Ivy

I love making thick lotions/body butters too. Started out making the body frosting recipe on this forum (still one of mine and my friends favs). My problem is how many additives is too many? lol Like TallTayl, I really like hydrovance and panthenol.. And I really like working with kokum butter ( nice thickness and not so greasy) I have a client who has scalp psoriasis pretty bad..She scratches so badly her nails break. My heart goes out to her. She won't use any of the creams the Dr. gives her because they make her hair greasy. So I set about trying to make her an anti itch, non greasy scalp spray. I made an infused tea of calendula flowers, plantain leaves,lavender and anything else good for Itching, soothing, healing and emollients. I mixed the tea half and half with aloe vera leaf juice. I did use a preservative, knowing this would go bad fast. She uses it when the itching gets out of control. She said that it provides instant relief and her hair looks great lol. Unfortunately the relief only last 2-3 hrs. Sooo I decided to add this concoction into one of my body butter formulations to see if it would help anyone who suffered from itchy skin. I got it all done and went to add the preservative and realized that I had already previously preserved the tea/aloe mixture before adding it to the body butter formula.. "ahhh crap, how much to add??!" Did the heat destroy the preservative and I should start from ground zero? Calculate it in? lmao So I guesstimated and put it on the shelf to watch for 6 months to a year.. It only took 3 days = instamold!.. In some weird way..:: pause::... I'm proud..I'm no longer a mold virgin lol. Nothing will make you more serious and cautious about the stuff you make.

This is an excellent idea. Thank you very much for the recipie (smile).. Hubby had been asking me to do something with his left over soap slivers ( he saves everything) for a while now... And trust me, dial soap does NOT melt down in a double boiler and or microwave lol

Great links, thanks (smile) I've been off studying perfumes, notes, mixing etc.. And I've also been looking for a supplier that has a lot of good linear base fo's for mixing... I have noticed that Oregon Trails has a decent selection.. However, from what I can tell they have no sample offers. They offer 2 oz'ers and some of those bases are pretty high (sandlewood etc). Which would be ok if you could be a little assured by reading good reviews but, they dont post reviews! (amazing how I've come to rely on those lol)...So I/ve tried doing forum searches on them. I came up with a few discussions that praised the fo's highly and a few more with customer service complaints. I'm going to bite the bullet and order at least a couple ( I really want that True Musk lol) I'll make sure to post back on all the fo's/customer service...They really should offer samples and reviews. Bet that would increase business quite a bit....

mmmm time for more pumpkin souffle...:: pause::.. and driftwood annnd white tea, cant forget mistletoe (eye glazing over) and gotta try da smoke eliminator and I seriously need to leave this thread lol

Thanks you guys, knowing that you actually make soap just to scent a room helps.... Actually OldGlory I have made dipped bears and TP is still on my list ( love blackties work, very talented)... I've just been thinking of ways to combine my love of art with my new love of b&b.. I have a lot of sculpting tools, faux finshing tools etc..I think M&P would be the perfect vehicle to play with scent-color and shape...Those questions were just ones that I could not find any answers to no matter how much searching I did... I figure If whatever I make is going to start loosing scent/bending/sweating/DOS or growing mold ect within 3-6 months. I'd probably not want to put hours of work into it lol

Ty for the link Linda, I did see that the highest FO load could be 6% . And yes Glory I need it to be kept unwrapped. Kind of an art piece..I think I may have to just test it....I'll have to tell her that her birthday present may be a yr or so late lmao

Hi guys(smile) ...I am making something for someone. (still in the creative thinking process)... It will not be used as soap-wet... I want it to be more pretty and highly scented and I'm still not sure if it will go in the powder room(humidity) or in another room...How's that for indecisive? lmao Is there something that can be added to m&p that would make it harder (not so easily dented etc)without clouding it? I'm willing to experiment..I'll be using wsp's crystal clear base. I don't think oilive oil would make it hard enough? 2nd- If it's not being used as soap..Does anybody know how much of a fragrance load it can handle without growing two heads or anything? lol I would also like to paint-tint some accents on it... I've seen it done on youtube but, I have no idea what they're using or if it will brush off/cover the scent? Lastly, ( I promise lol) Does anyone know or can suggest anything to try to adhere/glue pieces of m&p together? (gorilla glue?)...Thanks you so much for any help.

Heya Suzy... You looked veryyy productive lol...I'm getting ready to order from oregon trails ( providing i don't find any dang reviews on their Bright colorants first lol)Seems that finding any info .. or Someone who is loving their colorant supplier is like winning the lottery eesh Did you find any To Die for lip flavors?..I mixed one with Lavender, lime x's 2 (EO's) and mms sweet kisses..Make a wench wanna lick any spilllage lmaol

Hey Candybee, I'm actually reading 3 books at once right now-- soap, skin/eo's and an aromatherapy book. I just got through reading that kokum butter is moisturizing (but, non greasy) without clogging pores- good for dehydrated acne prone skin.(would make a harder bar). And your babbasu - a rich, penetrating oil that does not clog pores..And we know it's great for lather. I know that grape seed and hazelnut oils are astringent.. But, I'm not sure if they are pore clogging Sometimes I get so frustrated when I read online info,charts and books..And I come across conflicting info ugh...Reading that beneficial botanicals chart, it gave mineral oil a (2) moderately low for pore clogging....I thought mineral oil was very pore clogging??

I've been researching like crazy about acne soaps... I promised a friend it would be one of the first soaps I make.. That is, after I've practiced enough to feel confident enough to give soap away lol Glad to see I had all of the ingredients and info written down on everything that's been mentioned on this thread. I went through my notes and found other random bits of info. ROSEWOOD - excellent for people with excessively oily skin. When applied topically it helps reduce sebum production thus limited breakouts associated with oily skin. Not recommended for those with very dry or sensitive skin. The strong drying properties of this oil make it an excellent spot treatment CLOVE EO-The primary component of clove oil is eugenol, a molecule that is also found in nutmeg and cinnamon. Recent research has indicated that eugenol is highly toxic to P. acnes, the bacteria commonly involved in acne infections...( I would really test this one out and make sure it is properly diluted because..well, it's clove lol) BERGAMOT- oil can be used with success to balance oily, acne-prone skin.. Bergamot's antiseptic action and ability to promote skin growth makes it perfect for treating acne......antibacterial and drying properties making it an ideal spot treatment for existing blemishes Hazelnut oil -- Medium weight oil..It is said to penetrate the top layer of the skin slightly, being beneficial for oily or combinations skins and effective on acne. It is stimulating to the circulation and also has astringent properties I've also read a lot on many people swearing by Thyme EO or thyme infused oils for acne. With the recommendations of dilution below 5% for skin. I swear, with all the information I've crammed in my head lately..I know just enough to be dangerous lol

Ty Carolyn, I was about to bite the bullet and just order a "for sure" lye online. To afraid I'd singe my eyebrows off using something I wasnt sure about.. Soo not a good look

I found some lye at Menards.. Its called Kleen-Out drain opener by betterbilt chemicals. It does state on the bottle that it is 100% lye..The only other info on the bottle is that it contains no phosphorus...Since the product has come up in none of my searches here and I'm so brand new at all of this...Thought I'd double check and see if anyone knows for sure it's safe to do CP with... And if so, to let others know it's there.. Thanks

Ty justa (smile)..I think I'll try the blackberry fizz someone suggested earlier instead of the bling... I'll let you know how that one is..

hey justa, I've been making out my fo list for NG(I'll be ordering real soon) I had the blackberry bling at the top of my list...Can you expand on your "odd" description? lol... I'm looking for a really good strt blackberry to add to daystars blackberry jam butter cookie.. Did you get any other FO's from NG?.....Definitely subscribing to this thread I so meant to get DS's ultimate vanilla for mixing. I was so afraid I'd forget the vanilla bean cookie that I somehow forgot to order the Ult Van. (don't you hate when you do that lol).. She really does vanilla well...As I've said before, I love her FO called Nathanial ( and her story that goes with it lol) It's kind of hard to describe. Kind of like a vanilla musk but not.. Hints of patchouli, sandlewood..but not much... I think its a great b&b scent and would mix with alot of FO's..And my nieghbor who crinkles her nose up at almost all b&b type fo's kept picking it back up, setting it down, picking it up lol

I know I'm messy/ accident prone lol....I have a bunch of drop cloths from when I do Faux finishing jobs..I use the old ones to cover the whole kitchen table/floor..Then I also use those cheapie table cloths, cut up to fit the area I'm at... If I know I'm definitely going to make a big mess then I also top that little area with freezer paper....I also keep a little cookie sheet to lay all my waxed covered utensils pots on while I'm working.... And I use those little pampered chef scrapers for anything that gets on the floor/cabinets...They are plastic, don't scratch and work great. hmmm, I just noticed...::: hands on hips...chest all puffed out::...I....:: pause::... Am an I Enigma. (lol)