Christina

It's pretty hard to mask the smell of neem oil...especially when used at a high percentage in soap (like 10%). I've used it a lot in soaps (I have a client who orders all her soap with neem and shea in it). Used in small amounts it's no problem. I used quite a bit once, and had to use a LOT of fragrance oil to cover it up. The soap was quite mushy for a long time (kind of spongy, weird). But, I just left it and after almost double the time of regular curing, it was nice and hard and bubbled well. I couldn't smell the neem either. I used a spicey smell as well, just so you know. Christina

I am moving across the country in a couple of days and I have an order for a body butter that would be good for psoriasis. I have the oils I want to use....and I planned on incorperating them all in a whipped shea, but, alas, I sold my hand mixer (don't have a kitchen aid or anything). So, since they never specified that it NEEDED to be a whipped shea, I feel ok making it an emulsified butter. BUT, I'd like it to be much thicker than the emulsified butter I make already (which is the emulsified butter recipe in the recipe section...I forget who posted it). How do I make this thicker? Do I up the steric or the e-wax? I need to have this done for today.....ugh......can I just use 3/4 of the water? I'm looking for something along the lines of penaten cream but that glides better (if you know what I mean). I'd be happy to just thicken the one I already make, I just don't know exactly how and I don't have the time to experiment. I plan to experiment a lot to get the exact texture I'vd been wanting for a long time, but for now, I'm happy to just have something a bit thicker. TIA Christina

I'm always so surprised to see Monoi on the lists. I made a facial treatment with 50% monoi and I LOVED it it made my skin feel like instant silk....then about 2-3 days later I broke out in the worst way (which was REALLY sad as I had the BEST skin I"d had in a long time). MY problem is that I'm blaming it on the monoi. BUt the more I think about it, I realize that my "great" skin was probably hormone induced (was still dealing with pregnancy hormones) and I broke out when I started my first after-pregnancy period. I would LOVE to be able to use monoi.... Anyway, I guess what I'm getting at is...is monoi like shea, in the way that it's just luck if it works on your skin? Or does monoi seem to work on everybody even though it's based on coconut oil? Sorry to hijack the thread... Christina

I am dying to make this scent from EO's. I found some really well priced rosemary and peppermint eo's and I want to play (mainly for my facial stuff, like ocm or something). Anyway, I've never mixed eo's before....so do I just mix them together and see if it's what I like? Has anyone blended these 2 eo's that might be willing to share what portions they used? I've been searching through old posts and can only find refrences to fragrance oils, or adding eo's to fragrance oils...TIA Christina

Wouldnt you be able to just infuse the tea itself in oil? Christina

Ok, I need to ask... How do you figure out Lye solutions, for example, lets say I'm using soap calc...how would I put in a 33% lye solution? And what makes castilles a better soap? Sorry to hijack your thread :embarasse Christina

Well, the orange lightened up and the white darkened up...but it just looks softer. Yes, I cut it like cake slices. I did that in a pie shape once and they sold really well. So, I did it again for fun. They smell sooooo good, I keep walking by then and just sniff, all day. I'll post pictures soon of the cut pics. Christina

I made some at home for a healing salve. It was really easy (my kids helped me and had blast). Christina

It's just a springform pan...it was a bugger to line... Christina

I don't normally post pictures (probably because I'm really good at making ugly soap), but tonight (even though it didn't turn out the way I'd hoped) I'm really pleased with the swirls...which is a first. And of course it smells divine! I adore satsuma. I used tumeric, mixed with castor oil (before mixing it with soap, of course) for the swirls. Christina

From what I understand, any salt will work, except epsom (it'll say soft nd mushy). Christina

Thank you! I really appreciate you answering so quick. I had planned to try equal amounts, but all the different recommendations confused me. I'll use what works best for me eventually, but is nice to have a solid starting point. Thanks again! Christina

Ok, I've been reading for days and I just need a straight, simple answer. How much salt do I add when making a salt bar. Lets say I have 1 lb of oils. I've read answers that say, add as much as it can hold, but no advice on how to tell when it's at it's "salt holding capasity". Some say to use an equal amount of salt to oils, some say double the salt to oils...some used less than equal...I'm just too confusd to try....I really need an answer so I can understand...PLEASE!!! Christina

How did you roll those? The..."batter" must have been quite cool. Mine is always so runny when I first pour them. I think they look beautiful! And I LOVE your tags! I really need to get my booty in gear and try those (if only my printer hadn't died). Great job! Christina

Thanks for replying. I'm trying to get ahold of that book (definitly not local), but I'm really interested in the cp liquid method, and the only thing I managed to find was people who sold it and one site that said they'd explain it later in the year. Can you please tell me some basic differences between the 2 methods? TIA Christina

I'm looking to make a liquid castille soap with neem oil in it. I read somewhere that you can use any cp recipe to make liquid soap, you just use KOH instead and the process is different. Is this true? I've been looking all over the internet for a liquid castille to see if that can be done, and the only thing that comes up are recipes with castille soap shavings. I'm also looking at getting that book that is always recommended. Does she have any castille recipes in there? Christina

Thanks!!! Both of you have given exactly what I was looking for...what a ton of info! Of course, after reading all this stuff, I feel quite out of my depth. I"m gonna have to ask for another YEAR to research this stuff before I even try! Christina (off I go to read)

Ok, I[m going to approach this at a different angle. The Shampoo is Dark and Lovely 3 in 1 something or other. I've never used it myself (as I'm quite fair...although, I'm definitly tempted after reading it's reviews, hehe). What I saw was that it moisturizes really well, has lots of lather, and detangles like crazy. Could someone help me pick out the ingredients that contribute to those things so perhaps I could formulate my own recipe? Christina

I have a client who wants me to r"eplicate" this shampoo. She's African and isn't able to get this particular product very easily anymore. I don't recognize a lot of these ingredients. I've tried researching them. Looks like most of them are just for foaming properties...at least the ones with "coca" in the name. Some of the ingredients I coulnd't find explanations for at all, I just found sites with them listed as ingredients. If anyone could help me out with anything they might recognize, and possibly know a more natural subsitute for...I'd be really greatefull.... ingredients: water, sodium laureth sulfate, cocamidopropyl betaine, sodium cocoamphoacetate, glycol distearate, cocamide MEA, laureth-7 or laureth-9, hydrolized wheat protein, hydrolized wheat starch, chamomile [antheis nobilis] extract, slippery elm bark [ulmus fulva], black walnut [julgans nigra]extract, aloe barbadenis gel, panthenol, polymethoxy bicyclc oxazolidine, citric acid, polyquaternium-10, guar hydroxypropyltrimonium chloride, sodium chloride, tocopheryl acetate, triethanolamine, disodium EDTA Christina

Just to be more clear, I'm just worried about copyright issues and royalties...I'm hoping this will be usable :smiley2: Christina

Oooh, I like that one! Sigh, if only I hadn't made up a bunch of labels already...I went with the leaf only one...cuz most people liked that one. I love the flowers in this last one as well. But, would I be able to use them on my labels? Like, did you make it yourself? I don't want to have to pay anyone for the stuff on my labels... Christina

Can I put Cyclo in an aluminum bottle? Christina

Ok, just thought I'd mention..I just ordered some stuff from newfoundland soap and candle supplies...and the customer service is VERY good. She's having problems with her site (the cart wasn't working, and some prices weren't showing up), so I called her and she got the order together for me on the phone and she's even letting me pick it up (even though it's only an online store!!!! Whoo Hoo! Even if some things are pricier than the states, the shipping alone will completely make up for that! Christina

OH MY GOSH!!!!!!!!!! THANK YOU Caradelrae!!!!!!!!!! I live in Newfoundland (for the moment) and I've had one heck of a time getting stuff on this island! The shipping I've had to pay....eek. I can't believe they actually have a place here! OH, thank you sooooo much! Yay! Potassium hydroxide...finally! Christina

Jadryga, Great mask! I just looked over your website, very nice. I've gotta ask now that I know you use it...could you tell me where you get your Kojic Acid? Do you use the powder or that other type (kojic del...something or other). Thanks! Christina