Christina

I got mine from Kangaroo Blue, which by the way got here really fast (at least for me, since I'm in Canada). Christina

You're all probably sick of seeing me post today. But I was wondering if I'd be able to use monoi as a fragrance in the silky suds recipe. It calls for fragrance oil...so couldn't I just make sure the monoi was in a liquid form and use it in place of fragrance oil? I don't want to waste anything...Thanks again! Christina

I just got some Monoi in the mail today for the first time! Holy cow! Now I understand all those little quips about feeding addictions! Truth be told, I had thought there was supposed to be a coconut smell. After reading about it (while I was waiting, hehe) I realized that it was just the flower which worried me becuase I normally don't like floral smells. The first time I smelled it, I found it very strong and extremely floral...but nice. I stuck some on my hand and went about my day...that's when I started loving it! Once it seeps in, it smells so heavenly! It even smells a bit vanilla-y...which of course I LOVE! I don't think I'll ever be able to go without this stuff again... Christina

I really want to make a facial serum with some monoi....I just have no idea how to make a facial serum...do I just put some oils together that I like? Do, I have to make it like a lotion? I cannot find a recipe or instructions anywhere (well, I found one, but I don't really understand it and only have one thing on her list). So, just as an example of some of the things I want: I really want monoi in there, I have some squaline that I want to use and botanical extracts, and perhaps some jojoba...so...what am I missing to make it a serum? Can I just stick those together? Would I need a preservative? will they seperate? I just have no clue where to begin...I'd really like some help! PLEASE steer my in the right dierection! Christina

The pie isn't so great close up I'm afraid..I can't get a crust....and I didn't clean it up enough...but here it is...Ihave neem leaves, sugar and nutmeg on top (the lady wants neem oil and leaves so all my soaps have neem oil and shea in them...)

Whoops, those single A's are a typo. Good eye! Thanks for the compliments everybody. I thought they looked nice too but when I realized that I'd just cut up some paper and used tape and stuff, I felt like I was being really cheap and unprofessional. Thanks for the advice about the curing time. I will keep that in mind! Christina

I'm trying to package my soaps and stuff and I'm wondering if this looks too cheap. Sorry it's so big. Thanks for looking.

I do some business with a lady from south Africa. She showed me a shea nut once and it was the size of a large grape. She also sells shea butter and she had me buy one (my first time buying shea) for $25 (and that was a sacrifice for her) for 1 lb. wont be doing that again. In her store, she sells 1.9 oz for $9.00. It's just shea butter with a bit of essential oil in it. Crazy. Christina

Where is a good place to buy Monoi De Tahiti? Also, if there are any really good priced places in Canada, that would be great to know as well. Christina

I've used plenty of molds, that were meant for melt and pour, with my CP. They turn out fine (except one time when I used too much shea butter and took them out too early...). The only difference is, you make a much larger batch of CP soap and it's a bit tedious to fill all those tiny molds, and you can't really swirl. I didn't care much for it. They're small and really only meant to be looked at. Still, sometimes I'll use a mold for some of my batch and just pour the rest into a large block for cutting. In short, it can easily be done, and much better quality soap (in my opinion), then melt and pour. Christina

Yes, they melt right in, it just feels/looks bad before it's all melted in. I guess I'll be remelting and not freezing it. I've only got a hand mixer....so I can imagine this will take a while. Does it HAVE to be whipped? Or is that just a personal preference? I'm not trying to get out of doing the work, I'm just wondering. Thanks for you help! Christina

How did you get the dark color to go all around the sides like that. I tried this before and it just didn't work, it was so thin you just couldn't see it. Christina

I tried making my first body butter the other day. It works well, and firmed up (I was worried that it'd be really soft), it looks greasy to begin with after application but sinks in quite quickly and is nice. My problem is, it's not smooth. I didn't use any shae butter. And this isn't a recipe I made up. The website that had the recipe didn't have instructions with it (and like I said, this is my first try). So, I melted the cocoa butter, then added the beeswax, then the rest of the stuff, let it stay hot for a while, made sure it looked nice and clear, then I let it cool down a bit and used my hand mixer (just cause I'm always hearing everyone doing that...I told you I'm new at this), and I did the whole, freeze, mix, freeze mix. It was looking nice and glossy and I put it in the conainter when it was fairly cold to the touch. After setting up, it was gritty! I don't understand. What would do this? Can I remelt? Should I be adding anything? Oh, and this isn't a whipped body butter, I prefer the thick, firmer types. One more question, I am trying body butter recipes, but what I'm really looking for is a consistency of refrigerated soft butter that doesn't melt as fast when put on the skin. Should I be using a different recipe? I think I'll post a picture of the type I want later (when I figure out how), but I think the description should do for now. What recipe should I be using to get that texture? Thanks for any help! Christina

If this is a replica of a base, can I use it as a base (as in, store it and use what I need)? Christina

One more question. If this is a replica of a base, can I use this is a base? I mena, can I make a bunch, then use it bit by bit as needed? If so, how do I do that? Just remelt? I've never used a base before so I'm not sure how to use them. Christina

So, after reading all the posts, do I understand that this can be a lotion bar base as well? Am I supposed to change it at all? Would it be greasy? I woudl love to make some but I don't have enough tubes even if I cut the recipe (I'm at the beginners stage), and it'd be nice to use some of the base as lotion bars... Christina

OK, well, if no one knows the answer to that, can someone tell me if I'd need a preservative in it? Christina

http://www.creativehomemaking.com/cleaning/make-laundry-soap.shtml I found this recipe a while back. It's actually what got me into soap making, I was broke and needed some laundry detergent, so I looked online for something I could use to replace it. Anyway, It's just homemade soap, water and vinegar. It's made into a gel. I know it's meant for laundry detergent, but since vinegar is something people use on their hair anyway (for shine), couldn't this be used as a shampoo? Maybe I'm naive, I AM new at this. Christina

How do you guys get yoru soaps so shiney nicely cut...you know, no hard edges. I'm new so I really need some details. I've heard of soap planers or something and borax baths or something but i really can't picture what these mean or how to go about them. Christina

While reading on the old board, I found a recipe that said, if you mix equal portions of coconut oil with mineral oil (or castor oil), it stops your hair from falling out (according to a pharmasist). MY question is, how do I apply this? Do I use it as a hair mask type thing? Or wear it around all day? Thick or thin? Any input or thoughts would be appreciated. Christina

Oh, I didn't mean it was soap, it's just that the only form I've seen them in is molded and just wrapped up so it LOOKS like a bar of soap but you run it on you. So, it's hard like a soap, is what I meant. Anyway, so, all I need to do is lower the beezwax? That should be easy. I think. Christina

lotion bar and body butter. I was pretty sure I needed a lotion bar (because I really like my body butter THICK!!!!!! I have some that I bought years ago that is in a tin, you can ger a fair amount out when you rub your finger on it, but in no way would anything come out or even move if you turned it upsidedown and pounded the bottom. So, I thought a lotion bar was the thing, but now that I understand a lotion bar is kinda like soap that you rub on your skin but it moisturizes you instead of washes you, I'm at a loss. Is there something I can do to make a lotion bar a tad softer (since I want something in tin). Or is a lotion bar what I actually described? Thanks in advance for any input. Christina

So, I'm gonna have to recatch this aren't I?

Well, my recipe called for 1 oz of FO, and I ended up using about 3 oz. I just kept adding till I could smell something other than the neem oil. It's a small batch, which didn't help. Christina

I made this great smelling soap the other day (smells like Christmas pie), and it looks great, has the properties that a client wants (neem oil, and leaves). But it's spongy!!! Of course it's only about a week old...but still, it shouldn't be squishy! it's not leaking and doesn't feel oily, it's just squishy, like cheese...not firm and creamy....what do I do about this...I'll own that I used an awful lot of FO to cover the neem smell, could this have done it? am I going to need to rebatch? Christina