New to soaping!

[BrittanyJRW]

Hi! My name is Brittany & I just made my very first batch of CP soap. I have been reading for a couple months now & finally decided to order some supplies & give it a go. I made an olive, coconut, & castor oil soap scented with lavender fo & swirled with blue & violet ultramarines. I'm actually really pleased with how it turned out considering it was my first batch.

I do have a question, however, if anyone would care to help. After pouring, I wrapped it in plastic wrap & a couple towels & ended up letting it sit for 72 hours because it still felt so soft. When I cut it, it was still pretty soft. It was even sticking to my soap cutter a little. Is that normal or should I have let it sit in the mold a little longer?

http://img202.imageshack.us/g/img1092tz.jpg/

 

[Hazel]

Hi Brittany,

Your soap is beautiful and your swirls are fabulous! And this was your first batch? I'm sooo jealous now.

I think you've found your calling. BTW, welcome to the forum.

I've always had a little soap stick to my cutter but I'm not very experienced with making soap. Be patient...someone will be along in a little while to answer your question.

 

[BrittanyJRW]

Thanks! Yes, it was my first batch. I watched this video like 5 times before making it. http://www.magdoline.com/2010/03/kb-shi ... video.html

Good to know I'm not the only one having soap sticking problems.

 

[Hazel]

Thanks for posting the link. I didn't have time to watch all of it but I'll watch it later.

Your first batch is excellent. I'm sure by the time you make a few more batchs your soap will be amazing.

 

[judymoody]

How beautiful! And your first batch too. I haven't attempted a swirl yet. (I'm only on batch 4) Congratulations!

 

[carebear]

it's lovely!
If you have proportionally a lot of olive oil, and a dilute lye solutino, then it can take a few extra days to harden. Don't worry!

 

[Mayren]

Welcome to the addiction! we are all enablers here at heart. (wink)

 

[cwarren]

Welcome - you will love all the helpful people here !

 

[cmd439]

Hi! My name is Brittany & I just made my very first batch of CP soap. I have been reading for a couple months now & finally decided to order some supplies & give it a go. I made an olive, coconut, & castor oil soap scented with lavender fo & swirled with blue & violet ultramarines. I'm actually really pleased with how it turned out considering it was my first batch.

I do have a question, however, if anyone would care to help. After pouring, I wrapped it in plastic wrap & a couple towels & ended up letting it sit for 72 hours because it still felt so soft. When I cut it, it was still pretty soft. It was even sticking to my soap cutter a little. Is that normal or should I have let it sit in the mold a little longer?

http://img202.imageshack.us/g/img1092tz.jpg/

It looks great, what was your recipe?

 

[BrittanyJRW]

Olive oil- 21 oz.
Coconut oil- 10.5 oz.
Castor oil- 2 Tbsp.
Water- 12 oz.
Lye- 4.8 oz.

2 Tbsp. lavender FO
Not sure exactly how much of the ultramarines I used.

 

[Hazel]

I wrapped it in plastic wrap & a couple towels & ended up letting it sit for 72 hours because it still felt so soft. When I cut it, it was still pretty soft. It was even sticking to my soap cutter a little. Is that normal or should I have let it sit in the mold a little longer?

http://img202.imageshack.us/g/img1092tz.jpg/

Should Brittany have left the soap in the mold longer? I'm curious to know what experienced soapers have to say about this since I also get soap sticking on the cutter.

 

[Muzhik]

I wrapped it in plastic wrap & a couple towels & ended up letting it sit for 72 hours because it still felt so soft. When I cut it, it was still pretty soft. It was even sticking to my soap cutter a little. Is that normal or should I have let it sit in the mold a little longer?

http://img202.imageshack.us/g/img1092tz.jpg/

Should Brittany have left the soap in the mold longer? I'm curious to know what experienced soapers have to say about this since I also get soap sticking on the cutter.

I'm a beginning soap maker too, but inexperience has never been a barrier to having an opinion, so...

I think so long as the mess didn't melt like butter in the sun when you took it out from the mold, you're good to go. Let it cure for 4 weeks before using -- that will firm it up.

 

[BrittanyJRW]

Thanks for all the encouraging words from everyone! I'm thinking that I might let it sit for a couple days next time in the mold, then take it out of the loaf & let it sit for 24 hours before cutting to see if it hardens better outside of the silicone.

 

[HenleyNatural]

Hi Brittnay, welcome to the forum! Your soaps looks wonderful. After you take the soap out of the mold and let it set for awhile remove the corner pieces. Then let it set for awhile longer and remove a few more pieces on the side. Slowly work your way to the center of the soap. Exposing the soap to the open air helps it to firm up.

Steve