kari357

Just Scent also puts out a nice one

Top, Why not try applying a couple coats of polyurethane to rough surface to smooth. Worth a try before investing in another one.

Tracey, I've used Grapeseed oil in several batches without any problems. You wont be sorry after you try Carries 7 oil recipe .I will use today (has been curing for 4 weeks today). My husband has been using for 2 weeks already (couldnt wait), likes the patchouli scent and I must say his skin is softer than mine now, feels like silk. I've made several more batches using her recipe and I'm stickin with it. Kari

Great Information, thanks for posting!

Just Scents Satsuma, absolutely wonderful in cp.

I usually make mine at night and apply lid next morning.

Carrie, I just made your 7 oil recipe, only difference I also added a little hemp oil, scented with patchouli and added oatmeal. Base is brown (and supposed to be reddish-brown swirls) but I doubt it. Cant wait to see how it turns out. Will keep you posted. Kari :rolleyes2

Stacey, I fully agree. I have their 25oz and it does look like a zinc, definately has a metal wire up the middle and has a fmp, uaually 4 hr increments. I have an open family room/kitchen and it smells wonderful throughout.

Tracey, from what I've researched most use 1oz ppd, although on stronger fo's use a little less like 3/4oz ppd. Hope those with experience correct me if I,m wrong.

Absolutely, so am I, Thanks for tweaking it Carrie. I've only made 3 batches of soap so far and I must say I will never go back to store soap again. Already gave away 6 bars of Dove. No more dry itchy skin! Sorry to hear about your traffic woes Tracey. If it makes you feel any better LaGrange Rd seems to be even worse this past year, esp. since they opened that new mall on about 143rd and added another slow light, really bottlenecks traffic. I live on 131st and try to use internal roads to avoid LaGrange. I've been stuck at that damn new light for 4-5 light changes. makes you want to pull your hair out lol. Have a good weekend everyone!

Thanks everyone for all your help. Will make my changes and try it during the week when my new supplies arrive. Will keep you posted. Really appreciate all the input. Tracey, we were almost neighbors. I live right on the border of Orland. Small world. How do you like Deerfield?

It was'nt drying at all and has bubbly lather? I'm awaiting my next shipment and I'm gonna try it out. I was wondering if my coconut was a little high. I'm in Palos Heights, its about 30 mins. south of Chicago. Glad to meet another Illinoian.

Thanks for the response Tracey, I'm glad to hear you had luck with yours, let me know when you use it. What part of Illinois?

I was trying to come up with a recipe using Soap Calc. Can someone with experience advise me if this looks ok? I want a moisturizing bar with bubbly lather if possible. Heres what I came up with: Coconut 20% Palm 20% PKO 10% OO 10% RBO 10% Castor 10% Avocado 15% Shea Butter 5% Hardness 42 Cleansing 20 Conditioning 52 Bubbly 29 Creamy 32 Iodine 58 INS 147 Also can I add my superfat (grapeseed oil at 1 oz ppd) at trace and put a zero% superfat discount on the calc., or do I have to add it to the oil list and compute a 5% superfat discount? TIA, Kari

Try Fillmore Containers.

Thanks for checking for me. I didnt order this from a supply company but in my search I found a couple supply companies selling it and one site said it worked well in cp soap. Thanks for the idea, I think I'll email them and ask. Thanks again, Kari

I have some pomegranate oil that I'd like to try in soap. I notice some suppliers sell it and say it works well in cp but I have'nt seen it listed on any of the lye calcs. Has anyone tried it? Is there another oil that has simular sap properties that I can plug in instead? Thanks for any help.

Yankees "Greenhouse" smells so fresh, anyone know of a dupe?

I use a CD-10 in a 8 oz metro, have some squares that I have'nt attempted yet, was thinking of starting with CD-12's and go from there.

Ditto on MC's Stormwatch, it is a dead-on and throws well.

Snowdrift Farms- 35% off select FO, perfect for your spring line! Hurry In, sale ends March 18th.

From what I found at a suppliers site, start with a 1/4 tsp ppd of soap and add can add more for intensity. Add colorant to a little of your oils from your recipe. I found this doing a search, maybe someone with experience can help you better.

Hi SpaTreats4U, I know how you feel, I have been putting off trying something I really wanted to because of the lye fear. I finally did it early this morning and it was'nt as bad as I expected. I did mix the lye water outside using goggles, gloves and a respirator mask (dont think the mask was necessary unless its windy). The reaction wasnt anything near what was in my imagination. Just conquer that initial fear. Order your supplies! Once you have everything you need then its just a matter of timing, no kids underfoot and no distractions. My little one is grown but I have a large dog that likes to be where I'm at, mixing outside eased that fear. I ordered a kit (more expensive) but everything was premeasured and came with everything I needed, including a video which I watched a few times. Now that I got over the first time jitters I'm excited to try some recipes. I have even been playing with the soap calc. What fun, even though my first batch turned out pretty ugly, it smells good and I'm proud of it just the same. I'm rooting for you, go ahead and order some supplies and best of luck! Kari

Thanks Mnhorsemom, and thanks for your tip on the fabric softener sheets, thats one thing I got right.

Hi ladies, well my nerves got the best of me and I waited until about 4am to start (my first batch), on my back patio with spotlight on, so all my neighbors could see me out there (if they're awake) wearing a smock, goggles and a respirator (borrowed from work) mixing lye and water. What a sight... I've read that cucumber melon causes acceleration, so which scent did I choose for my first experience, you guessed it! I also decided to try swirls, on my 1st attempt, with some green clay mixed with some of the soap I put aside. Well I added the cucumber melon at what I thought was light trace which QUICKLY turned to mashed potato consistency. So much for swirls. Well its curing now. Pics will only follow if not too embarrassing, especially after seeing what you ladies put out! And dont look for my swirls, you wont find any! Kari