Michele

Nope, niether of them are salt bars and what causes the "bloom" is the trace consistency which is rather thick and then incorporating 5 colors by mixing them in with a spoon. You have to work really fast though and it is a challenge. It is a twist of the arm that causes this effect and of course the miracles of Mother Nature and lye.

Yikes, Jaybyrd, never dawned on me. I have been soaping for 2 years and still consider myself a noob.

Thank you everyone and the Granite bar is achieved by going to a medium trace and then incorporating 5 colors and just stirring with a spoon gently. The motion is in the wrist and kind of make a circular mix but not too much. You have to work fast as it moves in a split second. Even on this batch I couldn't get all the way to the bottom of the mold in time as you can see. I have another variation that I did in blues and will post that tonight.

Lavender Fields Granite Pomegranate Salt Bar Cranberry Breeze

It riced - damn! Pretty colors though?

OMG! This is my second salt bar and it is amazing! I used Pineapple Cilantro and the scent is outta this world and the bubbles - OMG is all I can say. I love it!

Careful adding more pres to a FBB as it changes the chemical balance. You want to add no more than 5% additives to an FBB and that includes pres.

You should also be mixing Polysorbate 20 with FO one for one and then add your base. That will take care of it...

Scented - I am not sure but I am sure that you could come really close with blending some of the primary colors. The only problem is that is takes so little of the dye to get a vibrant color that you might end up with more than you need? I am a total convert at this point and won't be looking back. :rolleyes2 Katsche - I don't let it go to applesauce but just before and I have not had trouble with residual lye. I let mine go to cure for a full 6 weeks just to be sure. I PH tested it and came back at a 7 so that is good but it is soft and I really want to let it harden more before I send it on to customers. Keep practicing and you will get it. I also swirl totally different and that is how I get the stone effect on my soaps. This one looks similar to the stone Larimar and here is an example. http://www.lariamber.com/larirough.html

This is my first "intentional" HP and I took it to a medium trace and then poured the layers and swirled with a chop stick. Then I took the chopstick (about 20 minutes after pour) to the top lightly to make the buttery or frosting appearance. As far as the air bubbles, you want to SB on low and then in spurts. I then tap my soaping pot on the counter for a few good raps before pouring and then pour slow and steady.

I used Peacock Dye True Teal - I am a total convert! The colors are lovely and it only takes about a 1/4 ounce for a 6 pound batch - yay....

I like the way this one turned out...

I say fix the problemon your site and move on - there are alot of difficult customers out there but many more pleasant ones!

I just did my first 6 pound batch of HP and did it in Patchouli/GreenTea. The soap came out lovely but it ashed. I have never had an issue with ashing in the past and I used a TOG mold and had to top covered well. I am not sure about the HP process as the soap just doesn't seem as "nice" is that makes sense? It lacks some of creamy lather and feels different - not as heavy and substantials. I may be a CP prude at this point but was curious as to what your thoughts are about CP vs HP and why you prefer one over the other. Thanks!

I would replace one of the oils with a butter - it helps with solidfying and remains stable. I would venture that is going to do the trick for you.

I don't think I can as this was the batch that had the missing screw and bolt for my Kelsei and as I poured it went everywhere in addition to the gas stove incident. So, I am not sure if it was the heat that gave it this effect or not. Who knows, soaping is always an interesting experience.

The story behind this (don't they all have stories?) is that I happily poured my way along and did the blending and then decided to set the molds on the gas stove, out of harms way (bad move) without realizing that the timer/temp was on. Yup, we had a chilly night and sure enough the stove turned on so I ended up doing a HP without even realizing it! The bottom of the mold melted a tad but nothing major and other than that it turned out quite interesting. They are not cleaned up yet so please forgive their untidyness. I was going for another stone effect and my husband says that it reminds him if the Partridge family bus. It is scented with Moroccan Mint and Peppermint EO.

I have some thoughts but need to get a quote on having one created. If anyone here is a graphics designer can you PM me and we will go from there? Thanks!

I got one of these too but was stupid enough to send her samples BUT I got wise when she emailed me back and said that she received them and was thrilled. She then asked for more since her "writing buddies" were going to do an article in the UK. I began to dig further and found it to be a scam, amazing!

I have been soaping for about 2 years and have been pretty lucky as far as anything major but here are my trials: Totally forgetting the the screws on my Kelsei and just grabbing the mold and starting to pour. Not a good idea to forget said screws! Seaweed Muck Soap - This went to acceleration way too fast using BB's Juniper Breeze and it just looks hideous! My first hand at using pigments was not a pretty one. I usually always have all of my items measured and ready once my lye hits the oils. My Pigment was the one thing I left out and apparently I was in the process and got distracted because the lid was on it but not screwed down. I went to pick it up and the lid stayed in my hand but the bottom part containing the Ultramarine Blue came up with the lid and then crashed back down on the counter producing a lovely blue cloud that would have rivaled anything my imagination could conjure. Once the blue cloud effect was done, my counter, me and the cat were covered in blue! It was hysterical to see the cat with these tinges of blue. Several baths later and lots of hissing he was clean.....

Gorgeous! I love the contrast!

I love the marble and what a gorgeous color!

Hi Sweetie! I just pulled mine out and don't ya know it, mine is warped and not a happy camper. Give me a call a little later today if you can ok?

Vanilla Absolute is good but expensive, Neroli, Lavender, Sage and Thyme are good as well. You want to stay away from Cinnamon, Frankincense, Myrrh and any resin based.

Perfect - you go it!