IndulgentCreations

I like mine 3.5 x 2.5 x 1.25" thick. That will make it between 4.5 and 6 ounces per bar in cp.

Does this size fit in a standard soap box? I currently use a slab mold but my bars are too thick for the boxes so I've been kicking around getting an Upland. Just want to make sure they'll fit in the boxes when I do.

That shop has been in my favs for a long time, has some of the most beautiful soaps I've ever seen!

I do the same thing Billie, it's just easier and eliminates the chance that I'll get busy and forget to add it (done that before too). The only FO I can't is Pink Sugar as it gets way too dark.

I've had some wonky batches this year too with no rhyme or reason why. Made patchouli early on it was fine, 2nd batch (same recipe) got DOS within a couple months and the 3rd batch was fine. No clue what caused it, nothing changed but the weather.

Wayne, Love the molds you made! My DH makes mine too (when he get around to it) but has yet to get that inventive. Beautiful swirls Billie!

Thanks everyone! I was so totally please with the way the China Rain turned out too. Don't know if I can ever duplicate it but it's great. Ever not want to sell a batch of soap because of how cool looking it turned out??? Selfish huh?

Thought I'd post some pics of the new soaps I've worked on so far this week for all you soap porn lovers! Enjoy!!!

[ATTACH]17907[/ATTACH] China Rain in the mold

[ATTACH]17908[/ATTACH] China Rain cut

[ATTACH]17909[/ATTACH] Christmas Memories

[ATTACH]17910[/ATTACH] Spring Rain

Turned out great! Great use of bad soaps!!!

Anyone know of a good skin safe Mulled Cider? I've read a lot of reviews but the ones mentioned are not skin safe. I got some off of a garage sale that was not marked which company it was from, smells awesome and the seller said it was skin safe but now I'm having a hard time finding a replacement. TIA

Yeah I know. Was hoping to get some help from someone that can still get in.

Anyone that can access the Scent Review Board and could look up Alabasters China Rain for me? I haven't been able to get into the website and have been looking for a replacement for ICS's Spring Rain. Ordered a sample from Alabaster and it's close but need to see if there's any reviews for scent stick in CP soap. TIA for the help!!!

I second ICS, sell it like crazy! It's a kid favorite.

My DH makes me molds like this and I just use wax paper to line. Works great, peels right off soap once cooled. It's great to able to cut right through the paper and be done with it!

Others are also reporting this same probelm on a couple of the different soaping boards I'm a member of.

I am able to log on just fine with no problems, and others are as well, but for some reason there are some that can't seem to log on at all no matter what they try. No one has figured out why yet. Lili has been contacted to see if it's a problem on their end.

MarieJeanette

I can't even get it to load. It says done down in the bottom left but just gives me a blank white screen.

Ok thanks. Just wanted to make sure it wasn't something on my end.

with pulling up the soap scent review board? I've been trying to check on an FO for a week now and can't seem to get their site to pull up. I hope it's just me!

old will knott...best scales and service....ever!

http://www.oldwillknottscales.com/

Couldn't agree more!

If you've used this recipe before and everything was fine until you added the FO, I'd chalk it up to that FO. Some FO's cause funny reactions in soap. Apple scents always seem to rice for me, florals speed up trace drastically, and pine tar is soap on a stick.

When you peeked it sounds like it was gelling. If it's hard now, even though it looks like cottage cheese it'll probably be ok. Just make sure there's no liquid seeping from the inside of the bars when you cut them, cure as you normally would, should be fine. HTH

Yep I read all that in my research too then started talking to hunters...they had a different opinion. Give it a shot, who knows it may work in your area.

I make it also and yes, I use Anise EO. It does OK here in IL, not a huge seller but most buy it more for the scent and not as a fishermen's soap. As for hunters, I've been told by many that they still can't use it as they have to use completely unscented.

I'm one of those that can't seem to get anything mixed in by hand without getting spots. I now use a small pyrex measuring cup with some light traced batter and zap it with my stick blender. Works great for me just make sure not to splash raw soap!

No you don't have to let your colored soap reach full trace. I always work with light trace for my base and my colored...just gives you more time to play and let's you get the swirl deeper into the soap. I'd guess it's due to overheating. Even though you haven't changed your recipe it could be from the mold change or a change in temp/humidity in your work area which can cause different results. HTH

I use a pouf. I can't stand finding a hair on my bar of soap...never know where that hair might have come from.

I agree with your assessment if you soap it with a full water amount, but if you soap with 40% - 45% lye solution, it comes out good and hard the next day. Trust me.

MarieJeanette

Ahh, didn't think of that. I've been making soap for 3 1/2 years and have never used a 45% lye solution, just not enough time to play around. I do a full 4 week cure on all of my soaps so never felt the need to rush things.

The hardest bar of soap I ever made was 100% Olive Oil. And I made the mistake of not cutting it the next day and almost broke my cutter.

I guess if coconut oil makes a hard bar too then a combination of the two would probably give you a nice hard moisturizing soap.

There's no way that was 100% olive oil or your recipe was way off. A 100% olive oil soap should never be hard the next day, lucky to be able to unmold it in a week. Something's not right there.