ebarnes

I was just messing around with some Soy Clear M&P base that I had. I added 1% palm kernal and 1% coconut oil and got no lather or suds at all. Never seen that before. I started off pretty high with additives Im thinking one canceled the other.

Let me add that this soap is no different that trying to wash with a solid bar of steel. It's just hard and smooth.

PLease send, thanks

Im looking for a rectangle shaped soap mold. No beveled edges, perfect cut corners. I see Peaks has one (perfect size), I may order that one. Do you know where I can find one? Im looking for a mold that makes bars about 4.5-5.5 oz.

Thanks

Is 1% the standard for most recipe's and How long do you let your product sit before testing/smelling for rancid oders. Have you ever had to come back and add more Germ.... after your product sat for a while?

Thanks

Also, should you add a little more than 1% for the FO/EO that the customer may add later?

For some strange reason my original post is gone.

Was wondering if any of you guys use JS linen/room spray base. If so what is a good starting point? I made one batch last week and it was great. I think I used to much FO though. Last night I made another batch and after I sprayed it the mist settled on the floor and was like pure oil. Guess I used too much oil.

Whats the difference? How do you obtain lipids?

OK I woke up this morning and my butter was like lotion

Feels good going on and my skin feels really soft though

What color is your body butter? I just made my first batch using, Soybutter, Shea Butter, Sweet Almond Oil and CoCo Butter. The finished product is a little thin but is thickening up but the color is off white. I know that my butters where off white, how does one make a pure white butter using the ingredients that I have used?

Where the devil are you at?

You'll just have to check your main stores that would be like Lowes or Home Depot I suppose ... would be easier and probably cheaper if you bought from a supplier (at least I think so.) I know being in a small town, there's no getting at this stuff.

Howard is great to work with at http://www.aaa-chemicals.com/sodium-hydroxide.html

BTW lye isn't going to be on the shelf of a Wal-Mart ... not the pure lye. It's something druggies go after for meth production, which is why it's a little harder to come by.

Im in VA, I was hoping I could get it locally.

I ordered various oils (Sweet Almond, Apricot Kernel, Soybean, Coconut) all my butters (Shea, Cocoa, Soy) some essential oils, some additives (strawberry seeds) and I even made a wooden soap mold this weekend. I forgot one thing......LYE. Where can I get some lye locally? I went to Walmart and they were like "Huh..whats it for?" Maybe I should have said where is the SODIUM HYDROXIDE.

How much do you add pp for a nice but not overwhelming scent?

What are you calling it and what color is it?

thanks

Really? I can't get this to throw in my paraffin blend. I was bummed cause it smells great OOB.

Great hot throw, but I hate the smell. I actually had someoen ask for this in soap.

The cinnamon stick from JS has been my best cinnamon of all that I tested in paraffin.

I hope it burns well in Soy, I get soooo many request for this one.

Scale of 1-10 with 10 being the strongest hot throw.

Peaks

Wild Raspberry - 7

Blackberry Sage - 7

Blackberry Tea - 7

Botanical Orchard & Nectar - 9

Green Clover & Aloe - have yet to burn

Patchouli - 9

Cinnamon Stick - 6

JS

Cuc Melon - 8

Desire - 3??????

Apricot Freesia - 10

Skinny Dipping - 9

Looks like im going to be adding all of these scents that I tested. Will have to think about the cinnamon sticks. JS has one that I will test pour tonight.

Top 5 Sellers are:

Fruit Slices

Strawberry Kiwi

White Tea and Ginger

Mango Papaya

Gardenia

My Top 5:

ZERO.....I dont burn candles.

Peaks

Wild Raspberry

Blackberry Sage

Blackberry Tea

Botanical Orchard & Nectar

Green Clover & Aloe

Patchouli

JS

Cuc Melon

Desire

Apricot Freesia

Skinny Dipping

Cinnamon Stick

Have you tested these? Whats your opinion??? Tonight Im going to test about 10 more. I know Im but oh well.

Thanks, BTW Im using 100% soy.

I've been using the bottles from Bayousome for reed diffusers for months now with NO problems whatsoever. I have had one in my office since around December with the same oil in it and it has not discolored and it still looks nice. Bill @ Bayousome told me they were O.K. to use for this purpose. So far, so good.

Thanks a lot this helps.

Have any of you looked at bottles from local sources? Like the craft section of Wal-Mart? Or Hobby Lobby, Michael's, and other craft places? I'm wondering what's available locally to me, and I do plan to do some looking, so I'm not spending a small fortune on shipping glass like I've heard some jar candlemaker's complaining about lately.

No I have not, bayousome has the bottels I need for .60 cents each, when you add shipping I think Im paying about .70 cents a jar. Still cheaper than the dollar store.

Is plastic strong enough? BayouSome has some nice bottles are a really good price.

I have ordered a few of thier reed diffuser oils (loved them). What scents have you tested from them??? Also, if you have tested thier diffuser base what was your ratio of oil to base?

Thanks

Has anyone come across a company that rents the machines for short term use? No contracts, no monthly fees????

One more thing, when I was selling my candles at a local flea mkt I would give a $1.00 off the next order if you returned the jar and lid. With that being said I have not ordered lids in over a year and just started ordering jars about 2 months ago, saved money and time on shipping.

The soap calc is great to use as a guidleline especially if you are a newbie. The values it gives you are not set in stone but can give you an idea of what different oils and butters can bring to a soap. Once you've been soaping for awhile, you might find that you like soap that has different numbers than what the soap calc says is acceptable. It is all part of the learning process.

Thanks a lot, I ask b/c I came up wit ha really good recipe. Some points were 2-3 over, some were 5-10 over ans others were right in line. I did not want to create a soap that would irritate the skin.

Mine range (no more than .75 to $1.00 difference). One batch may cost me $3.25 (16ozJar) the next may cost me $4.50. Over the holidays two years ago I got the cost down to about $3.25 to include shipping. I ordered 99, 16oz jars @ .50 each, 99, 25oz jars @.65 each, 99, 8oz jars @ .45 each, 500 lids (.35 each), 1000 wicks (.08 each). I also ordered about 300lbs of wax that cost about $300. Peaks have a special, 15% off any orders of 10 or more oils (I ordered 10). Did I confuse you yet????? At any rate I got my 16oz jars to about $3.25, 25oz Jars about $4.50 and the 8oz Jars down to about $2.25-2.50 to make.