Not sure how this one will turn out...

[DWinMadison]

The plan was to use a divider to put a swirl on 1/3 of the side leaving the other 2/3 mostly white. I poured at very, very light trace. It feels really oily to me coming out of the mold. Even thought I used TD...and a fair amount, its pretty yellow at this point, but I’m guessing it’ll whiten as it dries. Clove/Orange/Patchouli

 

[cmzaha]

I think they look great

 

[DWinMadison]

Thanks, cmzaha. They may be, I’m worried about the oiliness. I guess that they didn’t rice or have oil pockets is a good sign. I used avocado oil for the first time (about 6%). I believe that made the soap darker than usual. Anybody have trouble with clove oil...not something I generally use. Normall my soaps reach thick trace really quickly...thus my gun-jumping this time.

 

[SYT]

Thanks, cmzaha. They may be, I’m worried about the oiliness. I guess that they didn’t rice or have oil pockets is a good sign. I used avocado oil for the first time (about 6%). I believe that made the soap darker than usual. Anybody have trouble with clove oil...not something I generally use. Normall my soaps reach thick trace really quickly...thus my gun-jumping this time.

I used refined olive oil with 15% EVOO as a 1/3-1/5 of my oils and it doesn't darken or green up noticeably, as EVOO would. But your soap is beautiful! I like the pattern and colors you chose.

 

[DWinMadison]

I used refined olive oil with 15% EVOO as a 1/3-1/5 of my oils and it doesn't darken or green up noticeably, as EVOO would. But your soap is beautiful! I like the pattern and colors you chose.

Thanks, I buy the “extra light” olive oil right off the grocery aisle to help with the color. I think it was a combo of the avocado oil and clove that darkened this batch.

My typical recipe includes coconut, palm, olive, lard in roughly equal proportions, then smaller amounts of castor then I finish off with something extra (safflower, sunflower, sweet almond, walnut, etc.)

If it lightens up a lot as it cures, I’ll post updates.

The colorants are always interesting. I obsess over trying to match the colors to the scent to the point of sometimes not enjoying the process.

 

[SYT]

Well please take my info as from a newbie , I get my olive oils and avocado oils, coconut oil from Costco. I know that store is not everywhere. But it saves a bit for me. I love those colors are they mica , pigment or what?

 

[DWinMadison]

Well please take my info as from a newbie , I get my olive oils and avocado oils, coconut oil from Costco. I know that store is not everywhere. But it saves a bit for me. I love those colors are they mica , pigment or what?

You’re very kind to say that. The red is a combo of red oxide (which is a brownish red) and Rocco Red mica (Nature Soaps) that I used to hopefully red-it-up a bit and there is a brown comprised of brown oxide and ground walnut shell. I was thinking, “what does clove look like other than brown?” So that’s what I went with.

My loaf makes 13 bars @ 3.5” x 2.5” x 1”. I need to made a smaller mold, so if I mess up it’s not loss. We’re getting a Costco soon (under construction).

 

[SYT]

Beautiful. I want to experiment more. Hopefully I be able to make what I envision someday!

 

[Dawni]

I think those look awesome.. Nice swirls and not too busy.

I've not used it but I heard somewhere that some oranges can lend color slightly?

But even if it doesn't lighten up it's really nice to look at

 

[DWinMadison]

Beautiful. I want to experiment more. Hopefully I be able to make what I envision someday!

Every now and again that happens for me. Usually it’s more serendipity...finding something just as good or better along the way. Unsolicited advice: Don’t let the [quest for] perfection become the enemy of the good. I struggle with that. I know how to make great, well balanced soap, but I sometimes let the perfect color, perfect swirl, perfect scent, perfect... zap the fun right out of it. It’s like golf. You take a lot of crappy shots, but it’s the one long, perfect drive that keeps you coming back. I try to remember, this is not how I feed my family.

 

[SYT]

Every now and again that happens for me. Usually it’s more serendipity...finding something just as good or better along the way. Unsolicited advice: Don’t let the [quest for] perfection become the enemy of the good. I struggle with that. I know how to make great, well balanced soap, but I sometimes let the perfect color, perfect swirl, perfect scent, perfect... zap the fun right out of it. It’s like golf. You take a lot of crappy shots, but it’s the one long, perfect drive that keeps you coming back. I try to remember, this is not how I feed my family.

Thanks for that good advice. I'm more looking for creating and expression than perfection. With our family I've so enjoyed serendipity and the individuality , I love the process! Soap is another adventure!

 

[DWinMadison]

Thanks for that good advice. I'm more looking for creating and expression than perfection. With our family I've so enjoyed serendipity and the individuality , I love the process! Soap is another adventure!

I’ve been making soap off on for several years...just for family and gifts for friends, church fund raisers, etc. lots of way more knowledgeable folks on here than me, but if I can ever help, just yell. No question too small.

 

[SaltedFig]

I like the look of them too - the combination of red and brown does look reminiscent of cloves

(Clove does heat a little bit, and the oiliness looks a bit like of heating - it should re-absorb - there's not too much)

I've had yellow from avocado - it does fade to cream over time (same as green EVOO does). I reckon your soap will both look beautiful and be lovely to use - I hope you show a photo again after the cure

 

[lsg]

I too, like your soap. As was stated, the soap might reabsorb the oiliness as it dries and cures.

 

[dibbles]

Lovely I have that 'color needs to match the fragrance' thing too. It takes a bit of work to mentally get past it.

 

[SYT]

I’ve been making soap off on for several years...just for family and gifts for friends, church fund raisers, etc. lots of way more knowledgeable folks on here than me, but if I can ever help, just yell. No question too small.

I've been making soap off and on since taking one class 2 yrs ago. More off than on until recently and I'm really enjoying it and the ability to give things handmade is always a joy. This forum is such an encouraging learning place, I'm so glad I stumbled upon it. And yes questions keep popping up as I go along. Thanks again.

 

[DWinMadison]

I think those look awesome.. Nice swirls and not too busy.

I've not used it but I heard somewhere that some oranges can lend color slightly?

But even if it doesn't lighten up it's really nice to look at

You are correct. They make some clear oranges, but mine is dark. That and the clove (also dark) didn’t help either. Now that I’m pondering it, I added the EOs only to my white soap (about 60% of total) because I was afraid of accelerating trace in the small colored batches, so ALL of those dark oils went into my 60% “white,” and I didn’t stick blend the EOs in, because I had already used the blender in the colored soap. SO, that oil I’m seeing is likely the EO that I didn’t fully blend into my white soap before pouring. ***Ding Ding.

 

[Appalasia]

The plan was to use a divider to put a swirl on 1/3 of the side leaving the other 2/3 mostly white. I poured at very, very light trace. It feels really oily to me coming out of the mold. Even thought I used TD...and a fair amount, its pretty yellow at this point, but I’m guessing it’ll whiten as it dries. Clove/Orange/Patchouli
View attachment 36208

That looks fantastic!

 

[earlene]

I believe patchouli discolors, so you it may not whiten up during cure.

Clove essential oil can really speed up trace, but I don't recall if I noticed it discoloring the soap or not. All I remember is the problem I had with it speeding trace. It may have even riced.

 

[shunt2011]

They turned out nice. I agree that patchouli does darken a bit and Orange discolors as well. At least mine does. So, even with TD it won’t be white. But you should be proud. You did well.