Sally

Mine tend to be smaller than the average here mainly due to the size of the batches I make in my 1kilo mould.

The 1/2 kilo batches are cut into 8 slices, rarely the same weight as I can't cut straight & even....but it all adds to the natural charm.

When I do make a full kilo batch it gets cut into a combination of full size & half size bars.

I've found that the smaller bars sell better where I am so I try to keep a bigger stock of them.

Sally.

If your Patchouli Lemongrass candle left a black residue while burning it sounds to me like either your wick was too large in size for the diameter of the candle, or in height whilst burning, or there was too high a % of fo blend in the wax.

I've used Patchouli in soy before with no problems but not blended it with a f.o.

Sally.

Berts (Heaven Scent) has a very masculine cashmere, very strong too.

Sally.

MMMM lovely, every one.

Sally.

That is such a pretty soap, well done you!

Sally.

I used to get some little bath oil ball thingys from Body Shop, years ago now, with a gorgeous blend of ginger, black pepper & a couple of other e.o's( I think it had some patchouli in it too) I wish I could remember cos it was heavenly...I think it was called a warming blend which ginger & black pepper e.o's are good for.

Must have a bash with a gingery soap for winter time.

Sally.

I use about a tablespoon ppo & add it after the cook, before I add the fo/eo & superfat.

I have a friend who uses it on her face at this amount!!!

Sally.

As much as my best made loves my soaps I think she'd slap me if I used any of her precious Guinness in a batch....I think I'll have a go & ask her to guess what's in it.

Callmaker...a poo bar is a shampoo bar (nothing disgusting lol) I wet mine then rub it on my scalp.......makes a ton of bubbles & is great for my hair, mine hasn't got beer in it ....yet.

Sally.

I read lots about newbies starting out with CP for various reasons but I started out with HP as I didn't have the equipment I needed for CP at the time.

Yes you get a more rustic finish which I leave as is, yes you don't get to do so much pretty swirling, but you do still get a wonderful soap which is ready for use so much sooner than CP.

I now prefer to leave mine for at least a week before using them, everything seems to settle down & begin to mature in that time.

I have made some CP & CPOP both of which turned out well but if I want something made & ready for use quickly it's HP & if I only make a 1# loaf in my 2# mould I can press the lid on pretty firmly which gives it a smoother top.

I'm going to make some more CP hopefully this w.e I think I need to start getting ready for christmas & a batch every few days will help.

Sally.

I am sooooo in awe of your wonderous creations Scented, if I made a soap that looked half as good as those I'd have to frame a bar & keep it forever!

Sally.

Wow thats too gorgeous for any man I know!

Sally.

I use this, is it what you're looking for?

http://www.onlineconversion.com/percentcalc.htm

Sally.

They are all gorgeous, I especially love the Of a Woman & the Apple Jack.....works of art!

Sally.

Blimey they are excellent, all the layers are so clean, I am in awe!!

Sally.

They're all great, but I just love the first one.

Sally.

Lovely, I'm a sucker for a good natural shampoo bar.

Sally.

Blobs, swirls, marbles or whatever I wouldn't throw a bar of that out with the bath water, it looks so summery & feminine.

Can't wait to see it cut.

Sally.

Does anyone use rhassoul clay in their shaving soap, I really want to try it but I'm not sure which is the best clay for a broad spectrum of skin types.

TIA.

Sally.

Oooo pretty soap.

Sally.

Hi Eugenia,

I used 4 tsp Alkanet root powder to 150 gms olive oil & infused it in my crock pot for a couple of hours.

The actual infusion is the most beautiful deep rosy plum as you describe.

In the recipe I then used 115 gms of the infusion straight in with all the others in the crock pot (it was only a 500gm test batch).

This batch is now a week old, still out in the open & showing no signs of fading.

I want to play with this again & again to see what different results I can get & then duplicate them for when I do sell my soaps.

Sally.

My first adventure with an alkanet root infusion (in olive oil), in HP soap.

I made the infusion really strong & it whiffed a bit so I used more fo than I would usually but now I think I used a wee bit too much.

Scented with Oriental Rose from a U.K supplier.

The soap lathers really well tho the lather is a little purple, but it doesn't stain.

Next time I use alkanet I'll try it in CP & not such a strong infusion just to see what happens.

I broke the screen on my camera recently so I can't see exactly what I'm snapping but this pic came out reasonably well.

I've always used the foamies craft sheets, because I can re-use them. I bought some freezer paper the other day and I'm really hating it lol. Hopefully it will get better

I've got a couple of packs of this stuff just waiting for that special project....you know....that one that will probably never get made!

Well I think I've got a good use for some of it now & I can wipe it down & re-use it...not something I've managed with the silicone paper I usually use.

Sally.

My first ever Cp batch is sitting curing near me right now, scented with sweet orange & clove leaf e.o's with fine ground orange peel powder & cinnamon powder.

It smell just like my christmas cake mixture....divine, tho it is rather brown like the cake mix too.

Sally.

Haven't got around to putting the Bayberry in wax yet but the cinnamon nutmeg & clove works great in my Ecosoy pb/para blend.

The bayberry is in my ready to test box but the candles have been a bit neglected lately while I play with hp & now cp soaps.

Sally.

Thats a funky looking soap you have there.

Personally I love lemongrass & anise & whenever I make a soap with lemongrass in it goes really quickly....my testers are vultures!

I'm going to have to get some anise e.o & give it a try.

Thank you for the inspiration.

Sally.