Soapmaking

[Yooper]

This is the Vanilla I bought.I bought Grapefruit,raspberry,vannilla and Anise.Hope I didn't waste my money.I "thought" essential oils was the "best" and fragrance oils was fakin it. Live and learn.I might be able to return everything,but not sure.If I can should I return all the oils and start from scratch with fragrance oils?
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00SNJETF2/?tag=skimlinks_replacement-20

I really don't know. I know a lot of the EOs sold are for diffusers, and aromatherapy. I don't know how that will work in soap, I'm afraid. My guess is that some of them will be fine (like the citrus EO) but not strongly fragranced or long lasting. I think the vanilla will burn and/or turn dark brown in soap.

I don't use fragrance oils, but I'm definitely in the minority. The reason I make my own soap and other products is to avoid artificial fragrances and things in my environment. I don't use diffusers, scented candles, etc, as I have a real sensitivity to it (asthma). Most of my soap just smells like soap, without fragrance. It smells good, like soap of course, but not "smelly" with fragrances.

Most people DO like smelly things. I can't even go into a mall where there is a fragrance counter or someplace like Bath & Body Works, without wheezing. Melana is more of an expert on what people like than I am, although about a year ago I did take her daughter a bar of chocolate/white soap slightly scented with orange essential oil and there was a hint of fragrance to it I think.

I'd make sure to only buy things that are ok for skin application (some EOs are NOT), ok for soapmaking/being heated (again, some have a low flashpoint), and so on. I guess one of the advantages to buying fragrance oils designed for soap (and not candles) is that you know that they are meant to be used on the skin as well as heated. Essential oils take a lot more research to use them properly.

 

[Melana]

Essential Oils are expensive and you do need to worry about the provenance of the oils. Not all brands are equal. Find a brand which is recommended and then worry about the price. AND, unless you are just dead-freaking-set on using essential oils, fragrance oils are likely to be a lot less expensive and give you better results in the beginning. Blending fragrances is a whole other thing.

I do buy some bulk oils from Amazon. Coconut Oil for one. You just have to look around a little bit. One of the best places for bulk oils is Columbus foods / Soaper's Choice. They are not cheaper on everything, but on a lot of things and they quality is high.

You can buy Columbus Foods Coconut oil when it's on sale at Big Lots for $9/gallon.

 

[Melana]

https://www.soapqueen.com/bath-and-...tricks/the-truth-about-vanilla-essential-oil/

 

[Redtab78]

just curious here, but can you use hemp seeds as a scrubbing additive like these here? I have been wanting to make my own soap for a long time, as it seems to be a very popular thing around here (as evident from all the farmers markets and what not having booths set up), and I can never find the exact smell I like.....which is coconut!! so I want to make a strong lasting coconut smelling soap, with some sort of scrubbing "grit" if you will, in it

 

[Melana]

Hemp seeds look almost too 'scrubby'. Try poppy seeds (they are very popular) for 'grit'. Brambleberry makes a FO called 'Island Coconut' and it is VERY nice. Alternately you can use coconut milk instead of water and the soap does retain a faint bit of coconut smell.

 

[thunderwagn]

I use poppy seeds in some bars, but my wife isn't a fan. She says they go in her belly button...I like them though. I also use oatmeal ground up really fine in my coffee grinder and actually prefer that to just about anything I've used. I've tried spent coffee grains and that's way to coarse.

 

[JONNYROTTEN]

So My first attempt at fancy.I was going for a teardrop in the center.The colored cups were to watery and ran flat hence the line across the bottom.I used the batter pre mixed with lye for the color cups. How can I get the color cups to thicken up before the regular batter so it sorta stays to form while the main batter around it stays a trace to pour around the colored center??

 

[CA_Mouse]

@JONNYROTTEN it may not have finished the way that you wanted, but it still looks great. I saw it before reading your comments and thought Wisteria Tree.

 

[JONNYROTTEN]

@JONNYROTTEN it may not have finished the way that you wanted, but it still looks great. I saw it before reading your comments and thought Wisteria Tree.

Thanks so much,I made another batch today that was thick as molasses.I needed a spoon to scoop it out of the cups and bowl.I was going for the same teardrop and it will be WAAYY off. Will post a pic tomorrow.At the end of the day I have soap,nothings going to waste so its all good

 

[Temptd2]

@JONNYROTTEN it may not have finished the way that you wanted, but it still looks great. I saw it before reading your comments and thought Wisteria Tree.

I thought the same thing - it's beautiful!

That, to me, is the fun thing about homemade products - sometimes, even if you don't get exactly what you were hoping for, you get something even MORE spectacular. I love that bar - it's very unique!

 

[Melana]

Great soaps @JONNYROTTEN - That teardrop soap is like a unicorn...

 

[Melana]

My new felted soaps

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[Yooper]

Those are great!

 

[JONNYROTTEN]

How does time help soap? We've been using my 2 week old soap and it seems perfectly fine Yet I've read it gets "better" with time. What gets better?
Does it just get harder and last longer which doesn't seem like that big of a deal as I'm already overloaded with soap in the first 2 weeks of soapmaking

 

[Yooper]

How does time help soap? We've been using my 2 week old soap and it seems perfectly fine Yet I've read it gets "better" with time. What gets better?
Does it just get harder and last longer which doesn't seem like that big of a deal as I'm already overloaded with soap in the first 2 weeks of soapmaking

It gets harder, but mostly it gets milder.

 

[JONNYROTTEN]

It gets harder, but mostly it gets milder.

Could you explain milder.
Do you mean the fragrance mellows out or something different. Fragrance is almost non existent already. Wont be using essential oils again I don't think. Expensive with minimal payoff

 

[Yooper]

Could you explain milder.
Do you mean the fragrance mellows out or something different. Fragrance is almost non existent already. Wont be using essential oils again I don't think. Expensive with minimal payoff

Milder means that the soap finishes the little bit of saponification that might be left. As it cures, it gets gentler, and feels better on the skin. The lather is richer, the bar is harder, and it lasts longer.

 

[Melana]

Milder means that the soap finishes the little bit of saponification that might be left. As it cures, it gets gentler, and feels better on the skin. The lather is richer, the bar is harder, and it lasts longer.

Isn't that what we all really want?

 

[Yooper]

Isn't that what we all really want?

Since I have an overabundance of soap, some of it quite old, I've had the chance to test it myself.

The difference between a new castille bar and a 2 year old castille bar is amazing. I made 'baby soap' about 3 years ago, and used the last of it recently. It was fantastic. That chocolate/orange soap I gave Melana's daughter a year ago is still around here, and it was nice when I gave it to her but it's even better now. (It's primarily deer tallow).

I would suggest that just like with aging beer that some of a batch is set aside in a cool dry place, and tried again in 4, 6, 10 months so that it can tried so that the differences can be noticed. If you have an overabundance of soap, it's a nice way to compare later.

 

[LBussy]

How does time help soap? We've been using my 2 week old soap and it seems perfectly fine Yet I've read it gets "better" with time. What gets better?
Does it just get harder and last longer which doesn't seem like that big of a deal as I'm already overloaded with soap in the first 2 weeks of soapmaking

Soap continues to modify. It loses weight as moisture evaporates, it hardens, and excess alkalinity is neutralized by the carbon dioxide in the air. It is this last part which makes the bar gentler on your skin.

 

[Temptd2]

Isn't that what we all really want?

Speaking for myself, I'd have to say that would be a good goal!

Melana, so what happens to that felt part? I don't understand the felted soaps, I guess! I love how it looks - so cute!

 

[Melana]

As you use it the wool keeps shrinking

 

[Temptd2]

As you use it the wool keeps shrinking

LOL! OK, that makes sense.

 

[Melana]

So, I did another one....

View attachment 1474845707368.jpg

 

[Melana]

And another

View attachment 1474884645679.jpg

 

[Temptd2]

OK, how the HECK do you DO that? They're awesome!

 

[Homercidal]

OK, how the HECK do you DO that? They're awesome!

Right? How is the felt held together?!

 

[Homercidal]

Isn't that what we all really want?

I may be getting this mixed up, but wouldn't a younger bar be better for that?

 

[Temptd2]

I may be getting this mixed up, but wouldn't a younger bar be better for that?

No, no - a bar with EXPERIENCE is much better! :rockin:

 

[Melana]

Very carefully

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