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lisafrantz

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Everything posted by lisafrantz

  1. Thanks, glad to hear it takes practice for everyone I think you are right about different scents and oils being a factor. I'll try it in a few other batches with other scents and see how it goes. I haven't tried adding the scent after splitting the batches so that's another great suggestion. I also saw some information about not having the soap at trace and just blending it well to avoid separation. Looks like I have lots of options to experiment with. Thanks so much! Lisa
  2. Thanks Candybee and TallTayl! This is super helpful. And TallTayl, you answered my next question about scents I'm excited to try it! Lisa
  3. I've been making soap for about a year and have decided it's time to venture out and experiment with colors and swirls I am having a heck of a time getting the trace just right to swirl the soap. My first few batches ended up too thick so I just ended up with basically a layered pattern. Now tonight, I decided to cut way back on using the stick blender and only used it to mix the lye and oils, then hand mixed the scent and the color in part of the batch. I was afraid of the soap seizing up like it normally does so I barely had trace when I poured the soap and added the color. I think it was probably too thin. I'm sure it could be the FO making things more difficulty but if you have any tips to share I'd love to hear them! They make it look so easy on the videos
  4. I've been looking at some different CP recipes using coconut milk and am wondering if any of you have made these? Some recipes replace all of the water with the coconut milk, some replace 1/2, some 1/3. What is your preference and why?
  5. Wow, that is awesome!!! Thanks for the great idea. This is definitely on my wish list.
  6. Thanks for the info Steve. What is AH/RE? I'm not familiar with all of the abbreviations on here
  7. Awesome, thanks for the info. I'll have to look at Sweet Cakes again. It might not be as far as I thought Thank you for the other ideas also. Didn't know about the Wisconsin companies. Lisa
  8. I live in MN where there are virtually no wholesalers so pick up is not an option. I've been ordering a lot of supplies from Wholesale Supplies Plus since they offer free shipping but haven't been crazy about some of the fragrances. Nature's Garden is awesome but the shipping really drives up the cost. Do any of you have recommendations for EO & Fragrance oil suppliers with decent prices and shipping? Also wondering if there is any variation in Lavender EO from vendor to vendor? I like the Lavender 40/42 but I'm afraid to try someone else's 40/42 because I love the Nature's Garden one so much Thanks Lisa
  9. Wow this is wonderful!!!! As a new soaper it's great to have some guidance. So far I've followed recipes to the letter for fear of making a bad batch but this makes me feel more comfortable with trying something new. Thank you
  10. Wow, I just looked at those boxes and that is a great price! Thanks for sharing. Lisa
  11. Thanks, Talltayle! I had never thought of Olive oil as being more soluble but it makes sense I guess. Glad to hear that using different oils could help since I'm not really a fan of adding artificial things to the soap. I am anxiously awaiting two new batches, one with the oils you referenced. It's so hard to wait when they smell so good but if longer is better I'll give it a shot I'll have to look into the castor and water content also. All of the recipes I've been trying are ones that I've found either in one of my soap books or online. I need to get my confidence built up a bit before I get too creative with my own formulas but I'll get there eventually Thanks again for your help.
  12. Great advice, Jcandleattic. I only let the soap cure for about 6 weeks so I will definitely try curing it for longer. So much to learn I'm definitely interested in experimenting with different types of oils. I recently made a two other batches and one contains both palm and cocoa butter, the other has shea butter and almond oil. Makes sense about the storage and letting it dry in between. Thanks so much!
  13. I've made my first two batches of soap and have had some issues with the soap not lasting very long in the shower. One bar only lasted 6 days. The bars were only about 3/4" but I would have anticipated them to last longer. I have used a simple coconut oil/olive oil recipe with castor oil that I found in my Everything Soapmaking Book. Is there something I can add to the soap so that it doesn't melt so fast or have I done something wrong in my process?
  14. Ok, thanks I wasn't able to access the site or find Summerbee Meadow online but I'll keep looking. There is lots of info out there.
  15. I'm new to CP soap making and decided to use Phenolphthalein to test my soap. I had referenced a soapmaking book and it said to put a drop or two on the soap to test and online there were other suggestions of dissolving the soap in distilled water first or dissolving in 50/50 distilled water/alcohol. I tested 3 batches--1 that has been curing for 5 weeks, 1 that has been curing for 4 weeks and 1 that has been curing for about 2.5 weeks. When I put the phenolphthalein on the soap I got a clear result on all 3 batches. When I disolved the soap in water, I got a fuchsia result; when I dissolved it in the 50/50 mix it was clear. I decided to test a store purchased bar soap in the same manner with the same results. Anyone out there using phenolphthalein that can tell me which is the right way to do this testing so I can quit worrying that my soap is not safe? I do understand that all 3 soaps need to cure a bit yet, but just wanted to test out how the phenolphthalein works. Thanks.
  16. Hi, I'm just starting out with soap making and getting my supplies together for my first batch of cold process soap. Wondering if any pH test strips will work for testing the soap or if I need to buy ones specifically from a soap supplier? Thanks for your input. Lisa
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