Skiminims

I'm wanting to get some clear base for my loofah soaps, but I'm kind of discouraged now to hear that the SFIC clear is a little cloudy and yellow.

What's the next best thing? I want a high quality clear base. WSP?

Well shoot fire.

I'm wanting to try making these cute little flowering loofa soaps that was on candletech's website.

I still might try them anyway. They may turn out alright. We shall see.

Hey all!

Please forgive my ignorance on this. I'm interested in using a clear base. I've never used one before.

Will adding oils or butters make the clear base opaque? Or will it stay clear?

I too love to add glycerin in my mp. I also add mango butter, jojoba oil, goats milk powder, beeswax and silk proteins along with green tea extract or nettle extract. I have a fabulous lather, that is soft and silky and wonderful on my eczema patches that I have.

I mix all the powders together in a little dish, then melt the ingredients that need it, add the FO and any other oils that didnt need melting and finally add it to the powders. Once I have a paste I remove a ladle full of melted mp from the crockpot and mix it slowly into the paste to avoid clumps. Once that is mixed I add it slowly back to the crockpot.

This has been a great success for me and I can tell you I dont add more than 1T of any of the above for a 2lb log (except for the beeswax when I add 1/4 cup). That should give you a rough idea of how far I have been able to push my mp. I use the SFIC base low sweat white cp like mp.

My soap sets beautifully cuts well and hardens (harder than the original base) within a day or two. Its great on my skin and if I get the fo right pretty good to smell!

Good luck but I would definitely be adding the glycerin - just not so much.

jo

Great post! Thanks jo! I will definately have to try that method!

I surely will. I'm hoping to be able to make a batch either today or tomorrow. As soon as I'm able to test it, I'll let you know how it went.

I'm also noticing my skin is kind of drying out after I use it too. I'm not sure what else I can do besides use the goats milk to make it a little more moisturizing? My mom noticed it dried her hands out a little too. Any suggestions?

Thanks for the advice Candybee! So you think less is more when it comes to veggie glycerin?

Good point CareBear

Anyone know of any good unscented liquid bath soap that you can get locally and not have to order online?

Also, regarding adding shaving soap, do you go half and half (half white opaque and half shaving soap?) or do you normally do a smaller ratio of shaving soap? I've never combined bases before. I'm using SFIC right now.

I think I've priced that Dr. Bronners and it was a tad expensive, but if it helps lather, I may be willing to try it.

I was curious about the dishsoap too. Anyone use unscented liquid soap you can get at the grocery store?

Thanks again for all the help everyone!

I'm also surprised to hear about the glycerin! I too remember reading on here how many people use it to boost lather in their soap.

I will definately cut the castor. Maybe I should decrease the amount of goats milk used too?

The lather wasn't any better when I used 1/2oz FO instead of a full ounce, but I might take it back down to a 1/2 oz just to try it out again.

I had thought about adding some shaving soap base. How much should I add to 1lb of regular SFIC white? I haven't tried combining bases before.

Hey everyone,

I've done four batches, tweaking each one and I'm still not excited with my lather. It's better, but not great.

Here's my recipie. I'm thinking it might be the amount of FO I'm using but I'm not sure

For a 1lb batch (SFIC white opaque)

2 tablespoons goats milk (reconstituted powder)

1oz fragrance oil

2 tablespoons veggie glycerine

1/2 tsp castor oil

Is the amount of oil killing my lather? I was using a 1/2 oz of FO, but I could hardly smell my soap once it was out of the mold.

Can I use more than 2 tablespoons of the veggie glycerine? Would that make a difference? Should I try some shaving soap base in with my white opaque?

Help!

Thanks all!

Candybee,

I feel your pain! I just got the WSP goats milk powder myself and sent a barrage of questions to PrairieAnnie.

Let me share with you what she told me

She suggested reconstituting the milk with some distilled water.

She also suggested starting with 2 or 3 tablespoons per pound and just add a little water until it's mixed, just making sure there's no lumps. She had an idea of taking the powder and the water and put it into a small container with a lid and shaking it until it's lump free. The reconstituted GM should be the consistancy of regular milk and can also be a little thicker if you wish. Just as long as there are no lumps.

I might have gotten my GM a little runny on my first try. So I'm modifying it a little bit and not adding as much water.

I hope that helps!

I read somewhere that you shouldn't add more than 2tbsp of oils per pound of M&P. Are you supposed to take in account of the oils already in the base, or is that 2tbsp of additional oils? What about butters such as shea and coco butter?

I generally do about .2oz per pound. I always weigh out all of my ingredients. I'd say about 1-2% FO load for MP soaps will give you a nice outcome. Any more for me and I risk ruining my molds sometimes. I've done that to one tray for sure. I also have a couple of spinningleaf molds that have bubbled on me.

A rule of thumb? I normally heat to about 160-170. Let it cool until about 145 at min. and pour. I always get great smelling soap.

Thanks Jade! Next time I'll have my thermometer out for sure. I was curious about what temperature is good for pouring so you answered my question

IMO One ounce is a lot for 1 lb. I start with a tablespoon and work up if I think it needs more. I tried 1 oz and the soap was seeping. The fo is that last thing I add to my base by then it's cooled down quite a bit.

That's what I was thinking too. Of all the things I've read on this forum, most people start at a tablespoon and don't go above 1/2 oz pp.

Once the bars cooled, the FO improved a lot. I'm happy with how they turned out. The sweet pea FO I used on my first batch was just not as strong as what I would like. I used a tablespoon then too, so I think the next time I use that FO I'll only add an extra tsp to that and see how it turns out.

Thanks for the input!

I'm a die hard SFIC user, however someone sent me some clear low sweat from WSP (which carries Crafter's Choice, and I'm really pleased. I put some erasers (halloween) and it came out great, no bubbles and it didn't cloud.

What a cute idea!

Ha, you're right The FO smell did improve when the bars were set and unmolded.

Still, I'd like the FO to be a tad bit stronger.

I used 1 tablespoon of FO.

So I cooked up my second batch today.

I used one pound of SFIC Goats Milk base, a tsp of castor oil and a tablespoon of FO (Pineapple Coconut from CandleScience)

I used the double boiler method, the water in my big pot never got hot enough to boil. I let it get hot enough to melt my base then turned my heat off. I let it set a little while until there was a light film then added my Castor oil and FO. I stirred gently enough to get all the oils blended in.

I let it set for another couple mins then poured into my molds.

Problem is, I can't smell the FO very good in the bars. I had a moronic moment and never thought to bust out the thermometer and see how hot the base got.

Is there a general guideline of what temp to add the FO in so it doesn't "burn off"?

Its still setting up so maybe we'll see after I unmold. Has anyone else used this FO? Is it very strong when you used it? Do I need to add more than a tablespoon?

Any advice would be awesome!

I orderd samples of White Base, Goat Milk Base and the All Natural Base from Essentials By Catalina and LOVED the White and Goat Milk bases! The All Natural is good but didn't have as much lather as the other two....probably from the rich oils it contains. It would be a GREAT soap for people with very dry skin. The Goat Milk and the White bases had the best lather I've ever seen in a M&P...and even beat some CP's I've used. I like these much better than the SFIC bases I was using.

I went down yesterday and picked up 20 pounds (because I live 30 minutes away) and was greeted and treated like a queen! Prarieannie was right...this is a wonderful company with fabulous soap bases!

Outstanding! I had a feeling PA knew what she was talkin' about when she was raving about Catalina.

After I finish up with the 1lb I've got left, I just might have to buy some samples!! Thanks for the review Tizi!

I am revising my opinion on the WSP ultra white base. It seems that alone by itself it produces lots of rich creamy lather with those lovely big bubbles. I think that if you like something already to go then this base is it. Just add fragrance and dye.

I still don't like that it takes longer to harden than my other base and that I can't put in the additives I want. So far using my regular recipes I get either a greasy bar of soap or poor lather. It really has a low tolerence for additives like butters and oils. I have a few more lbs to play with so I will see how it goes.

Thanks for the update! I think I'll stay away from WSP's bases for now. I'm hoping to be able to experiment with additives soon, and I want a base that will allow me to do that.

I've never considered castor oil..hmm...would caster oil or glycerine work a little better lather-wise than coconut oil? I read that coconut oil helps with lather, and it also hardens the bar. I didn't really have issues with how the bar felt, just how little lather I got.

I'm sorry to hear that Candy. But I'm glad you shared, because I was considering trying WSP's base after I experimented with SFIC. I finally got to make my first 1 lb batch today.

It was very basic. Just SFIC goats milk. The only thing I added was 1tbsp of FO (sweet pea also from Peaks) I loved the FO, but I'm toying with the idea of adding a little bit more. The bar itself has a great smell laying on the table, but I can't smell it on me after I use it.

I'm definately going to play with coconut oil because I wasn't too impressed with the lather, and neither was DH.

But overall, I liked the SFIC.

If I got soap in a tub I would try to pop the whole thing out, cut it all into cubes and then put them back in the same container if possible. It just saves a little time the next time you want to make soap.

Brilliant!!

The only reason that I'm using the double boiler is that I don't have a glass pyrex measuring cup. Now I have a plastic one...would that melt in the micro?

Hey all!

So I was finally able to order my MP base and got it in the mail yesterday! I went with SFIC GM. I can't wait to see how it turns out!

I've got two questions before I get started...

First I'm only going to do 1lb batches at a time and ordered the 2lb tub. Anyone have any tips on how to get 1lb of soap out of the 2lb tub? lol cut it out with a knife? Scoop it with a spoon?

Also, I know you all put saran wrap over your pyrex measuring cups when melting via microwave, but do I have to put saran wrap over my pouring pot when melting over the stove using the double boiler method? I don't want to dry out my soap

Thanks!!!!

Aren't they out in California? I would have to have my bases shipped here to VA. That gets quite expensive.

I'm in Oklahoma, and granted, I'm only going to be ordering sample sizes, the shipping isn't bad compared to a few others I've looked at.

I'm all about the SFIC base. I buy it in the 50lb. tubs from SFIC and love it. Maybe I"ll give WSP a try again. I started out with theirs and didn't like it near as well but maybe it has changed since then.

I've been split between WSP and SFIC from Peaks. I'm only going to order 2lbs of each just to play with and see how I like them. I might even order from Catalina since PA has been raving about them so much They have a natural base that looks good.