xava

It took me 4 years to settle on a recipe and I continue to tweak it occasionally. For the first 2 years, I bet I used a different recipe for every batch I made. Then I finally begain narrowing it down to a select few.

Gorgeous! Looks like orange marmalade.

Those are so beautiful and look both delicate and delicious!

I use boxes, however I prefer the look of cigar bands. I just don't have the time nor inclination to do the bands.

I have some and made something....well interesting... to say the least. I took some FBB and some shower gel and mixed them together. Got a consistency kinda like that goop hand cleaner. Mixed in some orange oil and pumice and it makes a cool mechanic or gardener scrub. I don't plan on selling it though cause the label would be a nightmare.

I've used shea from KB before and loved it!

Now I'm embarassed. I didn't know about this.

Howdy back at ya! I'm pretty new here myself. Good to have you here.

It depends on your taste. Making what you are, I would probably get the clear. I usually get the golden, but that works for me in the products I use it in.

I agree with Robin on the avocado. I think of it as a heavier oil. I personally would say rice bran and soy are borderline... all the others you have listed I would consider light oils.

Beautiful soapies and swirls!

Sounds lovely! It also sounds very similar to my cocoa butter bar recipe. The only reason I said that was because of the beeswax comment. If it was my recipe, it certainly didn't need the beeswax for hardening, I used it to try to compliment the cocoa butter smell. Don't think it did what I expected at the time.

I've done a couple of batches with over 40% cocoa butter. The bars were lovely, a plethora of creamy lather, no crumbling at all.

You shouldn't even attempt swirls or layers until you have the basics of soapmaking down and have successfully made a few batches! I mean, it probably can be done, but it will be much less stressful for you to go plain and simple at first. Have you been yet to www.millersoap.com? I suggest reading up there, then finding an easy peasy recipe, like Bunny's castille, to try.

I found palm to be the culprit in batches I had that were tracing too fast. Once I lowered the percentage, I had no more probs. Since then I have given up palm entirely.