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I like Mountain Rose Herbs for herbs and flowers that I add into my CP Soap: http://www.mountainroseherbs.com/ I also like Emporium Naturals for herbs used just for color, so they are in powder form: http://www.emporiumnaturals.com/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=22&zenid=3cb9013ab79e308d54bc59b4c1a82552

What are BPAL oils?

I saw this recipe here last year and finally got around to making these this past weekend. I just used the basic recipe and didn't add any fragrance because I love the smell of cocoa butter. I gave some to my daughter and she told me last night that she LOVED these and they made her skin feel so soft! I only gave her 2 so she was depressed she didn't have any more. I told her I had plenty more so she is happy again. Great recipe Bunny!

MMS has a fragrance calculator for their fragrances. I know each vendor's fragrances could be a bit different but you may want to check this out. http://www.thesage.com/calcs/fragcalc.html

I made my first batch of Liquid Soap using the crock pot method this weekend and everything worked out perfectly . It is so much easier than the double boiler method! Thanks so much for all the tips in here!

I thought the volcano happened if you added water to the sodium hydroxide and not the other way around... You should always add the sodium hydroxide to the water. I have never added the oils to the lye, because I always have the oils in a large stainless steel pot and the lye is just in a measuring glass. I wouldn't have room to add anything more to the measuring glass. All the books I have read and the instructions always says to add the lye to the oils.

Popping the PVC pipe in the freezer for 24 hours solved the problem. I finally got the soap out! I will remember to grease up the inside of the PVC pipe in the future though!!

I don't think lining this will work for me because I push a long piece of loofah in the PVC pipe. I only use the PVC when I make loofah soap so I think pushing the loofah in would wrinkle the freezer paper. The last time I made this I put some jojoba oil, which I superfat with, on a piece of paper towel and just spread it on the inside of the PVC pipe. I didn't have problems getting the soap out that first time, but then I forgot to to that this second time. I did make room in my freezer and put the PVC in there last night so I will try to get the soap out again tonight!

Thanks CareBear.... figures huh? Close but no cigar!! I will try the freezer then. I wanted to throw the PVC pipe through a window last night, but I kept my cool... counted to 10 and told myself... step away from the PVC, step away from the PVC... I can imagine cramming the PVC in the freezer, then having my DH come along to get ice cream and having the frozen PVC fall out onto his foot! I better put a caution sign on the outside of the freezer door!!

Natural, clunky, earthy looking bars of soap is actually what got me started in my CP Soapmaking venture. I was totally mesmerized by these handmade beauties. I love the look of handmade. I have no desire to get my bars of soap to look like the commercial bars in the stores, so I have no experience with 3-Molds. Though my husband had a suggestion I make soap on a rope which I would need the 3-D Molds for. Maybe I will try this at some point but I am not very enthusiastic about it! :undecided

Oy... this is happening to me right now! I forgot to grease the inside of the PVC pipe and I cannot for the life of me get my loofah soap out! I put it on top of a can of soup, and pushed down with all my might. Nothing! After trying for 15 minutes I asked my DH to try. He pushed and pushed with all his might and believe me, he is a mighty strong man. So, last night I put it in the fridge because I didn't have room in the freezer. It is still in the fridge so I will try again when I get home from work tonight. If that doesn't work I will have to MAKE room in the freezer!

Great idea! Thanks for the tip!!

I have a Hamilton Beach one now that I use for my CP soap. The first one I got was really cheap but it broke in about 2 months. My Hamilton Beach is holding up beautifully. I use a KitchenAid Mixer for my lotions because it takes so long to blend those and I can let the KitchenAid do it's thing while I do other things.

Ah yes, I don't make candles so RLI @ Home Business doesn't cover candles. But the Soap Makers Guild does right? I would think their coverage is pretty good. Otherwise you have to get insurance through a business insurance company. My homeowners insurance company referred me to a business insurance company. They sent me a huge packet of info and quite a few forms to fill out... I didn't like the person I was dealing with at that company so I opted for RLI. If you belong to the Guild they should send you a copy of the insurance coverage.

I called my homeowners insurance company when I first started selling soap, and they didn't offer coverage for my home business (soap, bath & body). At that time Soap Makers Guild didn't offer insurance, so I got mine at RLI @ Home Business. My policy is $210 a year, which I renewed. Now that Soap Makers Guild offers insurance when joining, I will join and get this additional coverage. So, my advice is to talk with your insurance agent first to see what they have to offer. Then check out RLI @ Home Business along with what is offered when joining The Soap Makers Guild. I don't have enough funds to join the Guild yet, but hopefully I will next year.

Very nice. What are you using to set the bath bombs on? I put mine on a cookie sheet but they are always rolling around which drives me batty!

OK... what is a smellie jellie?

I use the 4" X 2" labels so they are long around the jar, but only 2" high and they fit fine. I guess I could try the round labels on the top of the jar but never tried those.

Hmmm..... maybe I should try the crockpot method!

I think Labels By The Sheet is fantastic also! I stared ordering from them about 2 months ago after purchasing a new printer. I wanted to experiment with making my own labels but I didn't want to invest in a whole bunch of labels and find they weren't right, or I didn't like them on a certain product. My first order was about 15 sheets and I experimented with those, then I ordered more of a different size. I don't feel like I am wasting my money this way and their service is great and I receive the labels quickly!

I have never tried the crockpot method for Liquid Soap. I use the double boiler method and I haven't made any LS this summer because it is SO hot here and I can't stand the thought of the stove going for 3 hours. I really liked the way my LS turned out in the double boiler, is there a difference in how the soap turns out using the crockpot method vs double boiler? I really want to make LS but I was thinking I would have to wait until the fall! Also, what size crockpot did you get and how much LS does it make?

I dream about making soap.... all the time! If I made all the soap I made in my dreams I wouldn't have any room left in my house. My soap room, a spare bedroom, is stacked with molds, oils, curing soap, rubbermaid storage boxes, shipping boxes, packaging, you name it. I couldn't have a guest stay over if I wanted to... the guest room is full! I also have too many bars of soap in the shower. Each bar for a different part of the body. I am not sure what will happen when I get into shower gels! I need a bigger shower!

I steep chamomile flowers in the water I use for the lye mixture. I usually leave it steep overnight. Like LaVida I also throw some chamomile flowers in my food processor and then sift these and throw a few tablespoons in at trace. I like the speckles in the soap. I do use chamomile EO but if I buy a 4 oz bottle, I just bought one from Snow Drift, it does last me a long time. My chamomile soap is my favorite. It is so luxurious and smells so wonderful. I always feel very pampered when I bathe with it! I found if you want to use chamomile EO you really have to shop around. Prices between vendors can be so different, it is amazing! I bought a 4 oz bottle last year from one vendor for $130. This year the same bottle is $239. Yikes!! Snow Drift was less expensive so I went with them this time.

I don't keep anything in my garage because it is a single car garage and my DH has all his important tools in there.:rolleyes2 I have everything in a spare bedroom and I have things stacked everywhere. I have the large Rubbermaid storage boxes, stacked on top of one another. Then I have the ones that I can slide under the bed to hold my cured soaps. I have pails of oils stacked, EOs and FOs under the dresser. I need a bigger house!!! I dream of the day I can actually have my own workspace.... someday..... someday....

I use herbs and infusions in my CP soap but I haven't vertured there in my liquid soap. I made my first batch scented with Lavender EO and then put them in purple pump bottles. I was afraid I would ruin my first batch by experimenting with color. I will keep my eye on this thread to see what advice you get!