mountainmadness

Mountainmadness ... I hope you didn't take my comment as sarcastic. I was just being silly seeing as I really had just finished eating a banana.

Of course not!

Jennifer

Hmmm .... I just moisturized my throat and stomach. I just got done eating a banana.

If you go to a spa some of them offer banana masks that are made with real bananas. It is supposed to help really dry skin.

Granted, none of us really know what benefits there are once you add them to soap but it smells good, looks nice and is different, that is why I make it.

I use chopsticks from take-out and when I run out of those a buy bamboo skewers. They are really cheap and you get a whole bunch of them. The only downside to the skewers is they are sharp and if you grab the pack in a hurry you might bleed.... (don't ask me how I know).

HTH.

Jennifer

Took me years of soaping to discover this. I could have avoided many problems.

Ditto!

I am with e... I plan my soap batches the night before and I use room temp lye. It is the most predictable for me and I can use FO that normally causes a problem.

When I use warm lye even below or at 100 my soap always turns out different and I do not like it.

That is very high. Try Nashville Wraps. I did some pricing for different types of bags and they had the best. They have good customer service and were easy to order with as well. They even called a couple of days after I received my order to see how they were working and offered me a discount on my next order.

HTH.

Jennifer

That was a totally legitimate question that was asked..... There are so many different soap processing methods she did not want to give you the wrong information.

Sit back, relax and have an egg nog!

Are you asking for soap? If so, then Just-Ripe Banana from The Scent Works is a good one... the best that I have found that does not turn a funny color.

HTH.

Jennifer

Once you cut it do not store it in anything until it is cured.

If you do not have a shelf or a drying rack you can use a baking rack, etc. to set the soap on so it can get airflow around it and dry.

It will not hurt you to use it earlier than 6 weeks. Granted, soap is like wine, the older it is the better it is... If you use it within a week or two the water will not be all the way evaporated so it will be a bit softer and will not last as long. When you sell it that is when you stick to the 4-6 week cure time with normal recipes.

Sounds like you made soap!

Jennifer

With the bit of experimenting that I have done with whipped soap... I would use the oils that he suggests. The properties in others is not the same and it turns out strange if you don't.

I used the Crisco recipe on his site (the one that he lists for people that live in the US). That one worked well.

When we CP we can use any oil that you want, in my experience with whipping soap you cannot just sub like you normally could.

Brenda- if you have experienced something different pipe in will you?

It should not be "jiggly" but if you pressed on it your finger would make an indention.

I use similar ingredients and I cut mine in 24 hours. When you cut it and unmold it will have a consistency of cheese.

Did you wash your pot out yet? That was always my indicator when I first started making soap. I would leave the oils in the pot for 24 hours and wash out before I cut the soap. If it was sudsy and felt good I knew that it was okay.

Welcome to the wonderful world of soapmaking!

Jennifer

WOW, just surfed their site....they have some really interesting scents but holy cow!!! Some of them are like $7 an ounce!!! Are their fragrances more potent? I've never used any Sweetcakes fragrance before, but some of these are calling my name. This is my credit card right now---> LOL

I don't make candles but in CP soap their stuff is awesome!!! The scents are very complex and worth every penny- IMO. I use .5 oz. per lb. of oils and it is just right.

Damn you OutlandishLady.... I just placed my summer scent order!

Jennifer

Product! (Sorry, I couldn't resist!)

Good for you!

I meant are coconut FOs difficult or coconut milk FOs... Darn this "no editing" thing!

I know what you are asking.... It is the coconut FO. I have tried at least 4 FO that smell great in the bottle and in the soap for a couple of days and then the scent fades and is almost non-existent. I would really love to find a good coconut FO for CP soap that does not fade.... :undecided

BTW, the recipe sounds great.

I have to know , what is "whipped nizzy"?

Nizzy is the website and recipe posted for whipped soap. I believe that he is from Australia. You can google him and check out his website. He has the art of whipped soap mastered.

Whipped soap is a different than CP because you use your blender to incorporate air. The soap will float and it more like whipped cream.

HTH.

Jennifer

It depends on where you live.... some people can find lye and coconut oil locally... some cannot.

Some ideas for oils from the grocery store:

Soybean blend (Crisco)

Olive oil

Castor oil (normally in section that sells medicine)

You may find:

Coconut oil

Rice Bran oil

My first recipe was as follows: (2 lb. batch)

16 oz. Crisco (soybean blend)

8 oz. Olive Oil

8 oz. Coconut Oil

4.4 oz. lye

10.5 oz. water

Of course do not forget all of your safety equipment (esp. safety glasses).

Good luck!

Jennifer

You big brat!

I have to ask, what where the plans for 17 drums of olive oil?!

I wouldn't sell it but if it is not a lye issue it would be fine for yourself... or you can rebatch.

The best thing to do when you need to start buying large quantities is to research it. Google different supplies, compare prices, look up reviews on the companies, etc. There is a lot of information about suppliers here if you look for it.

Test and get reviews for your products, get good liability insurance, get a business license, etc. Do not bite off more than you can chew.

A lot of people take baby steps and IMO that is the smartest way to start. If you have been making candles for family and friends and once you have a line developed and tested then start with craft shows... then maybe a website.

Just remember that small crafters are a dime a dozen so play your cards right and you can develop your business into what you dream it to be.

HTH.

Jennifer

It must of been a false trace...

The on going soap-making mysteries.... They become less frequent with time but never end.

If it was a false trace than the FO would not be fully incorporated and may be causing the spots.... You should post a pic if you can...

I have experienced something similar but mine was because the soap riced and with a combination of FO that discolored it looked like you described.

Not true, Have one of your used bars cultured and see how many germs live on soap & transfer from person to person.

I don't like bar soap for hands or body, I only use liquid or foaming soap that I make from bases.

Let me clarify if we are getting scientific here... there are germs on EVERYTHING. If people are paranoid about unwrapped soap and germs then don't touch a door knob, the sink faucet in a public bathroom, etc.

While we are on the "germ" subject, you may never want to never use a sponge or a toothbrush.

My point is that we all about comfort levels. I like the look of unwrapped soap and choose to sell it that way. I have never had a customer or possible customer approach me and state "Ewww, germs."

From a marketing standpoint, unwrapped is the trend and the sales seem to increase when you sell it that way.

HTH.

Jennifer

It sounds to me, just by your description, that the soap may have riced.... and may also be discoloring.

Was it smooth when your poured it?

I didn't know any better then so I have no clue what they did about ingredients lists and such.

I do not list my ingredients on the soap that I retail. Just label, business name and scent or type. You legally do not have to list it... but I do have a couple black chalk board signs that indicate ingredients and pricing on the table. The only questions that I get on a regular basis is, "Do you use animal fat?" As far as other ingredients I would say 1 out of 10 customers ask.

I personally like the naked stacks of soap... When I vacation and buy soap from different regions I am always attracted to stores that display that way.

Plus it is more environmentally friendly and there is a lot less waste.. plus the time that you spend wrapping and printing.

I will never go there again!!

Brambleberry has excellent customer service.

I had a quarterly FO shipment arrive with a leaking box. I was not in the office but the mailroom refused the shipment. I sent Brambleberry an email to notify them that I was not in when the box arrived and it had been returned because something obviously was broken... They emailed be back within a couple of minuntes and informed me that another shipment was on its way. They had received an email from FedEx that they shipment was refused and had already sent the replacement. I received the new shipment 2 days later.

This is what a company is supposed to do. They went the extra mile and had already taken care of the problem BEFORE I contacted them. I was shocked.