New from Kentucky !

Kates50 · Dec 6, 2018

Hi Everyone,

I have been wanting to learn the power of soap making for some time and after reading this forum, I'm scared to death. It's easy to pull a recipe off Pinterest and hope for the best. However, if it's anything like cooking ( of which I've had some awful taste experiences), you're more or less trusting that the person you're learning from didnt just have first timers luck or are copying and pasting..ahem..their own recipes.

So I've been gathering my supplies in hopes that one day I will overcome my fear of saponification failure and will some day be listed as one of the great soap making masters of the universe. In the meantime, I'm happy to be here (by way of an algorithmic case of spying). Cough.. Google.

Thanks for your knowledge and wisdom. I now feel 1 step closer to a mathematical and chemical calculation mental breakdown. Yes, but thank you still.

Kate

shunt2011 · Dec 6, 2018

Hi Kate and welcome. Check out the forum for some excellent recipes. Also get familiar with using a soap calculator so you can run any recipe through to be sure it’s correct. Soapcalc.net or soapee.com are good. If in doubt run your ideas here for feedback.

IrishLass · Dec 6, 2018

Welcome, Kate!

IrishLass

Relle · Dec 7, 2018

Welcome Kate

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JanelleTrebuna · Dec 7, 2018

Welcome Kate! I live just outside of Louisville (12 years) and have been making soap now for 2 years.
I was very scared and intimidated the first time I soaped, in fact I was sweating so badly from fear of the lye that I fogged up my eye protection and couldn't see. I also showered immediately afterwards because I was afraid I might have gotten some lye on me.
Now soap making is one of my greatest joys!!

Its so much fun to create and choose fragrance and color and even the shape it will take.
My advice would be to read as much as you can and watch some soap making videos on You Tube.
Start simple. Use a few basic oils you can easily find and don't worry about colors and scents right off the bat.
Work on finding a recipe that you enjoy showering with. Then start adding in a scent.
After you've mastered the basics, then learn to add colors. That is my focus for the upcoming year.
My very first soap was Soaping 101's dollar store soap. (Her video is on You Tube)
You should run all your recipes through a calculator like Soap Calc.
Ask questions here, as there are many knowledgeable people who have been making soap for years.

Then just take a deep breath and jump!!

Janelle