That's it, my first batch :)

[mzz]

Here we go, my first post... I've been around for a few weeks and today I finally opened an account, because this forum is truly awesome

This week I made my first two CP batches (20oz each).
First batch was 50% OO, 25% PO, 20% CO and 5% Castor, SF 6%, no additives.

Second batch was Honey & Oatmeal. It had a similar base, but I added some cocoa butter, 1 tbsp honey and 1 tbsp oatmeal. SF 6%.
Everything went as it should... I guess

My next batch will be similar with OO, CO, PO, CB and some Castor, but I plan to add 1 tsp kaolin clay and 1 tsp sugar. Is it ok to add both?
Recipe numbers are:
hrd - 37
cln - 14
cnd - 60
bbl - 19
crm - 29
iod - 61
ins - 146

How does it look?
This time my goal was 60 conditioning. I don't think it will be too soft, do you?
What is your favourite range for hardness or INS?
How long would a soap with 30-35 hardness or 135-145 INS last? Do you find these ranges too soft?

GL and enjoy

PS: I think I'm already addicted

 

[dandelion]

very nice! congrats

 

[Genny]

They look beautiful

I don't worry about the INS numbers since usually my favorite recipes never fall within the suggested INS range.

You can add clay & sugar in the same recipe. Are you going to dissolve the sugar in your water before adding your lye?

 

[new12soap]

Welcome to the forum your soaps looks great!

I don't pay a lot of attention to INS either, and your bars should cure nice and hard. The hardness number doesn't mean you can hammer in a nail with it, it refers to how soluble your soap will be in water. Just make sure you use a well draining soap dish (I put my soap on a sponge) so the bar dries out well between uses and doesn't get mushy and they should be fine. How long they will last is hard to predict, depends on your water, how many people are using it, how it's used... but don't worry, you will always want to make more than you can use!

Welcome to the addiction

 

[jkm8113]

I am a newbie too, and I am impressed. You did a great job with the tube mold, mine came out with some funny edges (I am sure I didn't wait long enough before trying to take it out--lack of patience).

Took me three batches fore I had my first problem batch, and it was humbling. The first two went so well, I thought I had the hang of soapmaking already. Soap sure showed me.

 

[mzz]

Thank you guys!

Are you going to dissolve the sugar in your water before adding your lye?

Yes, I will dissolve it in water before adding the lye.

And clay... I plan to hydrate it in 1 tbsp water and then mix it with oils, before adding the lye solution.
Do you hydrate it? Is there any other good option?

 

[Hazel]

Congratulations on your first batches and welcome to the forum!

Your soap looks lovely! Your first batch is very similar to what I make and as long as you dry it out between uses as new12soap mentioned it will be fine. I can't really say how long a bar lasts because I tend to switch back and forth between bars. I'm guessing an approximately 4 oz bar lasts me several weeks. However, I did notice a bar lasts longer when I put it into an organza bag. I think this might be because I'm not rubbing it a lot to get it to lather up. The organza acts like a luffa or wash cloth and increases the lather rapidly and helps spread it further.

BTW, I had a batch with hardness 31 and conditioning 66 and the bars lasted awhile so I wouldn't worry too much about a lower value. Most of my batches do fall into a range of 35-38 with a high conditioning value. It really depends on what you like. Also, I ignore the INS number but I do pay attention to the Iodine number. I try to keep that below 70 so I hopefully my soap won't go rancid. It would probably be okay a little higher but this is just something I do. Susan has a great explanation on her blog about iodine value. http://swiftcraftymonkey.blogspot.com/2 ... -that.html

 

[Lindy]

Absolutely lovely and great job on your first soap!

 

[danahuff]

Your soap looks great! How brave of you to try round ones. I still haven't done that yet. I will. Eventually! I am absolutely addicted after only six weeks myself. Love your soap! Wait until you get to use it!

 

[Lynnz]

How beautiful is that soap!!!!! I adore round soap and the colour is gorgeous well done. I am not one who really uses soapcalc so cannot comment on that side of things I just up my hard oils if I think a recipe will be too soft. But all said and done I am going to go and have a play

 

[soapcakes]

Beautiful, congrats!!!

 

[judymoody]

It looks terrific!

I love a conditioning bar with modest lather. I'm sure your skin will thank you for it too.

Well done!

 

[Cosmo]

Your soap looks great! My regular recipe only has a hardness value of 35. To make the soap harder, I discount water and add sodium lactate to my lye water at 1 tsp per pound. The sodium lactate really, really helps! If I don't use it, my soap dissolves much more quickly in the shower and can get gooey, even after a long cure. With the sodium lactate, the gooeyness factor is not there at all. I don't pay attention to INS, either.

 

[honor435]

welcome, you could up your castor to 10% to get more bubbles. looks good.

 

[mzz]

I see that most people use 5% castor... Is 10% still OK or it will make a sticky bar? I think I'll try 7-8% first and 10% some other time

Thanks everyone, much appreciated

 

[Hazel]

I use 10% in several batches and I've never had a problem with stickiness. But I also don't live in an area that has a lot of humidity...normally. It's a bit muggy right now.