Candybee

Wellington's been around for a long time. I never used them before so can't vouch for them. The other company I have never heard of. I have not used Juniper EO but I have used a FO with juniper EO in it and its wonderful. The FO is Juniper and Aloe from EBB http://www.elementsbathandbody.com/Juniper-Aloe.html

So did you get your olive oil?

I love tallow in soap! So I used what I had left and I got a little bit of fatty residue floating on top after I melted it. So I strained that off and it was fine. Soap came out rich and creamy!

Getting ready to make another batch of shaving soap. There isn't that much, maybe 10oz but I hate to let it go to waste so I will go ahead and use it.

I found some tallow in the back of my fridge forgot I had. Its from last year so its got to be older than 6 months but less than a year. Still smells okay, no rancid odor. Tastes like cold beef fat with a little plastic smell. (Its from ED in its original plastic container). Should I just trash it or should it be okay to use for soaping?

I've had pretty good success with many of their oils in my parasoy and palm candles. My favs are the cedar garland, Christmas tree, and nutmeg & ginger.

Bitter Creek North is still staying open I assume? Or are they closing too?

The only one I have used is the one from CS. I loved it so much I never looked for another. Its strong in parasoy and palm.

If I get any I'm going to cut them up to fit in my soap molds. I would also love to use them in my round PVC molds. Wouldn't those be awesome soaps with those pretty rounded sides with the impressions in them?!!

I know! I really want to tell them no way would I buy their oils to use for myself or my soap! They are way overpriced and there is no certificate of analysis or any indication of their origin or purity. Just their "say-so" that's its pure doesn't cut it... and you are right, some of those reps are so annoying at craft fairs. I just try to ignore them and show total disinterest.

I just run over to Wally's or Giant and buy the large tins for 101oz olive oil. I hate being out of an ingredient when you were planning to do some soaping! Did my market today so I am not doing anything else for the day. Will probably make some soap tomorrow and hoping a batch I made the other day is firmed up enough to cut. Since its gonna rain here Sunday and Monday I plan to make soap! I always feel better making soap!!

Then try eucalyptus and peppermint at 2:1. I would have to look up my blend ratio from last year. Haven't done it in a while but I remember it as 1:1 and it mellowed a lot after curing several weeks.

pink dragon?

Welcome back! You are going to love M&P. Its fun to make and nice to use.

Nice!

Thanks. I bookmarked the site. I was reading about some of the black pepper blends and found one I liked! Will look at the others when I get a chance. I like that is has list of different EO types and gives history on the oils.

They are on my ever growing list of things I want to get for soaping. I've seen pics of soap with those mats lining the molds. The soaps were so pretty! Gotta me me some of those some day!

Youch! I have a YL rep at my weekly market. These people advocate putting the oils directly on their skin attesting they won't hurt you due to their "purity". Tried to explain to her about toxicity and dilutions of oils and why you should never put the oils directly on the skin. I get this blank stare and she gave me the company diatribe about how its because those oils aren't 'pure' like YL oils. Seriously, you can't fix stupid! You know YL was cited on a buttload of wrongful biz practices and medical claims re their oils by the FDA last summer. Apparently they have not retrained their reps.

I have a tendency to avoid using cedar in my blends. As much as I love it unfortunately it fades. At least the cedar from SMR fades to nothing over time. Have you tried just eucalyptus and peppermint? Another simple yet elegant blend at 1:1. I was reviewing my herbal bliss and forgot I had revised it from last year and now use lavender, rosemary, anise, peppermint, and spearmint. Last year I was using eucalyptus, rosemary, lavender, peppermint, and spearmint.

Those are nice but they are pretty small. You could only use them for small molds. Wilton has a lot of decorative mats that are much larger: http://search.wilton.com/?q=imprint+mats

Other family members, pets, children, older adults, etc., should be okay if they are standing several feet away or in another room. If they happen to be sensitive to the smells like my cats are, I just put them in another room with a closed door and ventilate the room I am working in before I let them back out. Remember this mostly effects you, the candlemaker/soapmaker working directly with the FOs. You are in the immediate area of the vapors. As long as you are wearing a ventilator no problem.

I have SMR's soap beveler. Works beautifully in beveling your soaps. It also has 2 different "depths" in case you want just a little beveled or a deeper bevel. The edges were clean and straight. Plus, you can use it to plane or level off a whole surface or side of a soap because it has a 3rd beveling option for whole surfaces. I really like that. It cleans like a dream. Easy peasy lemon squeezy! Yeah, baby! I took my time buying it because of the price but once I got it it was worth every penny. The shaved pieces fall through the planer so you can collect them. I keep the shavings in a bucket and make confetti soap, or do a soap rebatch, or occasionally use them for making detergent. I found it really easy to use and wasn't disappointed.

I have noticed that some EOs mellow in CP after a days' or month's cure time while others seem to grow stronger. Thankfully lavender stays strong and beautiful. Maybe instead of litsea you could sub bergamot if you want a more subtle citrus note. Plus bergamot will round out your floral notes... I think.

The lavender blend my customers and I go ga-ga over is lavender, rosemary, anise, and mint. ( like to blend peppermint and spearmint). A simple yet elegant one is lavender and geranium 1:1 I am working on a lavender, sage, and basil. (As soon as I get me some basil!)

Maybe I am using the wrong word for the FO vapors. But I know for a fact they can and do cause damage to your lungs over a period of time depending on your health and the amount of exposure. Plus I am sorry but I don't believe that your lungs build up a resistance. It took just under 5 yrs for my lungs to feel the effects and for me to start coughing. As far as I am concerned damage to my lungs is more than an irritant.