ilovescents

She may have used Apricot Seeds. I use them for my kitchen soap. I love the refreshing massage and exfoliation it gives.

I bought a bar of handmade soap recently. When I wet it the bar gets this slimy coating all over it. Is that normal?? why would it do that? The slimy feeling goes away when it dries but each time I get it again the slime comes back. It is really thick and pulls away with your fingers when you lift your fingers off the bar.

I know what you mean by slimy soap. I always like to compare my soap to other soap makers so I wouldn't hesitate to buy a bar (or several if I'm intrigued by the scents). There is one soap maker whom I bought from -- her soaps look lovely, fragrance exquisite but very slimy and so emollient that I didn't feel clean after taking a shower with it. She does say on her listing that she uses high amounts of Olive Oil.

I prefer to use Rice Bran Oil. Gives a silky lather, not slimy yet moisturizing. Even my RBO castille soap is not slimy.

Of course draining your soap on a soap rack after each use helps. Although I do agree that an emollient soap will feel slimy once it gets wet.

personally i feel that the best thing to do is not to let the bars sit on the shelf for too long. After fully cured, you should package them up to prevent scent loss, and then try to use them within 6-8 months. Also make sure to use quality fragrance oils as well.

I completely agree with this technique. I package mine in cello bags or kraft merchandise bags after 8 week cure and stored in a cool, dry area. I'm so fortunate to have an insulated basement workshop that is always cool and dry. Living in Utah with non-existent humidity (IMO) is a plus. The quality of FO/EO as mentioned is definitely a Major factor.

Thanks! All the links seem to work for me. All my Lush Type handmade products are allowed on eBay. I have received a few threatening emails from other ebay members or not so very nice people (jealousy I suppose) that I will be reported because of my listings. eBay has decided in my favor each and every time.

My response to nasty emails: "If you find it worth your time to do so, then by all means go ahead. All of my handmade products with Designer names are Types (not a fake one I bought somewhere and sold on ebay with claims that it's authentic). I have indicated on each listing that they are fragrance types or interpretation/rendition of the true Designer fragrance. There are HUNDREDS of knockoff fragrances on eBay. If you decide to report them also, then you are in for one heck of a good time (if you consider wasting your time "good")."

So far, those individuals have not found it worth their time to respond any further.

They look wonderful!! Is ebay taking some of them down, some of the links take you to an item not found page. I know they get upset when anyone uses "type" or any indication that the item is a copy of an original designer brand in their title or description.

Those are the yummiest soaps I've seen!

Absolutely lovely! I also love the personalization.

Very nice soaps!

I saw your soy tarts on your link. Loved those as well. I'm checking into doing some tarts and haven't seen any like yours. Very cute!! Good work and nice presentation on your link, as well as here!

Thank you for your lovely compliments! The molds for the tarts are the Pixie Muffin Pans. I can't quite remember where I bought them ( I googled it) but the aluminum ones are cheaper than the non-stick ones -- I have both and don't have any problems unmolding the tarts from both. I use the Ecosoya PB wax.

Thank you everyone! I listed the scent name on each of them. The first 4 are still curing and fragrancing my entire basement workshop so very nicely . All the Lush names are types of course.

Haiku ----------------------- Champage Snow Showers

Elixir ------------------------- American Cream

Figs & Sugar ------------------ Wild Fox

Bathos ---------------------- Honey Bee Sweet

Alklmaar --------------------- Instant Karma

Oatmeal Porridge ------------ Be Wild

uote]

Sweet Blue ------------------ Rock Star

Would you care to take a peak at my LUSHIE Soap Collection?

how very odd. hope your itching goes away!

This is the most drying soap I have ever used. The only areas that I don't itch now are my hands so I still use them as hand soap. Seriously, my hands feel so dry and tight after using them but applying lotion afterwards solves the problem. I do LOVE the fragrance, the creamy lather and the lingering scent. I see my dermatologist today so all is well.

Well, I ordered the real deal -- Alkmaar & Rock Star so I can compare it to my CP creation. I also ordered the Honey I Washed the Kids solid perfume. I can't wait to get them.

Here goes my review on LUSH scents and performance on my skin. Alkmaar smells beautiful and Rock Star is just delicious but will never use them again. In my excitement when I received them, I immediately hopped in the shower with a slice of each. I truly enjoyed the fragrance they both produced. However, I knew I was in trouble when I felt my skin start to itch and burn as I was drying myself. It quickly progressed to small rashy bumps all over my body. My body was on fire! I hopped back in the shower and lathered with my castille soap and rinsed well. I moisturized with my unscented organic lotion afterwards and took Benadryl -- really calmed my skin down quite a bit.

I'm better but the scattered rash all over my body still itch like crazy so I have an appointment with my dermatologist for prescription steroid cream. What a nightmare!

BTW, my 9 day old Alkmare CP is a true match to Alkmaar. I'm not kidding, it's lovely! Rock Candy in the bottle smells just like Rock Star soap. I will pour this next. My Roll On Perfume of Daystar's Honey Bee Sweet is an exact match to Honey I Washed The Kids Solid Perfume. I must say that Daystar did an amazing job with these Lush duplications.

I knew I should be disappointed 2 hours after I started it up it was pretty much dead. Back to square one. Off to try a different combo.

I use undiluted FO in my electric oil warmer that has a dimmer (so I can control the heat). 2 dropperful (2 ml) of FO with the dimmer set on low will last me a whole day. When the scent starts to fade and I still have some oil in the glass plate, I increase the light intensity which also increases the scent throw. I love it this way.

I always get my order within 3 days -- so fast! I love their customer service, products and the freebies.

I swear there's something in them that keeps me coming back. Even if I hate the fragrance, I keep wanting to smell it.

Snowcake smells like playdough I swear

Well, I ordered the real deal -- Alkmaar & Rock Star so I can compare it to my CP creation. I also ordered the Honey I Washed the Kids solid perfume. I can't wait to get them.

oh oh oh I NEED to know how it comes out...

I can tell you that this fragrance is intoxicating! I love it in soap. This baby is in the mold and I just can't stop sniffing around it. I'll let you know more and I just might send you a bar when it's fully cured for you to try. I've noticed when I was researching from this board about LUSH that you are quite a "Lushie". You would be a wonderful tester!

I'll keep in touch.:smiley2:

Okay girls, I'm going to soap Alkmare by Daystar. It's pretty strong so I would think that it will do really well at 0.7 oz/lb. I have samples of the Snowbaby, Honey Bee Sweet, Avobathe but they might perform better in MP. They all smell amazing! I'll give an update when I finally get it done.

They are my main supplier for all my soaping oils. Superb quality along with their prices, shipping and customer service.

Scrumptious! I want to try this, too.

I'm in total awe! I think I'm going to order me some. Totally unique and absolutely beautiful!!

You are very talented. Your soaps are beautiful!

Thanks!

If you think you might get ash, try spraying the top with alcohol.

Oh my, I really have to try that technique. Thanks for sharing.

I'll have to try this too - so many things to try - I can hardly sleep at night thinking about soap and candle making.

BTW - your site is gorgeous.

I've been making soap for 1 1/2 years now and still have the same excitement and sometimes sleepless nights thinking of the next fragrance I can soap. It's Super Addicting!

Your soap is gorgeous .

So cool! You're making me crave icing

Thanks everyone! This soap making is taking over my life . I never thought it could be so much fun. I ran out of lye so I'm off to order some more. Geez, I'm completely addicted.

Thank you!

Vio: I use a 4 lb Wooden Mold.