still trying to learn before I press on.

 

[topcat]

Hi Jaaret - I really feel the silk also makes my skin feel - well - 'silkier' after I am dried off. I will have a comparison batch ready to use in about 2 weeks. I made the same recipe up first without silk and now with silk. It will be interesting to see what difference if any I find.

Tanya

 

[starduster]

Stepping down the silk road

Congratulations on one more new soaping experience .
I am sure I and many others will follow in your footsteps soon.

 

[Lindy]

Silly me - I do have a comparison soap! My kitchen soap is now made with Silk and it is the only difference in the recipe. The difference in the feel of the soap is beyond description. If I was such a cheapskate I would get rid of the coffee soap without it but well there you have it - my secret it out - I'm just a plain ol' cheapskate.... :? :?

Back on topic here and to your question Jaaret - yes there are IMM huge differences between soap with and without the raw silk. I'm using the equivalent of my thumb - which isn't all that big as thumbs - good thing i'm a girl huh?

HTH

 

[abigtroutt]

Where do you buy raw silk for your soaps?

 

[digit]

Where do you buy raw silk for your soaps?

I got mine from Paul aka Soapmaker man. Very nice and clean. I don't see it in his Etsy store, but you can ask him if he has more for sale. I add silk to all my bars now. A little will last a long time.

Digit

 

[Jaaret]

Silk

How much silk is a "tiny amount"? In your 4.5 lbs of soap.....how much would you use? Maybe about the size of the end of your thumb?..or more?

I used an amount the size my thumbnail. I put it on my scale and it registered 1 gram (which should be taken with a grain of salt as I don’t think my scale is accurate down to such a small amount)

I will have a comparison batch ready to use in about 2 weeks. I made the same recipe up first without silk and now with silk. It will be interesting to see what difference if any I find.

I look forward to reading about your comparisons!

Where do you buy raw silk for your soaps?

I purchased un-dyed tussah silk from Aurora Silk:

http://www.aurorasilk.com/fibers/tussah_silk.html

Also, I’ve been using my first silk bars as a facial shaving soap and I do think the silk leaves my face feeling silkier. I think silk makes a great addition to shaving bars.

 

[carebear]

I generally use about half a gram for a 2# batch. But I really just pull off a pinch without measuring. Just put it in your water and then add your lye in right on top. Stir. I weight mine down with the spoon while the solution cools and then ignore any residual threads (which will be goopy looking) cause they disappear in the soap even if you just stir.