Looks like part two will have to wait coz I didn't do my research first. Or rather I did, then promptly forgot what I had read lol I was able to extract color - a latte brown instead of purple like when done properly.I have some ratanjot roots soaking in my lye water to see if I can extract any color from it... I read somewhere that it has to be powdered before any color shows but let's see.
If all goes well I'll be posting part two of the natural colorant series I started.
"Dead and buried" comes to mind...When does the experimenting end?
So, here's a question about master-batching (that always sounds so "dirty":/ ) oils. Do you melt them all and pour them into individual containers as I did there, or measure them out into the containers oil-by-oil? I found using the all-in-one melt method, I ended up a few grams short by the last container..nothing significant, but I did short each container by a gram or so to even them out. I thougt it would be less messy as I could pour them all instead of spooning, but not so much. Maybe I'm just a slob. Professional, high-volume soapers would just put them all in a vat, keep them warm and pull what they need for a batch, but I would have no way to warm them back up in bulk. I can pop 1 or 2 Qt. containers in the microwave for a minute or two and be good-to-go. Anybody have a good/better/best practice to share?Master batched my oils last night to fit my mold with the insert in. The insert reduces the mold volume by exactly half. So, each container makes half of the full mold giving me option of large or small soap batches without refiguring or remeasuring. View attachment 36897
I use 60 oz fats for most batches. I weigh out and melt fats for 4 batches at a time max. So, 4 X 60 oz. = 240 oz. I add an oz or two of fats to that amount (240 + 2 = 242 oz.) to cover the amount lost in divvy-ing up so I don't come up short filling the last container.Anybody have a good/better/best practice to share?
Mica will look pretty in the wax until it's melted the first time, and then it will sink to the bottom and when cooled be a blob on the bottom of the wax melt.I tried copying them a few months ago cuz I had some paraffin laying around--the scent on mine don't last very long though and I tried using crayons for coloring. maybe now that I have micas and better scents I should try again
Mica will look pretty in the wax until it's melted the first time, and then it will sink to the bottom and when cooled be a blob on the bottom of the wax melt.
Crayons are not a very suitable coloring agent for wax as it's not made of pure paraffin but a specialized pressed wax, and has pigments instead dye, which will also separate out of wax and end up sinking to the bottom, and if made in candles, could end up clogging the wick.
Just thought I'd chime in. Sorry if it's unsolicited advise that's not wanted.
You can use your soap scents in wax. I've never had a problem with that, and now I will only buy skin safe scents so I can use them interchangeably.oh no I am happy you posted--yes the crayons sank to the bottom when it melted and its good to hear micas would do the same. I wasnt impressed and I have friend who sells scentsy--but with all my soap laying around I don't really need any extra scents
Cut the first batch with 1) newly constructed mold with insert to create small 6-bar batches 2) master-batched lay and 3) master-batched oils. View attachment 36925View attachment 36926. Result: 6 perfect bars @ 3.5” x 2.5” x 1” with two 1/4” end nubs. The colors are not a mistake, unless an intentional one. The camera doesn’t really do justice. I chose yellow and white, because the scent is a combo of Crafter’s Choice “Clean Cotton” FO and tea tree EO. (I thought the FO was a bit “perfumery.” by itself). The FO was a leftover, so I figured better to risk that than a good EO on what could have been a complete failure. Hopefully, they will whiten more as they cure.
Dear moderator, In retrospect, probably should have posted to photos, they It is the most soapy think I did today. Sorry.
Friday I made donut shaped bubble bars scented with Jelly Donut FO. I popped them into the freezer for an hour to get them out of the mold and let them dry in front of a fan. Kids were mad at me because the basement smelled like donuts but there were none to eat. Saturday morning I mixed up some M&P with mowrah butter (I am out of cocoa butter otherwise I would have used that) and made a "glazed drizzle" over the donuts so I could package them for my niece's birthday party that afternoon. She wasn't as impressed with her 6-pack of donuts and told me next time to make them into ice cream scoops. Dang kids! The FO should turn brown because of the vanillan content, but so far it hasn't turned.
Sunday I didn't have to work (thanks to the lovely blizzard we had) so I made soap instead. Finally got the batch of DB red to black ombre soap that's been in my head done. Cut it this morning and beveled and stamped over lunch. I've been playing with less water in my lye solution, and I'm surprised that even lowering 2-3% how much quicker it unmolds and needs to be cut. That's not a complaint!
Here is an example of some. there are the break apart ones, scent shots and banana nut muffin ones.I've seen some really pretty ones on Instagram and figured next time I order supplies I should order soy wax for both soap and wax tabs but then I have nothing to pretty them up with yet lol
Please show us when you're done?
I have some ratanjot roots soaking in my lye water to see if I can extract any color from it... I read somewhere that it has to be powdered before any color shows but let's see.
If all goes well I'll be posting part two of the natural colorant series I started.
So cool.. Now I really need to do more research on these. Thank you!Here is an example of some. there are the break apart ones, scent shots and banana nut muffin ones.
View attachment 36934
Here is an example of some. there are the break apart ones, scent shots and banana nut muffin ones.
View attachment 36934
You melt them in a warmer and they make the room smell good.I've never heard of wax tabs and don't know what you do with them, but these are lovely!
I really like your style and the things you make.
Super cool! Love the photos and I bet it smells awesome! So jealous of your mold-making skills -- I'm proud of myself when I hang a picture!Cut the first batch with 1) newly constructed mold with insert to create small 6-bar batches 2) master-batched lye and 3) master-batched oils. View attachment 36925View attachment 36926. Result: 6 perfect bars @ 3.5” x 2.5” x 1” with two 1/4” end nubs. The colors are not a mistake, unless an intentional one. The camera doesn’t really do justice. I chose yellow and white, because the scent is a combo of Crafter’s Choice “Clean Cotton” FO and tea tree EO. (I thought the FO was a bit “perfumery” by itself). The FO was a leftover, so I figured better to risk that than a good EO on what could have been a complete failure. Hopefully, they will whiten more as they cure.
Dear moderator, In retrospect, probably should have posted to photos, but it IS the most soapy think I did today. Sorry.
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