What soapy thing have you done today?

[AliOop]

Today I washed a mountain of soapy and bath-bomb dishes. I also beveled the third batch of pine tar soap (request from a neighbor of a friend) that finally came out... ok. It still has lighter streaks and clumps, instead of looking like a nice big piece of fudge. I think I've narrowed it down to the sodium citrate causing these streaks. I may try one more batch without the SC and see how that goes.

Another soapy thing today was that I boxed up the random soaps, sugar scrubs, lotion bars, and cuticle salves (left over from the Christmas Boutique) and brought them to the clubhouse for our 55+ community's Christmas gathering. Like getting that first person to start filling their plate at a potluck, it took a bit before the ladies started coming over and sifting through the offerings. I had to leave early, but my husband brought home the almost-empty box. One of the neighbors already called to say she loved the soap, which was very sweet. I'm just thankful to have cleared out my shelves -- except for the other two batches of fugly pine tar soap, that is!!

 

[Martha]

My soapy thing was to read the last few pages of this forum. I moved at the end of October and my soap making supplies are still boxed up. My daughter is flying home from a semester in London and is stuck at the airport in Iceland. I’m checking in with you guys while I’m on hold with the airline.

 

[Catscankim]

Well i am currently doing my soapy thing. I have all of my oils and lye solution etc ready to go and i still have no design in mind. I thought it would come to me as i was mixing everything. Still no inspiration lol.

Half is goin to be coconut, the other half pineapple. The coconut discolors to brown. The pineapple has no discoloration. TS mold. I guess i am looking for ideas. Maybe i can just keep it simple.

 

[basti]

I......................... uh................. just made a soap. Hopefully.
I believe I had some manner of false trace going on and I'm not sure I managed to blend it all out sufficiently. At very least I think I'll have holy stearic spots batman. This one might end up in the crockpot for a rebatch, I suppose I'll see. Maybe I'm just being pessimistic and it'll be beautiful and perfect

 

[Servant4Christ]

Today, I learned a lot of lessons in real time. I ran out of almond oil mid soapy session and had to sub with more olive. I literally had to stop and recalculate to make sure (hopefully) that I don't end up with a lye heavy soap. I am so not looking forward to zap testing this batch. Due to the time I spent recalculating, my lye salt water was cooler than I wanted. My solution was to add honey to warm it back up. Then, since I seem to be throwing all caution to the wind with this one, I decided to split my batter, color a portion with some cocoa from the pantry and give this swirling thing a try. Pretty sure I should've gotten a thicker trace before pouring because when I poured, it went straight down through the batter and I have no idea what it'll look like tomorrow. Will it be one color or two? It'll be a surprise, no matter what.

 

[dmcgee5034]

I have a few days off before Christmas so I get to play soapy stuff - yayyyy!
Today I cut a December unchallenge pull through soap, and prepped my oils to hopefully make something else off my list of want to try. I also got some wall paper sheets at the dollar store and put them on some plastic board to try and improve my photography game a bit.
I will have to make time to bake some cookies this week. DH reminds me about what he calls “LBS” which is Life Before Soaping , aka when I spent time baking instead of soaping.

 

[Misschief]

I will have to make time to bake some cookies this week. DH reminds me about what he calls “LBS” which is Life Before Soaping , aka when I spent time baking instead of soaping.

Just tell him that you making soap is better for his waistline and his health.

 

[Servant4Christ]

Unmolded and cut at 12 hours. It swirled! Woohoo! My pH paper was green, so I moved to the zap test after saying a little prayer. It passed the zap test and the lather is oh so divine. I think I just found another favorite recipe. Thank you @Zany_in_CO !

 

[Paulie]

Unmolded and cut at 12 hours. It swirled! Woohoo! My pH paper was green, so I moved to the zap test after saying a little prayer. It passed the zap test and the lather is oh so divine. I think I just found another favorite recipe. Thank you @Zany_in_CO !

Would love to see your soap.

Thinking I want to try a Lavender & Smoky Patchouli blend. 80/20 Anyone with experience with this scent blend?

 

[Servant4Christ]

Would love to see your soap.

 

[Paulie]

I love it, so pretty. Thank you for sharing.

 

[Mobjack Bay]

Thinking I want to try a Lavender & Smoky Patchouli blend. 80/20 Anyone with experience with this scent blend?

Is Smoky Patchouli the same as dark patchouli? I mix dark patchouli with lavender or orange or in other blends. I go as high as 50% when I’m just mixing two eos.

 

[Paulie]

Is Smoky Patchouli the same as dark patchouli? I mix dark patchouli with lavender or orange or in other blends. I go as high as 50% when I’m just mixing two eos.

I’m not so sure, this is a BB FO. Ohhhh, I’ll have to test it to see what I like best, 80/20, 50/50. Thank you Mobjack Bay.

 

[Mobjack Bay]

I’m not so sure, this is a BB FO. Ohhhh, I’ll have to test it to see what I like best, 80/20, 50/50. Thank you Mobjack Bay.

I didn’t recognize the FO name and now don’t see it on the BB website. If it smells like patchouli it should blend well with lavender.

 

[Paulie]

I didn’t recognize the FO name and now don’t see it on the BB website. If it smells like patchouli it should blend well with lavender.

It must've been discontinued. Thank you, I'm gonna do it.

 

[Paulie]

I put on order on Amazon a soap cutter that uses a wire. I don’t really like the mitre I’ve used for years, my soap moves as it doesn’t have an end to keep it from moving around.

 

[Misschief]

I'm making a restock of my salt bars today; then, my husband has decided it's time to do an inventory of everything left over from the past season. Having been a kitchen manager in the past (he was), I'm not looking forward to it even though I know it needs doing.

 

[Servant4Christ]

I put on order on Amazon a soap cutter that uses a wire. I don’t really like the mitre I’ve used for years, my soap moves as it doesn’t have an end to keep it from moving around.

Ooo, which one?

 

[Paulie]

@Servant4Christ https://www.amazon.com/FantasyDay-M...ff-b284-4dab154a3d29&pd_rd_i=B07NVFML8R&psc=1

This is the one I have now, only it has inches marked on it. I don’t like it LOL
https://www.harborfreight.com/miter...5Uaw5_7I-7Z5aOLsd8UDMsv6PYM-QA-BoCaEAQAvD_BwE

 

[Misschief]

Soap made, inventory completed. Basically, he just wanted me to have a better idea of what I have left and what I need to restock or put on sale at my next market. What he doesn't really understand is that this is a one-person business and I really do have a pretty good idea what I have left and what I need to make. The good thing is now I'm totally organized. Bring on the soapmaking!

It's interesting to see the differences between us; he's used to doing inventory on paper, using tape to mark containers, in a restaurant kitchen with dozens of employees. I explained to him that his system isn't really helpful to me; I like using my computer (Excel, Soapmaker 3, and a checklist on Google Keep). After all, it's just me.