LindaColo

Tanya is beautiful, and Chickie1st's minerals look so natural.

I got my PKO (a pail, not flakes) from www.thesage.com Off the top of my head, their sap moss type, ginger milk, and summer melon are nice.

Great looking pillars.

I remember someone getting tips on soap-stamping. http://www.candletech.com/forums/showthread.php?t=56741 I've never tried stamping lotion bars, but figure it probably could be done once the bar is firm, but not rock hard.

I remember being curious about this stuff myself: http://www.candletech.com/forums/showthread.php?t=17871&highlight=egg

I have one of those vacuum sealers and those bags are boilable. Now I can make it vacuum out and seal or I can make it seal, would one of these work? I've never tried a vacuum sealer, so I wouldn't know how well the vacuum sealer bag would work. I have tried Reynolds baking bags and have had good results. My other question is, if I grate up a whole 4# of this and boil bag it, when I am done, do I add more new scent to it? I don't add more scent to mine. I guess you could add more fo if it's within safe %. I try to stay at 0.7 oz per pound of fo. Also, I am rebatching cause the color came out hidious, will I still have that same gross color? If so, how do I get it to an acceptable color? If the soap is one color, the rebatch will be the same color. If it was swirled or had layers, the soap will be a combination of the colors (for example if there were blue and yellow layers, the rebatch would be green). I have a hard time trying to even distibute the new coloring in a rebatch. :embarasse Some people can do it, but mine is more streaked than if it was colored before the rebatch. You could probably recolor the soap to a darker color, but not a lighter one. For example, I had a Pink Sugar soap that turned brown. I tried to recolor it pink, but it was still very brown after rebatching. :rolleyes2

A while back, there was a swap with variations of Darwin's recipe http://www.candletech.com/forums/showthread.php?t=29920&highlight=Darwin%27s+recip CORRECTION (FOR POST #2 on this thread) and also doing hp is water discount at 38% or lower? When I do hp, I don't use a water discount. Should have read: When I do hp, I use the recommended water amount. :embarasse Earlier, I had a mind freeze and thought it meant an additional 38% or lower. I'm sorry I was confused. (Thanks for the proper advise eugina ) One of the fun things about soaping is playing with the recipes. I have done substitutions with soap recipes. Just run it thru the soapcalc and enjoy.

I have used Darwin's recipe with great results. What To superfat at, 5%? I use 5% unless if I'm using milk. Then it's 3% superfatted. Are there any problems with dos? I haven't had any problems with dos, using Darwin's recipe and also doing hp is water discount at 38% or lower? When I do hp, I don't use a water discount. I have subbed RBO with OO, but haven't tried the other oils.

I haven't just because I'm worried about the fats going rancid.

Congratulations! It's great when your family enjoys your stuff.

My vanilla stabilizer has sediment on the bottom too. I just shake it like crazy before adding it to the fragrance oil.

Beautiful swirls.

Beautiful swirls. I'd rather forget the extra water and have the fo too

I really like the blue speckles that the clay beads do.

Great looking soap. Sure wish that my computer had smell-a-vision.

Great looking soaps. I really like the first one.

Beautiful soaps.h

They are charming rustic soaps. I've never done a rebatch looks that pretty.

Beautiful soaps.

Congratulations! Your swirling job looks great.

Beautiful soap. Congratulations on your order.

Congratulations!

If soaps are like candles, different areas will have different tastes - one area may love florals and another may love bakery scents. Usually lavender and vanilla scents do well with me. Maybe something like omh would do well in soap (this might be a personal biased opinion because I really like this scent).

I make soap only as a hobby, so I use a mitre box or go free-hand.

I'm so envious of your swirls.