Lady Di

I don't know what I did wrong. I can see making an error once... but twice in a row? Not likely, I don't think. I ended up putting the soap in the oven for about an hour at 170 degrees. It looks fine today and cut well. Do you think it is okay? I was down to the bottom of my lye bucket, so I discarded the rest and have opened a new bag to start using. The lye is the only thing I can figure -- it heated up when I mixed it into the water. This is the same recipe I've always used, and I have successfully layered before. Dianne

I'm making a 2-layer CP batch. Same ingredients I have always used. I pour at about 90 degree temp. I do not insulate. I made and poured my first layer at about light to medium trace. I then made my second layer -- same recipe, except I used no fragrance. I stirred and stirred and hardly achieved light trace. I went ahead and poured it over the first layer. When I did, the first layer gave in somewhat to the weight of the second layer (the first layer had been "setting" for about 1 1/2 hours). This was unusual and has never happened to me before. I left the soap to set on the counter. I discovered just a little while ago that a good bit of the second layer has seeped out through the mold onto the floor. It's not setting either. I also noticed that the mold is not warm (like it usually is). I put a pan underneath the mold, have put a lid on it and have wrapped it in towels. What happened? Dianne

Thank you all for your valuable input. I will check out all of these leads. Dianne

I can't make my own website. Can anyone please recommend a website builder I could hire to do this for me? Thanks. -- Dianne

P.S. My recipe works either in a tube, or as a bar.

My basic recipe is 1 + 1 + 1... 1 part butter, 1 part oil, 1 part beeswax. I use shea butter, grapeseed oil and beeswax. I like it. The bar is not too soft and not too hard. Dianne

Hmmmmmm. Thank you, Carol. Maybe I should try another batch using the unrefined to see how that changes things.

Thanks to everyone who responded before. You've given me some really valuable opinions. Please bear with me on this subject just a little longer... I was trying to duplicate a friend's recipe for shea souffle. Her's is as light as air -- mousse-like, not cream-like. (I can't find the words to describe her consistency! Airy, mousse, like a cloud, almost foamy, but not foam...) I followed her recipe ingredients with one exception... she used unrefined shea butter, and I used refined. She had used her Kitchenaid, and I had used my handheld. Mine turned out nothing like her's. Mine is like a cream. The only thing I can think that made such a difference was her KA mixer. In shopping around, I've noticed that the KA and the Hamilton Beach (which is much cheaper) use a single beater which looks like a whisk. Do you think that this is the secret to getting the consistency I've described? The other brands of stand mixers appear to use two beaters like my handheld does. I did not know about the heat factor of a handheld. But I'm really wondering if it is the whisk that sets the KA apart and gives you the really fluffy results.

I saw a demonstration recently where the woman used her Kitchenaid stand mixer (a countertop one) to whip up her lotion. Another woman used hers to do body butter. It was so fluffy. Do a lot of you use mixers? What kind? Do you find that a larger countertop mixer works better than a hand held one? -- Dianne

It turns out that Brenda is as beautiful and lovely as her soaps. There was a miscommunication regarding her email address. I thought I was being ignored (which hurt my feelings), but it appears I was writing to an inactive email address, instead. It was a misunderstanding on my part, and I apologize for my rudeness. Thank you, Brenda.

Lovely soaps, as usual, Brenda. I have tried contacting you a couple of times to compliment you and ask your advice, but you have not responded. Either you never read your email, or you are a snob.

Guess what? I like salt! I see I'm really in the minority. I do agree that it will sting a little bit when used on freshly shaved legs. But I feel it is cleaner than sugar. When sugar gets wet, it makes syrup. Personally, I don't want a sticky shower and drain. Also, I've read that salt is very good and healing for your skin. This is just my opinion and preference.

I've got a customer who has asked me to make her a moisturizing shower gel. She has very dry, itchy skin. I'm afraid if I add to much oil, I'll take away from the lathering properties. Does anyone have any ideas or recipes?

Does anyone know where I can buy twist up deodorant tubes? I'm not talking about the clear push-up tubes. Thanks. -- Dianne

It is by weight.

Thank you, Sherie! You make it all sound SO simple!

I cannot figure out percentages. I have a recipe that is 2.5 oz. total. One of my ingredients is supposed to be added at 2 to 5%. What the heck does this mean? How many drops, grams or teaspoons would this be? I just don't get it. :undecided Thanks.

Can someone tell me how much to use in a 4 oz. spray container. Also, what liquid is used -- distilled water?

Hi, all... new to the group and have a question. What is the purpose of adding cornstarch to lotion recipes. What exactly does it do? Thanks. Lady Di