jerry

Thank you!!! @CandleRush I meant to mention that I made my first batch of cp with coconut milk last weekend - I bet your cream soaps are divine. That's a fun experiment to look forward to.

5 hours ago, TallTayl said:

Fresh patchouli essential oil often smells like dirty feet.

Oh dear. That explains why you and others often say patch is a love or hate thing. And that is not the smell I am recalling from my college days 😂 well, I certainly recall smelly feet, but think of patchouli differently. Looks like this will be an eye opener. 

5 hours ago, TallTayl said:

 I figured how hard could it be doing a horse hair wrap on hammered copper wire? I

I think that horse head looks pretty darn cool!!! 

Things are often much easier looking than they appear. I am reminded every day of this fact as I cruise past all my wick testers lol. And geez, we have the cleanest hands on the block - anyone need any soap?

Thank you so much, @TallTayl! I have used in cp soap lemongrass and orange 10x. The Lavender 40/42 that I used in a castille soap - cured for at least 10 months now - has faded a little, but I just started using a bar and I can tell it's there, lol. I'm out, so putting together an order and this really helps narrow the choices, especially when EOs are costly. Is light patchouli ok or should I find some dark? I was going to order from Camden-Grey per @Candybee's rec, but they are out of dark patchouli right now.

Thank you  @TallTayl for the reminder that clay is drying...I wonder why my face has felt drier lol. I can be so dense. I love the silky feel clay gives, but the drying...and that would mean that using clay for coloring - rose clay, french green, for example - will make the soap more drying. 

Thanks for the ideas about folded Eos and using a little patchouli - very helpful too. I do love lemongrass! That is one that has stuck for me, no problem  Getting some Litsea for sure.

Thank you @CandleRush. I plan to try some in a batch this weekend. I’ve used Bentonite clay in a gentle baby soap and love it for my face, lol, so I look forward to trying other clays. 

In in terms of anchoring - that’s good to know it’s citrus it helps with...I will certainly give it a try.

Good evening experienced cold process soapers. I'm curious about white kaolin clay used to "anchor" fragrances, particularly essential oils, in cold process soap - your thoughts? Does this work? Help? Myth? Thanks very much! 

Edit to add - if this is in the wrong place - sorry about that! I think of it in relation to essential oils, so I put it here.

Welcome!

So brilliant! Thank you for sharing!!!

This is good to know. Thanks for sharing!

Both are great, and I do prefer the first for a hardware store. Congrats on the new account, @Trappeur!

Great work! And like others, I like the third one and the white font. 

This is exciting news since I just got this FO - I'm looking forward to putting it in some wax.

Also, some are 8 oz, some are 9 oz.

Lovely, as always, @Trappeur!

8 hours ago, kfintoni said:

I tried the 4 x and I just cannot get $20 for a 16 oz candle around here. There are so many other candle makers around me.

Hi Karen. So I'm guessing you're in western MA, not near Boston? I'm in southern RI, (I have lived in both Boston and far western MA) and have not looked around at pricing too much here, but in local shops there are 7-9 oz candles selling for $16-20. I have seen some online for $22 - soy candles in 9 oz straight sided jars. I'm not saying that's what you should charge, just putting it out there for perspective and consideration within our geographic area. Pricing can feel challenging, that's for sure.

19 hours ago, Sarah S said:

What type of container are you using?

Thanks for the tip. I am using a 9 oz straight sided jar, as well as a basic tumbler - 3" wide opening, where the 9 oz jar is more in the 2 7/8s range. I will order some HTPS - I thought I had put some in my basket, but ended up with HTP votive wicks instead - what? I can use in these small jars I have for overflow, lol. Really sticking with that 1 jar theme, lol.

5 minutes ago, Jcandleattic said:

Only negative would be if the fo is concentrated enough to irritate the skin. Otherwise, I don't think it's a problem for personal use.

Thank you! Maybe I'll try my first rebatch

Thanks @TallTayl, @Jcandleattic, and @Sponiebr - that sounds completely plausible as I reflect on the making - trace was accelerating - yup, didn't get mixed all the way. Can I be super lazy and just let it cure and then use it personally or is there a negative consequence I'm not thinking of right this minute?

Thanks, @Sarah S!!! I have made two whole candles with it! They are over wicked, but the HT was great despite the overwicking.  Now to try a naked one and go from there. If you’re willing to share a wick preference, that would be great, otherwise, I’ll enjoy the adventure. 

Sorry for the crummy photo, but you can see the brown spots. And the air holes because it got thick fast! Thank you for your thoughts. 

2 hours ago, Jcandleattic said:

ETA: I should have added it sounds more like FO spots, than DOS. 

Thank you! It didn't look like the pics of DOS I've seen...FO spots - I was wondering if it was the fragrance oil! I had not used this one before and read on the CS website that it makes soap darker. I can take a pic once I'm home again just for confirmation.

Do you have something in mind - so I can better understand your idea of luxury jar? Or where have you visited and struck out?

Uh, could TD have contributed to/caused DOS? I understand DOS are typically caused by rancid oils, but I have had no DOS with 2 loaves I made on Saturday and now the loaf I poured on Sunday has them. They are not as big or uniformly shaped as I have seen pics of, which is why I'm asking if TD could have contributed to them. Sorry for the mild thread-jack.