Using goat milk?

[sakura1024]

I am new to soapmaking. I've always had an interest in it, as well as making other homeopathic spa products, but I've decided to start trying it. My husband and I would like to start a farm when we move home to NC, and we would like to sell homemade items along with the meat, dairy and produce items. I want to start my trial and error phase now so that I can make sure the product I produce to sell is of the best quality. Not to mention, I need to get some practice in!

Here's my problem: I want to start with melt and pour (or hand milling, not sure if this is the same thing) just to get some practice in and have some mixtures that I know work well. I like the idea of hand milling because it maintains the integrity and the properties of any EOs or herbs I use (I do not plan to use any FOs or dyes since they have no medicinal properties). I know I can use a goat milk base, but I have to find a way to use our OWN goat milk for it to benefit us .

Is there a way for me to purchase a standard soap base for use as M&P, then add my own milk, butters and oils? Any help would be greatly appreciated!

 

[soapbuddy]

Hand milling is cold process soap that's been rebatched. MP is also called glycerin soap that easily remeltable. For MP I would not add more then a TBS. of any oil or butter. As far as fresh milk, since it doesn't saponify, it could go rancid on you.

 

[sakura1024]

That's what I was afraid of. I guess in this initial learning phase, I could just rebatch premade goat milk soap, right? Can you add additional oils/butters in a rebatch? This way, I could learn mixtures before I start working with the lye. I don't know why I'm so afraid of the lye, either, because I am excellent at chemistry (I took Advanced Forensic Chemistry in college - I can do DNA typing for Heaven's sake!) and I love it. I guess I'm just afraid of having it in our small house around our little girls.

I'm just trying to find some combinations of oils/butters and EOs that work properly before I mess up a batch of CP soap and have it too soft or crumble or, Heaven forbid, have something caustic.