Which recipe looks best?

[Obsidian]

Which of these three recipes do you think you'd like best and why? I'm trying to develop a base recipe and might be getting close.

these first two I have made and so far I like both. Need to cure more before I can really compare but I'm leaning towards the first one.

this one I've not made yet but I think it will be good. Its a specialty batch for a family member with extremely sensitive skin.

 

[jenneelk]

I haven't used PKO so can't say how it feels. The numbers on number 2 looks odd though. Cleansing is a 8 and bubbles too? Do you add sugar?

I think 1 looks like a nice balance, but bubbles still a tad low. Guessing you want a very mild soap base.

 

[Hazel]

It's hard to say because I think they all look nice. The values in the first one are similar to what I prefer for my skin. However, I'm a big fan of conditioning soap and of castor for boosting and stabilizing lather, etc so I also like the look of the third one. With the middle one, I'd either drop the Crisco completely or use castor in its place. However, this is just my opinion.

I don't think I helped you a bit.

Maybe consider which is the least expensive to make?

 

[Obsidian]

Yes, I want a very mild base as I have dry sensitive skin. I do add sugar to almost all my soap since I haven't found a formula for lower cleansing but high bubbles.
I've only use PKO in three batches but I think I like it better then coconut. I need to make the first recipe with coconut to see how it compares since its so much easier for me to get.
what kind of numbers do your favorite recipes have?

 

[Hazel]

It doesn't matter about a low cleansing number. It will still get you clean. A low bubbling value isn't a big deal, either. There will still be bubbles. I have to admit my favorite recipes have a slightly higher bubbly value.

My current favorites:

Hardness 35
Cleansing 13
Conditioning 62
Bubbly 17
Creamy 27

Hardness 38
Cleansing 17
Conditioning 56
Bubbly 22
Creamy 26

But really the values only give you an idea about the outcome and need to be taken with a grain of salt. It's more of what oils you choose and the percentages of them, IMO. I can't prove it but I really believe some oils create a synergistic effect when combined together. I don't know how else to explain why the second one above feels as conditioning as the first one even though it has a lower conditioning value. Also, both have really nice bubbly lather, too.

eta: I say current favorites but the first one I've been making for about 18+ months and the second one I formulated about 10 months ago.

 

[JaimeM]

The third one looks very similar to my current favorite! That would be my pick.

 

[Obsidian]

Thanks for the opinion, it does help. I do like the idea of replacing the crisco with castor, guess I need to do some test batches soon.

 

[Hazel]

Testing is the best because you might be surprised by the end product. :wink:

Also, who says you only need to have one base recipe? I use almost all the same oils in different recipes - mainly the percentages change or I sub one oil for another. There is one recipe in which I do use shea butter but I'll probably stop making this one. I just prefer shea for leave on products.

 

[judymoody]

I'd also ditch the Crisco. I've used it when doing fragrance testing because it was relatively cheap but sometimes it turns the soap an odd pinkish color and the only bars I've gotten DOS with were with the Crisco.

 

[ocean_soul]

I noticed that you entered Palm Kernel Oil in one recipe and Palm Kernel Oil flakes, hydrogenated in the second. Was that intentional? The two are listed as having different cleansing, bubbles numbers.

 

[jenneelk]

Hazel I agree about the oils making a difference and not the numbers.
I've made some 45 batches and about 75% are different recipes. Some are almost identical in numbers but feel different. I've found I don't like butters in my soap and possibly lard also. But yet I like Shea in my whip creams.

 

[Hazel]

Different strokes for different folks! I like lard in soap but blended with other oils.

 

[Obsidian]

I noticed that you entered Palm Kernel Oil in one recipe and Palm Kernel Oil flakes, hydrogenated in the second. Was that intentional? The two are listed as having different cleansing, bubbles numbers.

Yes, that was intentional, I have both.

 

[ocean_soul]

Yes, that was intentional, I have both.

Thanks for clarifying.