Karen B

Well I don't know how much 8 inches would set the mood I think 12 would do a much better job. j/k :tiptoe: I'll just go now. Karen B

Gosh I **almost** feel so rejected, why didn't somebody try to con me I do have a website. LOL j/k Sorry to all those that have sent her products in good faith. Karen B

OK I am new to this whole soap thing but I *think* I can actually help here. In a normal soap yes but in salt bars you want a really high amount of coconut, IMHO at least 60%. No it's not drying to your skin, from what I understand coconut is the only oil that will give you lather in salt water. But even then you will still need a lot of coconut to get that little bit of lotion'y lather you get with a salt bar. (trust me it's actually not drying, as a mater of fact my skin feels softer after using a salt bar) Karen B

This is just MY opinion & what do I know. But I really don't like anything that a person will just rely on to extinguish there wicks for them. What IF they leave the house & think oh well it will go out on it's own in 1 hour, but the curtains catch the flame before that hour is up. When it comes to a flame I'm not a really big fan of anything that will let the consumer think it's safe enough to not have to keep an eye on it. Let's face it candles get knocked over all the time if I'm going to light a candle it's my responsibility to make sure it's in a safe place & to not forget about it. Otherwise if I can't I need to use something else as a air freshener. No offense Lisa but that's JMHO on anything that gives people a false sense of security. Karen B

eugenia you amaze me, that is such a simple & cool idea. Now if only you could teach me how to make nice looking swirls. Karen B

(wiping sweat from brow) I didn't want to 2nd guess you there because obviously you have WAY more experience & knowledge than I do. But I did think maybe you just missed that oil. I actually love that oil too, I tried one batch where all my cleansing oil was just the babassu. (don't remember the % off hand) I have that batch of soap hidden from my family. thanks, Karen B

Um eugenia I really don't mean to 2nd guess you since I'm a newbie, but babassu is a cleansing oil like coconut oil & I thought was more like coconut oil than PKO? I know it would be a really expensive bar of soap but couldn't she use that? (she'd have to run it threw a calculator too) Karen B (who is going to quietly hide in a corner now) :tiptoe:

Can I make one suggestion, keep it under 1oz per lb, this is one of those cases where you can have too much of a good thing. Karen B

Everything everyone else has said plus Autumn Apple,(so far the BEST apple scent I've smelled) Brandied Pear, Tiger Lily & Cantaloupe (smells just like Longwycks Moon Shadow) Creme Brule Café, and Sunflower & Sea Mist. Mind you this is ALONG with everything else everyone has mentioned. (not that I'm an enabler or anything) :tiptoe: Karen B

Aw man you are evil I tell you. Darn-it I need a scale like that too. Plus it has a stainless steal top which is much nicer when you are measuring things like FO & might spill. (you don't want to see what my postal scale looks like right now) Gotta say the digital timer is a nice plus. I better wait until tomorrow, DH will be at work so he won't see what I bought, now just to bribe the kids so they don't blab. Karen B

You swirled with a salt bar? WOW, I don't care what you say about not being happy I would never have even thought to attemt such a thing. Those really look great. Karen B

Just one other thing that you probably already know about but in the off chance that a newbie like me might know something you don't I figure I'd throw it out there. I have hard water not that bad but with no water softener in this house it's a bubble buster. I recently made a batch of soap with Tetrasodium EDTA, (good God please tell me I'm at lease close enough in the spelling that you know what I'm talking about) just that tiny amount made a big difference in the bubbles & feel of the lather in my soap. I also have to agree with the person that said wait at least 6 weeks cure time. I don't really get nice bars until they've had a chance to sit that long. Soap is like women & fine wine * **we only get better with age.*** Karen B

lol, wait a little bit then try it out in the shower when you shave. I love to shave with a salt bar it really makes my legs nice & smooth. Karen B

Do like you normally would with CP soap, adding FO & dye at the right time. Then at light trace start adding the salt. As for how much salt, I had a batch with 2 lbs of oils so I weight out 2 lbs of salt. I used a spoon to stir in the salt & didn't quite use the whole 2 lbs of salt just until it felt right. Salt seems to speed things up so I worked quickly to get it into the molds at that point. put it in the oven, after an hour checked on it. For me at that point it was already really hard & I knew I had to cut it then or you'd have to use a whole log as 1 bar. (for most people they cut it after 2 hours) Now when figuring out how big of a batch this will be remember that 2 lbs of oils plus 2 lbs of salt will now make a 4 lb batch of soap. So keep in mind the addition of the salt when figuring out how much oil you'll use & what size mold to use. I did a search for salt bar's on this board & a few others. I found loads of information in the post's. Grumpy Girl has done a lot of salt bars,and has posted a wealth of information in those post's. You should look into reading them. Karen B

I am absolutely NO expert in salt soap, actually I've only made ONE batch. So I don't know what I'm talking about. But if you're like me & just making your 1st batch I'd suggest starting with Coconut Oil, at least 40%. From what I understand salt bars don't like to bubble & coconut oil does the best job of trying to get bubbles for you. I added some castor oil but don't know if that made a big difference, since I've NEVER made a salt bar before. (lol) For the soft oils I kept it simple olive oil, a little macadamia nut oil. Why you ask I don't know it sounded fun. So really as for oils & stuff use what you like but because it's your 1st try use a LOT of coconut. Personally I did not find the coconut irritating like it can be in a normal soap at such a high amount, so try not to have to much fear of that. (I find this soap makes my skin feel soft) As for the process well, I personally did CPOP, but was cutting them one hour after I poured. Personally I don't know if HP would really be a good way to make these, but what do I know the next post is probably going to be from grumpy girl or somebody with experience saying she does it just fine no problem. sorry but hth's a little bit, Karen B

I need to ask you ladies one really stupid question, did you fill out the screen where it ask's you questions like: Username: Username before database accident: Username on other forums: Which Forums: (it keeps going with more quesitons) I don't remember if you have to wait for an e-mail 1st to fill this page out. Also is it the whisk that you can't have an AOL e-mail account with? I thought I remember that doesn't work.(it should say right there as your filling out the request) Just some suggestions, I know it really didn't take that long for me.

When I joined a little while ago I didn't know who was really on there either. I just made sure to tell them my name on other boards. (like here I'm Karen B, show's my creativity level is at about zero) Anyway as long as you put your screen name & what other boards you visit when somebody recognizes you they'll vouch for you. It's just like any other board where you have to register to get access. It's Olivia's way of keeping it a nice smooth running board, she isn't trying to be "selective" just trying to keep out the ones who are known for doing things like taking money & running. Just her idea to keep out the bad elements, thankfully you don't have to be a **talented** soaper to get in otherwise I wouldn't be there. Karen B

Hey everyone just so you know, Olivia is the only one who can activate you. I'll make sure to check the new members area too but just try to be patient. Karen B

I hope Robin doesn't mind me making this suggestion but since you found the template what you could do is measure your soap & remake the template in another program that would allow you to put the text in. :tiptoe: :tiptoe: :tiptoe: sneeking away now just incase I upset Robin. Karen B

Anyone else think that was a air pocket that caused it? Did he know what happened when he was burning it? did the flame get up high for a while, or maybe the air pocket caused the wick to just fall right into the wax never to be seen from again. Tell him that's what he get's for not buying hand poured candles. lol Karen B

UM Pretty well???? Yes to say the least it worked "pretty well". I'd say that I have a bad case of soap envy right now so yes it worked "pretty well". Wow you did a very nice job, weather it was your 1st try at 2 color or not that soap is beautiful. Karen B

Not an expert in making them (actually never done that) just using them. But for those with long hair how is it as far as getting threw out the whole hair. As long as that little bit will get into all the hair I say it would be a plus to say it's thicker & more concentrated. (people feel like there getting more for there money) Just a consumer's opinion here, Karen B

I didn't want to say anything because I thought I was the only one. But just for that I say keep the name, it's an eye catcher. lol Karen B

Wait stop hold the phone, Bunny THOSE are rebatches. Excuse me I going to go curl up in a corner & cry for a little while. Karen B (who's very few attemts at rebatches ended up looking um, can you say **very** rustic)

WHAT, using lye for the drain, next you'll be telling me you can cook in a presto pot. Karen B