Verdict on my charcoal soaps

[Derpina Bubbles]

So, the wonders of activated charcoal. I think it makes great filters for cigarettes. I don't even smoke. I'll even pay that it colours the soap nicely. As for it's other properties, not sold on em in soap. Sure I haven't used this soap for overly long, but I'm kinda over the funky grey shower base I now have. I'm officially reporting for those that wanted to know, the suds were grey. Rather grey. Insidiously so. The soap felt nice but no different to other soaps with the same oils and added clay. No miracles occurred but I thought I saw the face of Michael Buble on one of the soaps, but I rubbed the soap again and he was gone :cry:.

Photos of not so saucy shades of grey attached. I couldn't bring myself to photograph the designer scum in the shower so I just quickly washed with the soap and put it in the basin to give you all the general idea.

 

[MzMolly65]

I thought I saw the face of Michael Buble on one of the soaps

Don't you mean Michael Bubble .. LOL .. sorry, couldn't resist! Thanks for the feedback, your timing is excellent because I was just thinking about making a charcoal bar and this has changed my mind.

I hate scrubbing the shower and this would only make it more of an icky chore.

 

[judymoody]

I love your posts. You have a great sense of humor.

I use black oxide. A little goes a very long way and the stain factor isn't noticeable, at least not to me.

Maybe when I remodel the bath I should choose a color that blends well with off-color lather.

 

[NurseEmily]

I'd be stoked to see Michael Buble in my shower. In any shade. I've heard what they say about him... I've seen his video...

I ordered a bar of soap with activated charcoal before I ever made soap and I learned right away the AC makes dark bubbles and suds that can be a little off putting. I now reserve the AC for one bar I make for boys and kinda sprinkle it in after I pour half the soap into the mold of HP and do an in-mold swirl. It adds a nice visual touch but I'd be hesitant to make a soap with it as the main colorant because of what you posted about.

 

[Obsidian]

I have some charcoal soap that I need to start using up but I can't stand the grey lather. It smells fantastic too, maybe my hubby will like it and not mind the icky bubbles.
I'll stick to black oxide for black color but I suppose the charcoal will be ok for grey colors.

 

[Soap Techniques]

In my experience, black oxide is more likely to cause grey lather than charcoal. I use activated charcoal at 1 tsp ppo and I don't get colored lather.

 

[Derpina Bubbles]

Don't you mean Michael Bubble .. LOL .. sorry, couldn't resist! Thanks for the feedback, your timing is excellent because I was just thinking about making a charcoal bar and this has changed my mind.

I hate scrubbing the shower and this would only make it more of an icky chore.

Technically it was a Michael Bubble that I saw *sorry, I'll hit myself for that one.

Yeah the mess isn't worth it for me, but it sure does make a nice looking black soap colour.

 

[Derpina Bubbles]

I love your posts. You have a great sense of humor.

I use black oxide. A little goes a very long way and the stain factor isn't noticeable, at least not to me.

Maybe when I remodel the bath I should choose a color that blends well with off-color lather.

Black oxide is now my go to choice too. I was hoping for the added therapeutic benefits of the charcoal cause clearly I need therapy, but it just isn't to be.

 

[Derpina Bubbles]

I'd be stoked to see Michael Buble in my shower. In any shade. I've heard what they say about him... I've seen his video...

I ordered a bar of soap with activated charcoal before I ever made soap and I learned right away the AC makes dark bubbles and suds that can be a little off putting. I now reserve the AC for one bar I make for boys and kinda sprinkle it in after I pour half the soap into the mold of HP and do an in-mold swirl. It adds a nice visual touch but I'd be hesitant to make a soap with it as the main colorant because of what you posted about.

I was thrilled to see Michael Buble even for a brief visit. I'd scrub my shower for him any time.

 

[Derpina Bubbles]

I have some charcoal soap that I need to start using up but I can't stand the grey lather. It smells fantastic too, maybe my hubby will like it and not mind the icky bubbles.
I'll stick to black oxide for black color but I suppose the charcoal will be ok for grey colors.

Now that you mention it, using it for grey could work well. Maybe less is more with the stuff.

 

[Derpina Bubbles]

In my experience, black oxide is more likely to cause grey lather than charcoal. I use activated charcoal at 1 tsp ppo and I don't get colored lather.

I've only used black oxide in smaller amounts for swirls, not as a base colour like I did with the charcoal so will have to test this out. I've read plenty of people saying they have little colour with charcoal which is why I tried it. Not sure why mine is ready to lather up a lovely grey. I know the charcoal is very popular, just not my cup of tea I guess.

 

[Lin]

I didn't know who Michael Buble was, so I googled it. His wiki said he was a Canadian "bolo licker" and "professional faibu artist" So I'm like, what on earth is that? But googling those only brings results back to his wiki page.... Methinks maybe its been changed as a joke?

 

[Derpina Bubbles]

I didn't know who Michael Buble was, so I googled it. His wiki said he was a Canadian "bolo licker" and "professional faibu artist" So I'm like, what on earth is that? But googling those only brings results back to his wiki page.... Methinks maybe its been changed as a joke?

Bwhahaha Lin crack up yes I've seen that before it's a joke wiki on him. He's a famous singer. I just shot coffee out of my nose. Cheers.

 

[kikajess]

A great review! Thank you for toughing out the soapscum for us newbies who are curious. Bravo!

 

[Derpina Bubbles]

LOL thanks. I have 10 bars left to get through. If they get better with age I'll make sure to retract my previous scummy testaments.

 

[rebekahhall]

Last year I made a clear glycerin m&p charcoal soap for my son who has acne issues. He keeps begging me to make more, but i am learning how to cp now and have become a bit of a snob... I only used a tsp. In 2 lbs and his soap didn't leave that nasty grey residue. His soap wasn't black, it was a cloudy grey. But it got rid of about 75% of his acne...