Candybee

I just soaped beach bum from NG and love the fragrance. Its the bobbi brown beach type dupe. I think I can probably do a bit better. This one did accelerate and rice big time on me so looking for another that does well in CP and hopefully is a better version. So if you know one you like please share. Or any nice suntan oil beach type. Preferably with experience soaping but I may try it anyway. Thanks.

I seem to be having more problems lately with FOs that accelerate in CP. I swear its happening more especially with known FOs that have been reformulated. I will be soaping with a fragrance I have been using for years and the new bottle I order will produce soap on a stick. Not only that, but many just don't smell the same and or fade quickly. It is so frustrating! It also means I am more often than not having to try new fragrances that work or try to find replacements for best sellers or switch them out with old fragrances I still have in stock in my back room. It just adds to the cost of soapmaking to have to keep looking for new FOs that work in CP.

Found it! For some reason I put it in a soap mold and just happened to move that mold yesterday and found it sitting inside. So now I have 3 openers.

Nice!

Never mind. Just found some on Amazon for lots cheaper than SC. So I bought 2 so I have a backup. Now what I would like to know is how the heck does a bright orange tool that size just disappear?!!! .....unless...... the cat?!

I just checked and Soaper's Choice is out. Anywhere else I can get one? I really should have a spare for this type of emergency.

Thinking of using it. Been using usps and even regional rates are up to $8.30 for a small local package. Seems to me I can do much better elsewhere.

for your shipping? Its supposed to save you quite a bit on shipping costs.

The oil batch is 56oz or 3.5 lbs. My soap batches end up being about 5 lbs altogether with liquid, lye, fats, fragrance, et al. I used the powder as directed on the label. One scoop (.5oz) of powder per batch. I use 16oz of liquid per batch but split that and made 8oz of coconut milk using one scoop of powder per batch as directed. So I actually used half the powder amount for the full liquid as I only made half of it coconut milk. So technically I should have used two scoops for the full 16oz. So next time I am going to halve the powder and blend into liquid coconut milk and try that instead. If it still doesn't work I will continue to try smaller and smaller increments until I find the amount that works without accelerating my soap. The feel the coconut powder imparts in the finished soap is worth testing for a workable amount that doesn't cause the batter to accelerate. BTW, I also used the coconut powder as a creamer in my coffee and wow wee is it delish! I like it so much I will continue to buy it and use for my coffee as I get the best creamy coffee with a lovely note of sweet coconut. Mmmmmmmm!!!!

I think I'm going to try half the powder amount and mix it into regular Silk coconut milk. Just want to see the results, figure the costs, and level of work/preparation. I am already hooked on the feel of that finished soap bar so thinking ahead...

Last month I made a few batches of CP soap using coconut milk powder I ordered instead of the regular Silk liquid coconut milk. I made the coconut milk per instructions and used it in each batch. According to instructions you use 1 scoop to 8-12 oz water. One scoop equals approximately .5 oz of powder. So for each batch I used one scoop as my liquid requirement was 16oz and I split the liquid; half coconut milk, half other liquid for the lye solution. The coconut milk ended up making each batch accelerate although I was able to manage multi color swirls. So today I pulled one of the cured soaps out and washed with it. The soap lathered nicely and left my skin so nice and moisturized. I'd say its one of my most moisturizing soaps I've made and am impressed with the results and was not expecting it to be so moisturizing. I guess the 9 grams of fat per scoop (equals an 8oz serving of coconut milk) of powder is the reason. Silk coconut milk only has 4.5 grams fat per 8oz serving. I am impressed with the lovely skin feel of the coconut milk powder soap. I guess I will continue to experiment with it to see just how much I can use before it causes my soap to accelerate. So the pros are that the powder is cost effective compared to the liquid milk in cartons and with its fat content can produce a lovely moisturizing bar of soap. The cons are it accelerates the soap batter but that may be fixable if I reduce the amount of powder. But then that would also reduce the fat content. Then again I can do an extra bit of superfat too.

I've always used a flat griddle pan like TT. It works great but occasionally I may get an uneven bottom and have to continue melting on griddle until its even. I find a leveler on top of the candle helps.

Maybe if I could find a toasted coconut that would work. The bakery and fruity coconut blends seem to work on some level.

Oh... wanted to add I once found a fragrance that was a bakery scent that had a nice coconuty note in it. For the life of me I can't remember which it was or if it even exists anymore. I do remember it made my batter rice and seperate badly along with some exceleration. It was a demon to soap with but had that lovely toasted coconut note that was awesome in soap.

I remember Tradewinds Hawaiian Sandalwood. It was incredible in soap. I have not been able to find its equal or even find one other than at AH. AH' one is weak, smells blah, and doesn't stick anyways. Do you know one that works in CP? You mentioned some do so wondering which one(s) worked for you.

has anyone ever found a coconut FO that sticks in CP... or even a coconut blend? coconut lime works even thou the coconut is very light. Just wondering if anyone has found any that actually sticks in CP?

What are the fragrances for? candles, soap, B&B? Are you reselling or using for your own products? The answers to these can make a huge difference in the FOs you purchase.

I make 56oz oil recipe batches or 3.5 lbs oil. How much of the coconut powder would you use for that size batch? That's the oil amount and not the full batter amount. The soap batch ends up being about 5 lbs altogether with the lye and liquid.

Well what it comes down to is that one is $ .22 cents a fluid oz which is way higher cost than I have been using on the either the fresh or powdered kind. I can make my soap with just $ .04 cents per fluid oz or even less if I use less of the powder. The whole purpose was to save money by switching to the powder. So while that looks like a great brand I would only use if for cooking probably and not soapmaking since its not cost effective. But thanks just the same for trying to find an alternative. I think I may have seen that same brand canned milk at Wally's. BTW, canned coconut milk makes the best tasting Thai curries and coconut soups if you are into international cooking.

Thankfully I don't use those. The mulled cider and chestnuts didn't sell for me anyway so I was discontinuing it anyway.

I was using powder too, not canned as you said it contains additives. My powder is 100% coconut milk powder with no additives. I did what you did, started with some cold water, added the coconut milk powder, then nuked it for a few seconds, then SB to blend it. That worked fine. I just have to give it a try using less powder for my CP soap and see if that works. As I said above, trying to find fresh coconut milk by the carton in the store is like finding a needle in a haystack. Maybe I should just switch to almond milk as its so plentiful.... but I'm just not ready to do that, I really like coconut milk in my CP!

Well I ended up going to the store today and buying some fresh coconut milk. Which reminded me why I wanted to switch to the powdered kind, its getting harder and harder to even find coconut milk. The store shelves are loaded with almond milk, soy milk, and even oatmilk these days but try to find straight coconut milk and its like where's Waldo?!!!! I am gonna try NightLight's advice and use a smaller amount. It should still work as one serving of this powder has a whopping 9 grams of fat while the fresh coconut milk has only 5-6. And its that wonderful skin loving milkfat I want in my soapies!!!!

Ingredients listed is simply: Coconut milk powder. And it didn't dissolve in water. I had to heat the water slightly then add the powder, then whisk or SB to blend it together. It blends fine once its heated a little bit and SB'd okay into my soap batter. But as soon as I added the lye solution it started to turn into soap pudding and by the time I poured it into the mold was closer to concrete and I couldn't even texture the top as even the top started to get gloppy thick.

Well it says; Ingredients: Coconut milk powder So no fillers, or other additives, just dried coconut milk. Brand is Nutricost and I bought it from Amazon in the large 2 lbs container. It tastes yummy too! The directions say to use "one scoop" for 8 - 12 oz of water. One scoop turns out to be .5 oz of powder. I weighed it. I'd say if I put it in a tablespoon its so light it might make 2 tbs per servings. So Nightlight, that would definitely be more than you recommend. Maybe I will give it one more try at 1 tsp. But is that per lb of oils or what? What do you measure your 1 tsp powder to?

cute post! made me chuckle!🙂