Reg

Thank you all! I love the idea of master batches!

I have hard time finding it in a store too (never seen it at Wallgreens, but I'll have to double check), and not all health food stores have it. I've seen cocoa butter with a bunch of other ingredients in it, but not pure cocoa butter. I would call up your local health food stores and ask if they have it in stock. But if you can't find it in a store after all, like somebody already said, WSP is a good place for a small quantity. It's 12.75 per pound. http://www.wholesalesuppliesplus.com/ProductDetail.aspx?CategoryID=1387&ProductID=1001

Maybe it's a good thing I didn't order it yet! Does Optiphen Plus has similar issue? I need a preservative for a lotion, and I want it to be as natural as possible. I am open to suggestions.

I have a large lotion bar (bees wax, cocoa butter, shea butter, almond oil). Can I just remelt it and pour it into smaller containers, or is it going to destroy the consistency or something?

I am in MN. I don't mind ordering it online as loong as the shipping doesn't cost an arm and a leg.

Where would be the cheapest place to order it in a small quantity.

Thanks for posting this! I'll probaby use this as my starting point (as soon as I get some preservative) Which oils and butters would you recomend for a beginner batch. I do have olive, coconut and palm oils, and cocoa and shea butters on hand.

This is an old thread. I was in the experimenting stage, and just wanted to try all the different things, like swirls etc. I needed a "quick fix", so I was searching the house high and low for things I already have that could be put in my soap. (I was not making it for sale). BTW I ended up using cocoa powder and coffee for my colors. This soap is 5 weeks old now, and still looks the same the day I made it. I am hoping to keep one bar for at least a year to see how it holds up. Thank you for your input though! (there might be another newbie doing the same thing I did, so maybe this thred will help somebody)

I will check out that web site, thank you! The recipe I used was from the book, and it did not have any preservatives listed (and I don't even have any, I need to do some research in the preservative field as well). This lotion is supposed to have a short shelf life.

The browning doesn't bother me as long as it's supposed to happen (rather them me screwing something up). This soap has spicy smell to it and some nutmeg, so brown is a good color for it in my book.

I am having a hard time attaching pictures. The one in previous post is "now" picture, and here I am trying to attach the "before" picture. And it's not working again... So here's a link to that picture http://www.craftserver.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=20541&d=1283550046

here is a picture of it now [ATTACH]20583[/ATTACH]

I made a batch of soap (olive, coconut and palm) using FO from WSP http://www.wholesalesuppliesplus.com/ProductDetail.aspx?CatalogID=4&GroupID=3&CategoryID=2039&ProductID=1850&ProductName=Crafters+Choice%e2%84%a2+Pumpkin+Pie+Type+Fragrance+Oil+408 and a dash of nutmeg. It looked fine when I just cut it, but now (couple of weeks later), it's starting to brown at the edjes. What is going on? This is my first batch with FO, so I am totally clueless.

That sounds like an interesting scent! Now I have to order it just because I want to smell it.

I am planning to make soap to include in Christmas gifts (big surprice, right?) So I was wondering what are the most popular FOs for the holiday season? Also would like tips for making festive soap (like adding things to soap, favorite molds, creative packaging, etc.) TIA

Oh yea, I am planning to order some sample sizes after the craft show (no money right now).

I actually ordered e-wax and stearic acid , and it came a couple of day ago! Now I have to find a recipe that appeals to me, and some free time of course.

Thanks! We need some sort of technology so we could smell it over the internet too.

Here's my cut soap: I am thinking that maybe I did not put enough nutmeg (no idea how much I put in, I just sprinkled it out of the shaker), I would like more speckles. The smell has alreday subsided, it's not as pungent as it was when I just poured it in. Now I am starting to worry that maybe I didn't put enough FO. We'll see in a few months.

I took a peek at this site, and it's great! Thanks for posting it!

Woo-hoo, I made a batch! I used only .6 oz of FO because I remember reading somewhere that you don't have to use as much FO if you are doing HP soap. I figured I'd rather have an undercented soap then overpowering one. I hope I did the right thing. Right now it smells really strong, but I assume it will fade out somewhat over the next couple of weeks. And I did sprinkle in some nutmeg. Can't wait to cut it!

Do you by any chance know of a website or book that would explain a little more about things like "Polysorbate 60", "Cetearyl Alcohol" or other B&B ingredients? I don'd know if they are natural or anything. I want to make lotions and other B&B products for mylsef and my kids, so I want them to be as naural as possible.

Thank you so much for your help! I am hoping to try this out tonight maybe (depends what time I get kids to bed )

Thanks! So maybe I shouldn't add powdered cinnamon to this mix, since it might have cinnamon in it already (being it's a pumpkin pie, it might already have cinnamon)?

I finally ordered this FO http://www.wholesalesuppliesplus.com/ProductDetail.aspx?CatalogID=4&GroupID=3&CategoryID=2039&ProductID=1850&ProductName=Crafters+Choice%e2%84%a2+Pumpkin+Pie+Type+Fragrance+Oil+408 And I am not sure how to use the information they provide: IFRA Maximum Use Level: Bar Soap: 4.10% Does that mean anything over 4.1% might be irritating to the skin, or it will be too stinky over that level? I am planning to make HP soap in a crockpot (since I don't wan to wait too long to use it). And I am making a small batch - 20 oz of oils and 7.4 oz water. Any suggestions on how much FO I should add? I was also thinking to sprinkle in some sinnamon, ginger and cloves (dry powdered spices) mostly for visuall interest, is that going to be an overkill? I have never used FO in soap before, so any suggestions will be greatly appreciated!