I finally had the energy to make soap today, but only because our role play session this evening was cancelled and I already had leftovers planned for supper, so I could spend the energy I'd usually use for cooking to make soap. I'm pretty knackered now though!
I did 2 batches (as noted last time I was able to soap, half the energy is the pre-soap tidy of the kitchen, the soap prep and the clean up, so making 2 batches isn't double the energy). The first was a full size ~1kg total batch with lavender and cedarwood EO, added kaolin clay to try to anchor the scent. Base colour was a light pink, made with red mica blended with the clay into the oils, then I split the batter into 3 and added 2 shades of purple. Drop swirled them, then used mica in oil to do a fun swirl on the top, which I ruined when I tried to cover it with cling film. Doh.
Smaller batch ~500g total weight I used a tester of Freshskin 'rock salt and driftwood' FO, which smells lovely. I used white mica and kaolin clay in the base oils, and a little "black" mica in the accent colour which was more a graphite grey than black, which suited my purposes as I wanted a grey. (I have AC if I want actual black.) I also added the remaining mica in oils straight into to the ITP swirl. I also ruined the swirl on the top of this one with cling film. Le sigh. Hopefully the inside will be pretty, at least.
Something I noticed in both batches was a little clumping during the pour. Not false trace I don't think, it was at a definite light trace and had sat for a few minutes when it happened. I suspect the clay - I think I should have hydrated it with water before I started, but adding it was slightly impulsive. Wasn't clumpy enough to ruin the swirls, I don't think.
I plan to thoroughly test the 3d printed stamp my friends made me recently, it's been frustrating to have it there and not be able to make soap for testing...
I'll post photos of the cut if they're presentable!