When experimenting with new ingredients...

[redhead1226]

I always run into the same dilema when I am going to use a new ingredient.

When I want to see how a new oil performs how is the best way to use it in my recipe?

Im not going to use 100% of anything except for castile. So using 100% has never been my thinking. Is that what I should do? Should I just use a base recipe and make multiple versions? Use 10% 20% 50% of the new ingredient?

How is the best way to see the real qualities of the new oil? Single oil recipe? I think I have been doing it wrong for years because when I add it to a recipe ofcourse it is a different percentage. I hope I explained this so you all understand what I mean.

HELP! lol

 

[earlene]

I've wondered if my doing single oils soaps tells me enough. But that's how I started after reading a few single oil soap experiments, so I've continued to do that with some oils.

But I also feel that just trying a new oil as a mix in an already established recipe makes a lot of sense, maybe more sense, especially if you know you love a recipe and just want to see how the new oil works with the rest of the formula.

So I am interested in how people with more experience in this area respond to your question.

 

[Cellador]

For me, I have a favorite recipe that I am familiar with how it soaps & performs after cure. I will add a new butter or oil to that recipe at varying percentages-5%, 10%, 15%...I will usually reduce the amount of my "extra" or "luxury"oil in that recipe to account for the new ingredient.
It's not really a controlled experiment, because I can't say if any difference is actually the reduction of "x" or the increase in "y". But, I can generally tell a difference in my soap properties when I vary my favorite recipe this way. I can't really do that if I'm only doing a single oil test.

 

[BattleGnome]

In the past I’ve seen recommendations to have a base recipe and sub in 5-20% otf the new ingredient, that way you have a base to compare to.

Granted I’ve never followed this advice, so do whatever. I’m just glad I was able to narrow things down to two recipes from the ingredients I was splattering at the wall. Now I may be able to figure out those tweaks and I’d the properties of new ingredients

 

[redhead1226]

I've wondered if my doing single oils soaps tells me enough. But that's how I started after reading a few single oil soap experiments, so I've continued to do that with some oils.

But I also feel that just trying a new oil as a mix in an already established recipe makes a lot of sense, maybe more sense, especially if you know you love a recipe and just want to see how the new oil works with the rest of the formula.

So I am interested in how people with more experience in this area respond to your question.

Exactly! If I tweak an existing awesome recipe then the addition at lets say 10-20% now depleats some other ingredient that may make my awesome recipe different and which one of those awesome recipe ingredients that made it awesome, do I get rid of at 10-20%!! LMAO! This is why I asked this question. I am a soap maker with a lot of years and I couldnt answer it. Imagine!!

 

[redhead1226]

For me, I have a favorite recipe that I am familiar with how it soaps & performs after cure. I will add a new butter or oil to that recipe at varying percentages-5%, 10%, 15%...I will usually reduce the amount of my "extra" or "luxury"oil in that recipe to account for the new ingredient.
It's not really a controlled experiment, because I can't say if any difference is actually the reduction of "x" or the increase in "y". But, I can generally tell a difference in my soap properties when I vary my favorite recipe this way. I can't really do that if I'm only doing a single oil test.

Agreed.

 

[Lin19687]

I just use it in the main recipe I have. Easy to compare it to. I never understood the single soap thing. It isn't how it will feel in the recipe in general, just how it feels on it's own - which may completely change with other things in it .

When I had what I thought was going to be my regular soap recipe with OO I then search info on the RBO that was at Lowes. I mean, come on, how to pass up THAT price ! After googling and looking here and on the Dish and finding that most find that RBO is less slimy then OO I just swapped it out for each other.
Easy to compare. I found a slight better feeling, ever so slight.
THEN I decided to use more RBO so I upped that, upped the PKO a slight bit, took out the CO and Liked it. Then did the same for 2 other ingredients and now I have a recipe that I like and a bit cheaper to make.

 

[Obsidian]

If I'm going to try a new oil, I'll put in a high enough amount to actually see if it makes a difference. Generally that will be at least 15%. If it s hard oil or butter, I'll add some in place of my usual lard, if its a liquid oil, I'll replace some OO.
When I decided to experiment with HO safflower oil, I just went with a complete substitution of the OO which is 20% in my recipe. Its not a huge difference but the price difference is large so I no longer use OO at all.

 

[redhead1226]

I just use it in the main recipe I have. Easy to compare it to. I never understood the single soap thing. It isn't how it will feel in the recipe in general, just how it feels on it's own - which may completely change with other things in it .

When I had what I thought was going to be my regular soap recipe with OO I then search info on the RBO that was at Lowes. I mean, come on, how to pass up THAT price ! After googling and looking here and on the Dish and finding that most find that RBO is less slimy then OO I just swapped it out for each other.
Easy to compare. I found a slight better feeling, ever so slight.
THEN I decided to use more RBO so I upped that, upped the PKO a slight bit, took out the CO and Liked it. Then did the same for 2 other ingredients and now I have a recipe that I like and a bit cheaper to make.

Even though I only use CO at no more then 15% Im always afraid to take it out as I didnt think that the PKO gave me enough bubbly lather. And I have hard water so when I test it Im never sure I am getting what others are getting when they try it. How is your lather with the PKO? On the RBO from Lowes - I also bought it for $6.00! I have not used it yet but will definitely sub for the OO as well.

The whole issue that I have is that obviously when you add something , you have to take out something and then ofcourse you have a different formula. Is the result the addition or the deletion? LMAO! Just the trial and tribulations of this craft. I think we all are constantly experimenting. Thank you for the advise.

 

[SoaperForLife]

Does anyone play around using Soapcalc? I used to add and subtract various oils/butters trying to find that "perfect" recipe.

 

[msunnerstood]

Does anyone play around using Soapcalc? I used to add and subtract various oils/butters trying to find that "perfect" recipe.

Yes! Im not sure there is a perfect recipe but I use it to find a balance one with the qualities I prefer or if Im trying a new oil to see how it affects the qualities.

 

[Holly8991]

I like to try different things as I find them locally. I tried hemp and it was a major fail...walnut was also a failure.
My oldest is allergic to all tree nuts so I have separate bars out accordingly. They can't even touch each other or it could mean a trip to the ER.

 

[Lin19687]

I have normal water, not hard or soft lol.... is it really normal ?

I do play with Soapcalc, but it's not always the was it turns out. many factors play on that, so experimenting is the best way.

The PKO is really good. I get about the same lather as the Dove bar my DD uses (don't ask...). It also depends on HOW you use the soap, straight on the skin or in a Poofy. I do straight on the skin.

Actually I just tweaked my recipe a bit and it is now cured to I am going to go try it out..... Need to take slivers of 2 scents because I can't decide on which to take. Gawd my DD hates sharing a shower with me hahahahha

Edit, I like it but not sure it is much different the other other recipe I had. I had added more Shea to it.
DO the RBO, it is just fine, no issues

 

[redhead1226]

I have normal water, not hard or soft lol.... is it really normal ?

I do play with Soapcalc, but it's not always the was it turns out. many factors play on that, so experimenting is the best way.

The PKO is really good. I get about the same lather as the Dove bar my DD uses (don't ask...). It also depends on HOW you use the soap, straight on the skin or in a Poofy. I do straight on the skin.

Actually I just tweaked my recipe a bit and it is now cured to I am going to go try it out..... Need to take slivers of 2 scents because I can't decide on which to take. Gawd my DD hates sharing a shower with me hahahahha

Edit, I like it but not sure it is much different the other other recipe I had. I had added more Shea to it.
DO the RBO, it is just fine, no issues

MyBF also does not use my soap. I made him an unscented, no color plain soap with 65% Lard!!! And he used it for a week and went back to Dove lol I told him what is up with that??? He said Im just used to it... MEN! And my sons use body wash which I do not make. I have a shrub with Swet pink sugar FO from New Directions ( the bomb) and he says that the bathroom smells like a brothel! lol He says Ill take a shower after the scent leaves. lmao!

 

[amd]

I get about the same lather as the Dove bar my DD uses (don't ask...).

And he used it for a week and went back to Dove lol I told him what is up with that???

LOL off topic: glad that I'm not the only one with this issue! My stepsons will sporadically use the bar soap in the shower, but mostly use Suave/Axe body wash. It doesn't bother me that they don't use my soap (well, maybe a little) but what does get me is that they leave all the empties in the shower, and the containers going into the garbage - when they finally make it there.

Back to topic: When I try new oils, I take a look at the fatty acids in the new oil and find what is similar in my current recipe and replace current ingredient with new at the same percentage. That will at least give me a baseline for how the new ingredient compares to what I usually do.

 

[Lin19687]

OMG, I just thought it was my lazy 28 y/o son. Leaves empty shampoo in shower for months if i didn't take it out !
Course I also found it just EASIER to go in his room, pick up clothes and do his laundry... other wise it doesn't get done. laundry is easy and it is a brain/anger saver to just do it then yell. I know it enables him, but it is easier for me NOT to get mad about it. plus i get to go see his Bearded Dragons


BTT (back to topic) So after showering with the new cured soap, I will go back to the recipe just before. There was no real difference in the amount of shea I added then before in a smaller amount. So it will also save a bit of $ too.

Edit to add, I Have pretty dry skin, so if it made a difference I would have noticed hate my thyroid issues.

 

[redhead1226]

OMG, I just thought it was my lazy 28 y/o son. Leaves empty shampoo in shower for months if i didn't take it out !
Course I also found it just EASIER to go in his room, pick up clothes and do his laundry... other wise it doesn't get done. laundry is easy and it is a brain/anger saver to just do it then yell. I know it enables him, but it is easier for me NOT to get mad about it. plus i get to go see his Bearded Dragons


BTT (back to topic) So after showering with the new cured soap, I will go back to the recipe just before. There was no real difference in the amount of shea I added then before in a smaller amount. So it will also save a bit of $ too.

Edit to add, I Have pretty dry skin, so if it made a difference I would have noticed hate my thyroid issues.

I also have the thyroid issue with the removal of my thyroid 4 years ago from cancer. Synthroid just is not the same as your own thyroid hormone. As far as the boys are concerned, I have 3 sons all adults and on their own with wives and kiddies. But the days when they lived here ( which I miss terribly) were frankly a nightmare! They never did the laundry unless they need to wear something and my older son would go buy new underwear and socks when he ran out to avoid doing his laundry. So I did it!! But boy something in me misses those days!!

 

[Lin19687]

I hear ya on that, I am lucky mine came back home a couple years ago.

He make NO MESS in any of the house, except his room, which is tiny small.


BTT - I still hate the wait to cure time The soaps I did yesterday smell soooo nice I want to just swim in them

 

[penelopejane]

Does anyone play around using Soapcalc? I used to add and subtract various oils/butters trying to find that "perfect" recipe.

I don’t use those numbers at all. They didn’t mean anything in the actual soap to me.

I’ve got a got to recipe and I substitute one of the 30% oils for a new oil I want to try. That way I can easily compare the difference. Almond oils is fantastic!

I read the single soap alchemy experiment and use her results to decide on tweets to a basic recipe.

 

[jentlesoaps]

I just got a nice Sal butter in and have never tried it before. I usually substitute a similar textured oil/butter out of my favorite recipe and add in the new oil. In this case I'll either reduce or sub out the cocoa butter. As for botanicals and other ingredients, I just take a risk and work with it using my favorite recipe. Sometimes I infuse the OO or grind them up and add them at the end. I've already done too many 'failed' single soap recipes to even consider single oil formulas. No one oil has every property I desire in a handmade soap. It's a good exercise for a newbie and start with inexpensive oils like lard or canola or whatever oil you are wanting. Keep it to a 1 lb or 8 oz batch and you won't feel too disappointed if you don't like it. Besides you can always confetti the soap and rebatch so no loss if you do decide to take this personal soaping journey.