What soapy thing have you done today?

[Meena]

One of the reasons they make that claim is because creams/lotions are made with oils and waters, two of the main ingredients in soap.

Okay, I'm not trying to start anything, nor resurrect the discussion about soap claims -- but what exactly are you saying here, Ev? It sounds like you feel soap can have skin moisturizing effects (rather than simply not stripping skin oils), so I just wanted to get some clarification regarding your reply. Peace & Love!!

 

[Meena]

Look on the bright side @Meena, they'll be pretty mini soaps that fit exactly in your hand and are the perfect size for display! Hehehe

Can't wait to see the cut, those colors are beautiful

Thanks. I was going to use my new silicone molds, then saw a tutorial and decided to line my loaf mold and do a swirl, forgetting to check and adjust my planned quantity. More soapy lessons...

 

[Hendejm]

Excuse me for a sec, friends, while I write a short note to my mother in Heaven:

"Hey, Ma! Remember when you always said, 'How can someone so smart be so stupid?'? Well, NOTHING has changed!! Just thought you'd like to know."

Miss BrainTrust didn't calc the volume of my mold and estimated 18.5 ounces to be enough. Well, it wasn't enough.
My loaf mold just became a skinny slab mold.

What an IDIOT!! My best swirls yet and these 'bars' will be lucky to be 3/4" thick.


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Sounds like you’ll have some really pretty sample bars......there are worse things.

 

[KiwiMoose]

Looks like the new wooden slab worked a beauty! Any preference for slab or loaf moulds?

I’ve only done two slabs so far, and one of those was a cardboard box! I would say loaf because I think the finish is nicer once cut.

 

[Meena]

Sounds like you’ll have some really pretty sample bars......there are worse things.

Yeah, what's that they say? "First World Problems"

I was just so looking forward to this batch and excited to try a swirl technique that I actually could get a Gestalt on, lol.

 

[Misschief]

Okay, I'm not trying to start anything, nor resurrect the discussion about soap claims -- but what exactly are you saying here, Ev? It sounds like you feel soap can have skin moisturizing effects (rather than simply not stripping skin oils), so I just wanted to get some clarification regarding your reply. Peace & Love!!

No, not at all. One particular soap (we all know which) claims to be 1/4 cleansing cream. The reason they get away with it is because soap is made, primarily, with oils and water, right? Those are the same basic ingredients that any lotion is made with. That doesn't mean the soap is moisturizing... it's an advertising gimmick. If lotion is made with oils and water and soap is made with oils and water, well... you do the math. That's their angle.

 

[Marilyn Norgart]

Yeah, what's that they say? "First World Problems"

I was just so looking forward to this batch and excited to try a swirl technique that I actually could get a Gestalt on, lol.

I think its a lesson in humility for me--every time I think I have it something else goes wrong--I think the key might be to see the good and be happy with it and ignore what didn't turn out exactly the way they should hahahaha and chalk it up to learning experiences. your swirling is pretty--so just learn from your mistake and don't beat yourself up about. I am having a blast learning and I bet you are too

 

[Misschief]

So, technically, I'm not sure if this qualifies as a soapy thing but I SCORED!! About a month ago, a friend pointed out a FB link to someone local who was destashing a bunch of wooden molds. I've been going back and forth with this woman, trying to get together so I could buy four molds. She was asking $40 each. I told her I'd buy four but could she give me a break in the price; she came down to $30 each.

Tonight, we finally met so I could get my molds. I am one happy girl and I can't wait to start using my new molds. To compare, I bought a couple of molds (acrylic, I think) at Michaels and they sell for $42 each now. The Michaels molds hold 900 grams (oil weight). These new molds will hold just over 2000 grams!

 

[Meena]

So, technically, I'm not sure if this qualifies as a soapy thing but I SCORED!! About a month ago, a friend pointed out a FB link to someone local who was destashing a bunch of wooden molds. I've been going back and forth with this woman, trying to get together so I could buy four molds. She was asking $40 each. I told her I'd buy four but could she give me a break in the price; she came down to $30 each.

Tonight, we finally met so I could get my molds. I am one happy girl and I can't wait to start using my new molds. To compare, I bought a couple of molds (acrylic, I think) at Michaels and they sell for $42 each now. The Michaels molds hold 900 grams (oil weight). These new molds will hold just over 2000 grams!

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Those look superb, and so classy with their own cover too! Great score!

 

[Meena]

I think its a lesson in humility for me--every time I think I have it something else goes wrong--I think the key might be to see the good and be happy with it and ignore what didn't turn out exactly the way they should hahahaha and chalk it up to learning experiences. your swirling is pretty--so just learn from your mistake and don't beat yourself up about. I am having a blast learning and I bet you are too

Thanks, dear @Marilyn Norgart I think the lesson I most need to learn is to quit changing horses in midstream.

Another part of the problem is that I've only made really small batches so far -- around the 1 lb. mark -- so I think I've formed a bad habit, of sorts!

I'm done beating myself up for this go-round, lol. Maybe I'll take stock of my remaining oils and make a 40 oz. batch tomorrow if there's enough left.

 

[Hendejm]

I bought 5 lbs of Shea/cocoa/mango combination butter today so tomorrow I will be making 3 loafs (5 lbs each) of soap. So that will be 42 bars of soap....my largest single soaping endeavor yet!! I won’t be using all of the butters (probably about a lb worth) so lots more soap in the near future. I buy all my ingredients locally except for the butters (amazon) and FO so some planning/preparation is required. I’ve got 6 new frangrance oils that I’m itching to try. Wish me luck!!

 

[Marilyn Norgart]

the butter sounds amazing--have you smelled that combo before?

 

[Dawni]

the butter sounds amazing--have you smelled that combo before?

I have! My shea and local cocoa butter (both unrefined) combo is some sweet nutty scent but my mango is refined (can't find unrefined so maybe there isn't?) and doesn't have a smell at all.

Unfortunately, none of it stays in the soap. I have one soap that gives off a wee bit but I'm guessing it's more the cocoa powder lol My house smells yummy when I'm melting them down though!

 

[KiwiMoose]

I bought 5 lbs of Shea/cocoa/mango combination butter today so tomorrow I will be making 3 loafs (5 lbs each) of soap. So that will be 42 bars of soap....my largest single soaping endeavor yet!! I won’t be using all of the butters (probably about a lb worth) so lots more soap in the near future. I buy all my ingredients locally except for the butters (amazon) and FO so some planning/preparation is required. I’ve got 6 new frangrance oils that I’m itching to try. Wish me luck!!

Luck!

 

[Marilyn Norgart]

I have! My shea and local cocoa butter (both unrefined) combo is some sweet nutty scent but my mango is refined (can't find unrefined so maybe there isn't?) and doesn't have a smell at all.

Unfortunately, none of it stays in the soap. I have one soap that gives off a wee bit but I'm guessing it's more the cocoa powder lol My house smells yummy when I'm melting them down though!

I mix somethings together for a body cream and one of the ingredients is cocoa butter OMG that stuff smells amazing. I was wondering how it smelled with the mango--sad that that doesn't smell

 

[Chris_S]

ordered some blue, black and purple so i can do by @Dawni s demands and do a zebra stripes black and white like my orange and whute striped soap last week. and got some tea tree and cedarwood eo 100ml to try i love tea tree but never smelt cedarwood before

 

[Marilyn Norgart]

ordered some blue, black and purple so i can do by @Dawni s demands and do a zebra stripes black and white like my orange and whute striped soap last week. and got some tea tree and cedarwood eo 100ml to try i love tea tree but never smelt cedarwood before

I got some cedarwood in a sample pkg--I really really don't like it and am trying to figure out what to mix with it to tone it down.
cant wait to see the pics of your zebra soap

 

[Hendejm]

the butter sounds amazing--have you smelled that combo before?

The combo doesn’t really have an odor. There is a slight hint of cocoa in the finished soap if you leave it unscented (I have) but overall it doesn’t add smell.

 

[Chris_S]

I got some cedarwood in a sample pkg--I really really don't like it and am trying to figure out what to mix with it to tone it down.
cant wait to see the pics of your zebra soap

I found a chart of the best blends of eo just google and you should find something of some use not know what it smells like i have no idea what would blend well.

just trimmed edge off the soaps from last night looking better than i expected

 

[Zing]

ordered some blue, black and purple so i can do by @Dawni s demands and do a zebra stripes black and white like my orange and whute striped soap last week. and got some tea tree and cedarwood eo 100ml to try i love tea tree but never smelt cedarwood before

I use cedarwood a lot, it's one of my favorites. In most of my essential oil blends, I include a bit of cedarwood. One of my favorite blends is 50/50 bergamot/cedarwood.