giedre11

Crafty you've just about got me convinced to try my hand at HP!

Just my two cents worth, but you really can shrink wrap your soaps after an appropriate cure time. Keeps the soap clean, but also helps to hold the scent in. When I shrink wrap my bars, I inevitably get a small hole somewhere on the shrink wrap. Apparently this is enough to allow the soap to continue to cure, but small enough to not have to worry about it. Also, it allows you to smell the soap...it does come through that little hole. Heck, if the bars shrink that much, it's really no big deal to just zap them with the heat gun again, plus they usually don't shrink that much. I have a bar of soap that is approx. 2 years old...scented with lavender EO...just unwrapped the other day and the scent is not only still there, but is strong! Guess I just love the shrink wrap . Ok, will get off my soapbox now, lol!

I don't soap without it either, but if you are just starting out using it, my suggestion would be to use the MMS calculator and there is a little box there that you can tick...it asks if you want to use the SL and then will give you recommendations on amount. I too always go with the 3%. Just remember that you will end up cutting your bars much sooner. Well, at least that's how it's worked for me! Good luck!

Don't know if this is a dumb question {hmm, probably is!} but since some fo's are "heavier" and you need to wick up on them...and you haven't tested a particular fo yet...well, if you poured up a liquid oz. of fo, and then weighed it, wouldn't it help you in your wick testing if you compared it {weight wise} to say a known heavy weight fo such as vanilla and started testing from there? I hope this makes sense.

Wouldn't all this Crisco cause your candles to burn down much more quickly?

Don't know much about these types of things, but my dog chewed up my iron wire and I just wrapped it really well with electrical tape and had no problems with it.

I once used red colorant just for a swirl...I got blood red bubbles, red tub, red washcloth, etc.

It's good to have a place that sells lye locally, but isn't it something like over two bucks a pound? That's sorta expensive! edited to add...I spoke too soon...just got my lye shipped in today and it's 2.32 per pound

It's funny you brought that up but I have recently used a pre-blended pillar and votive wax and it did the same thing for me...but it was pillars! Wasn't from the same supplier as you used though.

Did you have any problems ordering on their website? Every single time I go there it never lets me order anymore! Quite frustrating!

I think I know the site you're talking about...Millers? I too saw where she mentioned that she used candle dye for coloring. It makes me wonder though...if she's been using it, if it's really all that bad? I guess it would depend on the amount of dye used. Now don't get me wrong, I'm not recommending that, just sorta thinking out loud I guess!

Yeah, like Crafty said if you use something like sodium lactate, do cut your bars fairly quick. I used to use tooooo much...actually ended up cutting up a log that was in the middle of gel. I know this doesn't sound right, but there it is. It was cut about three hours after pouring! Great stuff though if used right!

Thanks all for the answers! Crafty thanks for that heads up...exactly the answer I was looking for! Yay!! Texas Brat thanks for the heads up on the temps. I know grapefruit eo {and I think even the FO} has a very low flashpoint. It's always shipped ground because of that. I really need to get off my butt and try this, I'm just too tired today...

Sure CP can be done in designer molds...just pour at thin trace. BTW, once I dry my CP, I shrink wrap them all. Holds the scent better and makes sure the soap stays clean!

I am cutting impaired! Have a slab mold that I use only to do my {attempted} swirls in. Have this long cutting knife, but what happens is that I always manage to cut on an angle. What finally helped me a lot is I balance a level on top of the cutting knife...it has a wooden bar at the top!

I think that allowing your soap to gel promotes faster saponification? Sort of like cooking your soap. I've heard others say that their soap is able to be used more quickly than non-gelled soap, but I may have gotten that wrong. I think there are pluses and minuses to both sides. Personally I prefer the appearance of non-gelled soaps as they are much creamier looking if that makes any sense, however I like the texture of gelled soaps as they seem to feel smoother. Guess it's just a matter of personal preferance. What makes me crazy is when I get only partial gel, and the middle of the soap bar is darker than the outermost edges!

I have always been a CP'er, but am thinking of trying HP. For those of you who do HP, have you found citrusy type scents like grapefruit, etc. really make it through HP? From what I have read, it seems like HP still has to "sit" for a couple of weeks before it's really ready. I'm taking it that it continues to dry at that time and doesn't have to sit due to ongoing saponification. I mean, it's cooked already, right? Anybody? TIA!!

Alabaster Drakkar BB Energy Relaxing* Pink Grapefruit Almond Chamomile Bergamot* Rosehip Jasmine* Bonsai Vanilla (non-discoloring) Vanilla Bean {discolors deep brown} Nag Champa BCN Angel Apricot Blueberry ( I mixed this with patchouli ) Cool Water Cucumber Melon Fig Honey Coco Mango Lavender Love Spell Mango Papaya Nag Champa* Oakmoss Ocean Mist OMH Patchouli Polo Purely Herbal ***** Spearmint Summer Citrus Tropical Papaya Special Verbena Berry Bitter Creek South Dogwood Drakkar Home Spun Sugar Peppercorn Spearmint* Whipped Cream BNL Almond (slight A) Bay Rum*** Cool Water Gingered Lime Grapefruit Peppermint Green Tea OMH Peppercorn Pomegranate & Anise Rosemary Mint Strawberry Jam Tranquil Tropics Warm Vanilla Sugar Candlesoylutions/EL Bergamot Blackberry Black Cherry Caramel Pomegranate CC Lavendar Lullaby LemonBlossom Raspberry Cordial (discolors to dark brown) Brandied Pear Creative Candle Supplies Coconut Lime Verbena C&S Peonies and Peaches Pink Grapefruit Strawberries and Champagne Wisteria Daystar Amour de Cacoa Black Vetyver Cafe Couer de vahine FOH Bamboo Sugar Cane Fresh Lemon Sugar Herbal soaps By RJ OMH Sweet pea coriander bergamont amaretto ICS Lovespell OMH Orchid Pink Sugar Sea blossom Sweet Pea Waterfall Mist Just Scent Blissful Blackberry Chai Tea (Discolors) Girls Night Out Grapefruit Vanilla Twist (Discolors to light tan) Heart's Desire Santirini KB Coconut Lime Verbena honey spa ginger Pomegranate & Rosewater Zen Tea Keystone Sandalwood KY Blackberry Sage Cool Citrus Basil Cucumber Cantaloupe Honeysuckle Jasmine Island Mango Lavendar Vanilla Lilac OMH Rose Petals Snuggle baby MMS Aloe and Cucumber Awuapuhi Seaberry Elements of Bamboo Frankincense Ginger Milk Jasmine Natures Garden Angel Wings Butterfly Hugs Pearberry - discolors white Sun Ripened Raspberry Mardi Gras Old Mill Goddess Green Tea OMH Peach and Lotus Bacci de Miele Oldtimer and Lily blueberry honeysuckle love spell pomegranate (sp?) white tea and ginger witch's brew Oregon Trail Amber Dawn Angel Black Raspberry and Vanilla (no discolor even with the vanilla!) Creamy Coconut Frosted Wineberry Sunkissed Currants Green Irish Tweed Gee Your Hair Smells Terrific Peaks Asian Sandlewood ( I mixed this with Green Tea ) Blackberry Sage Black Raspberry Vanilla (No discoloration) Clean Cotton (1/2 oz ppo awesome) Cool Citrus Basil Cucumber Melon Fruit Slices Green Clover and Aloe (accelerates a bit) Green Tea Honeysuckle Lemongrass & Sage Mediterranian Fig Nag Champa Patchouli ( I mix this with blueberry) Pink Sugar (Discolors to DARK brown) Rose Bouquet Sweet Pea Warm Apple Pie Wild Raspberry Scent Works http://store.scent-works.com/index.html Blackraspberry & Vanilla Bourbon Geranium {super strong} Buttery Vanilla Fresh Sugar Cane (great A in CP, best for HP but awesome) Hawaiian Black Ginger Lemon Geranium London Lemon Curd*(Discolors to med tan) Oakmoss (discolors to tan) Pink Sugar Raspberry Rice Flower & Shea Satsuma Guava Vetyver Zen Tea Scents for Soy Coconut Peaches & Milk Fall Leaves Home sweet Home Raspberry Guava Sweet Pea Simple Soothings Chamomile Pear Sage & Citrus True Antique Lilac Snowtops Orange Blossom (very strong can definately cut back to .5 pp) SoapNCandles Angel Heart Blackberry Sage Lemon Slices Ozark Forest Ruby Red Grapefruit Tangerine Lavender SoapSupplies Aloe Almond, Milk & Honey Southern Scentsations http://www.greatcandle.com/ Apples & Berries Sweet Pea Supplies 4 Candles http://www.supplies4candles.com/pilot.asp White Tea* Sweet Cakes Black Raspberry Chamomile Christmas Spice Fig (smells like Orchid Tea BNL) Gentlemen's Bay Rum Gin Martini Ginger Essence Jasmine Lemon Verbena OMH (discolors to tan)* Sandalwood Sandalwood Vanilla* Secret Crush Snowplace Like Home True Rose (the BEST ever!!!) Taylored Concepts Mexican Vanilla TCS Love Spell True Lavender Tony's Baby Magic blackberry sage* Dragon's Blood evening mocha flowering herb frank/myrrh green clover and aloe green tweed Honeysuckle Grapefruit Hawaiian White Ginger Lavender Flowers Love Spell* mambo mambo/green tweed 50/50 masculine musk* Moroccan Rain Nag Champa* red clover tea* sandalwood musk Stress Relief sweet pea Very Sexy White Tea & Ginger Winter Ambrosia TriState www.tristatecandlesupply.net Almond Clean Cotton Coconut Cool Water Lemongrass and Orange Lovespell OMH Rice Flour and Shea Patchouli The Scented Bean Citrus Blast Sweet Serendipity Tradewinds Banana (discolors to med tan) Coco Lime Cooler Emerald Sea Herbal Essence Mandarin Bamboo Plumeria Sassafras Tiny Bubbles (slightly accelerates but kid's love it) WSP Asian Plum Black Raspberry & Vanilla Chocolate Mousse Sea Glass WYW from BCN Lemongrass and Star Anise Custom mixes.... Green Tea (Peaks) mixed with Pear (Just Scents) Pear (CC) mixed with Vanilla Voodoo Peaks Mac Apple/Lavender from ICS and Spearmint from SC SC Black Raspberry/Gin Martini SC Chamomile/Sandalwood

:laugh2: I needed that!

I'm no expert by any means, but I love to add milks to my soaps. I have used coconut milk from the can, powdered goats milk, and am planning to try the powdered buttermilk this weekend. I never add the stuff to my lye water. I mix all of it in with my oils and yes it does mix in. Don't ask me how, lol, as I know oil and water isn't supposed to mix! As a matter of fact, I add all my additives to my oils...fo, SL, milk, etc. stick blend it very well and when the temps are right, I just add my lye water. I figure everything is going to get zapped by the lye anyway, even if you add stuff at thin trace.

I have the exact same one too, and have never regretted the purchase! Good grief, finally I have evenly cut bars! RobinInOr, the cut sides do show a wire cut, but I've noticed that if you tighten the wires too much it makes it worse. I would actually have thought the opposite would happen. Ok, just went to check my soaps that are drying, and the wire cut lines are gone...was gonna post a pic, hmm go figure!

I use the SFIC soap and I think it has fantastic lather. I use a scrubby in the shower and the lather is like thick shaving cream falling off my scrubby. That's interesting about the castor oil, I'm going to have to try that just to see if it works! I would have thought that any type of oil added to melt and pour would inhibit lather??

Oh my, those are just fabulous! I absolutely adore foody candles, I think you've done a fantastic job! I'd buy one in a heartbeat! Just wish I could "buy" your expertise at wicking those suckers, lol.

I know this sounds dumb, but when testing candles for scent throw, does it make that big of a difference in the size of the container candle? It seems to make sense to me that a bigger container would have a bigger hot throw? Or is that not always necessarily so??

Adding some sodium lactate is great for hardening up bars more quickly!