SimplyBea

Okay - this might sound like a silly question with all the great suppliers out there but........ At the market I go to, there is another person who sells M&P soaps and she isn't too concerned about what there is in them...... I get lots of questions from customers and I find it hard to explain the difference without putting my foot in my mouth..... I do CP because I like knowing what I put into my soaps..... and I wanted to make up a batch of MP from scratch for demo purposes but can't find any recipes online..... Anyone has a basic recipe available to share?

I haven't soaped since my accident in May and am looking forward to just making some basic bars of EVOO soap. I had no iea that I was so low on stock as I hadn't been to the markets or anything for a while until last week and then kapow - couldn't fill an order last week! So...... bread and butter lines first before playtime........ for this gal anyway. Happy soaping everyone!

Thanks Kitn - yes, it feels really good to be in control of what I use on me and cool that other people like what I make as well....... !

Well, my 1st batch of soap was somewhere in April/May last year. I was only going to make soap for myself and faily/friends and since then I have given so many bars away with such great feedback that I have decided to try selling my soaps. They are just very basic, no frills soaps and people are loving them so now I am registered to sell soap. The registration is expensive but it takes a weight off my mind and i know I am now 'legal' and we will see if it is a worthwhile exercise. I wanted to thank everyone on the board who has been here for me through my troubleshooting and helping out with great advice. It was scary (and still is at times) but it is just so rewarding when I get someone come back to me saying that they really enjoyed using my soap...... now to see if they liked it enough to pay for it? :)

That's a good trick to remember! Since I had a seized batch and then a riced up batch of soap with Sandalwood FO I just haven't been game to try adding any sort of FO to my soaps. Soaping today so I will try a small batch!!!

Thank you for the replies & links folks. I got busy prepping for a jewelry exhibition and market and got swamped.......... I will place the order after Christmas at this stage as it would just be crazy timing now for anything much less overseas deliveries and I wouldn't want it to go missing. Thanks heaps and I will post to say how it went when it happens!

Thanks for the link - it was one I found on the forum but they don't have any stock of the monoi. Any one else out there with any other hints? TIA

Hi Folks I am really desperate for a supplier who sells (and ships to Australia) for monoi de tahiti. I have not been unable to find any wholesale resource. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks Bea

Wish I could even begin to understand, let alone help......... what is DSM??? ;0

Thank you ladies - the soap is cut up into smallish logs now and there is no trace of oozing oils or lumpiness below the surface. The rice grains are still on the top but it smells nice and I think it is okay. I sliced off a small sliver to try and it lathers nicely. Thank you everyone ONCE AGAIN!!!!!!

Meredith as always, you are quick to the rescue! I finally unmolded th soap just now - more than 48hrs later. It is firm but still pliable (like the other basic unscented batches) and apart from the 'rice grains' on the top it looks okay inside. I washed out the knife I used to cut it up and there were nice bubbles - do I still need to do the ZAP test? I have never done that before and am afraid! The numbers should have been good, I have used this recipe many times now and it has been good (until I try FOs) and is a soft bar to start but firms up and holds well. The Lye (6% discount) & water (0% discount) were based on SoapMaker3 calculations - that's the only other difference in this batch. I will try adding the FO to the oils next time! CareBear - I bought the Sandalwood FO from an Aussie supplier - I don't know if that will help troubleshoot. F&I - next time I will hand stir! I just didn't expect it to go so fast from light trace to 'rice bubbles' !!!!! How will I know for sure it is safe to use? It looks okay apart from the top.... but is there anything else I have to look out for??? cheers

I knew it was too good to be true.......... I was having a whale of a timemaking up batches of soaps and working on a stash to take home to my family next month..... and yesterday I made a batch with a Sandalwood FO....... it was a DISASTER!!! Everything was fine until I added the FO at LIGHT trace...... it turned all crumbly like cottage cheese and started hardening in the pot so I just panicked and poured it into the mold. I spread it out as best I could, covered it in glad wrap and put it away in the esky. About 5 hours later I peeked and it looked dark and felt soft.. there was a lot of heat generating from it and I just thought I'd best leave it. This morning it feels firm but I think it still looks like cottage cheese (stuck together) hardening! What should I have done? Coconut Oil 500gm (25%) Olive Oil 900gm (45%) Rice Bran Oil 400gm (20%) Castor Oil 200gm (10%) Sandalwood FO @ 30ml/1000gm Lye 271gm Water 671.7gm I waited til Lye and Oils were 100F before soaping....... I have NO idea what went wrong :confused: Can I use this soap if it hardens up? Thanks

I have just been using the 'bits 'n pieves' from my CP bars which come off as I cut/unmold and I never would have thought that I could live withouth conditioner but now I CAN!!!!! I put all those little bits in a squeezy 'sauce bottle' and add water, give it a shake to mix up a bit, add some more water just before I need to use it and I am JUST LOVING IT!!!!! I really never thought I would be able to have clean hair wothout using conditioner but it is just so liberating to know it can happen! I have STRAIGHT, THICK ASIAN hair!!!! and @ 50 I can wash and not have to condition and I have a CLEAN scalp and nicely conditioned hair finally!!!!! Can you tell I am pleased????

LOL - you are SO RIGHT!!!! I am not even making soap for sale, just for myself, family and friends and my 'soapy purchases' have already hit the 4digit mark! Ssssshhhhhhhh - don't tell BF.......... !!! I made him some shaving soap ALL for him to use (so he shouldn't complain) and his family are enjoying the 'fruits of my new love'....... so..... it could be a long term addiction here! I am loving, loving, loving it tho and so are my 'testers'......... !!!!!

Castor Sugar is the really fine white sugar which is used especially in making cake icing......... I am pretty sure (I don't bake)! It is really fine grained and I find it nicer on my (older) skin........