Rebecca_IA

I no longer use the SB after adding FO if I add it at trace, it's all hand stirring from that point on. Is this FO a problem FO? Was the FO cold when you added it? (I've seen problem FO's added cold to the soap do some funky things) Did you add the FO first and then stir in the salt? What kind of salt did you use?

Looks good. Make it as is, or change the OO to 35% and drop the lard to 30% and it would be better, IMVHO. Congrats on putting a recipe together yourself!!!

Thank you, but absolutely no need to apologize. This is a very classic case of how the media distorted the truth and reported lies and so many just believed them without question and the truth was out there. I would have believed the same as you, and I did for awhile, but this case was one we studied in a business law course I took in college. Thanks for taking the time to research this case and learn the truth.

E, I believe we actually are agreeing here. Key word is experienced. And I'll add knowledge of your oils. I didn't say it couldn't be done. At 65 degrees though, that's pretty low so you do have to know what you are doing or it can (and eventually will) go wrong.

It was correct for her to win the case, but not at the original dollar amount that she did win it for, but that had nothing to do with how much she was asking for, a jury awarded her that amount. She had to have skin grafts on her legs because the burn was so bad from that coffee. When someone hands you a cup of coffee, if it accidentally spills, would you expect it is so hot it burns your skin right off? Thought not. Regardless, McDonald's won on appeal and the $$ was brought down. All the lady wanted in the beginning was medical bills and time off covered, McDonald's didn't think they were responsible, so it went to court. So I guess after all these years, you can quit getting mad about this case.

I disagree with this (room temp where I live is 65 degrees and that's not a good temp to soap at unless you really know what you are doing and you know what to expect from your oils, some can not soap at that temp without issues so in that case, it doesn't matter if you are experienced or not). Cooling too low can cause a false trace and it sounds like this might be her problem. Soap with the temps at 90-100 degrees, no lower than 90 and see if that helps. You can add your EO's to your oils before you even add the lye mixture.

I would at least make that lady pay all of the related medical bills, all of them, not just the co-pays or percent owed after deductibles. If she doesn't willingly do that, then I would sue. If I sound harsh, just imagine the others out there with her lotion that has at least a 15% preservative load in it. That's dangerous for the average adult. She's been talked to about it, she sees nothing she's doing as wrong. What if this lotion were put on a baby? Imagine what would happen then? If this lady doesn't take it seriously, then hit her in her pocket book and hit her hard. Not to financially gain, but to prevent this from happening to another, God forbid the next time it'll be a baby or small child or elderly who can't heal/recover as quickly.

Even if it's 32 oz of ingredients and then add the 3 oz of each kind of preservative, that's still a motherload of preservative. (7.89% of each kind of preservative in the batch, total 15.79% preservative in the batch). I am sure you can contact the companies that make the preservative and ask them what the side effects/potential danger would be in using this much preservative. This ladies error caused your friend's reaction. She should pay the entire bill, no questions asked. There is a reason why there is a max on how much you use of each ingredient. I wish your friend the best of luck in recovery. Unless you get cosmetic grade emu, I wouldn't use it. No sense in risking her anymore problems. Use antibiotic salve until her skin is all healed or shea that's been at least filtered.

For a 32 oz batch, she's using 3 ounces of phenohip and germaben? Is it 32 oz of lotion and 6 oz of preservative added in? Or 26 oz of lotion and 6 oz of preservative? that's a range of 15-19% preservative, way too much. If I were you, I'd report her to the FDA. Not only call them, but also copy the testing on the lotion, diagnosis and everything and send a letter and follow up on this. I'd also send the woman a copy of all hospital expenses and let her know it's her responsiblity to pay them. It was her lotion that poisoned your friend and I can not believe more folks aren't reacting hobbibly to this lotion with that amount of preservative in it. It's asshats like this that's going to soon enough require everyone that makes this stuff at home and sell it go through a bunch of BS in order to do that.

Be careful if you do this. Make sure to stir very well before using a mixture like this. It's not uncommon for the oils to start seperating and depending upon the SAP values & fatty acids of each oil, it may or may not effect your soap. Meaning you could have a lye heavy bar or one with a higher cleansing factor and lower conditioning factor.

When adding EO's (essential oils) to soap, use all the precautions (venilation, gloves on hands, don't let it touch your hand full strength, etc). But, by the time they go through the saponification, I highl doubt there is much left for aromatheraputic purposes, they provide scent only. (peppermint is one that I do believe something is left other than scent). So if you don't have and do not want to spend the money on EO's, then go ahead and use FO's. For soap, both are used to scent the finished soap. Just make sure you are using the correct amount. The soap dish has picture tutorials also. Some in the soap forum and some in the gallery forum. Once you've got soaping down pat and are making a good bar, family, friends, swaps are different ways to get rid of your extra soap. For free or for gifts. If you get a lot of it, you can donate it to homeless shelters or abuse centers. Good luck.

She lists it in her first post. Before you go and purchase more FO's, start with the advice Lightning Bug gives about melt pool.

It would have been my first year. I'm not too heartbroken over it, because this group of men go each and every year, so if not this year, next (I guess it will be this year, just towards the end).

Natural colorants sometimes cause the soap to appear to have tiny spots of "dirt" in it, so don't be alarmed by this. I can't see the picture from this PC well enough to comment on. But I will say, anytime you want soap, PM me and I'll set you up.

I'll never use tap water again and do not recommend anyone using it, not straight out of the tap. Distilled is too cheap to risk an expensive batch of soap on.