AlwaysWondering

I feel like I'm hogging the board these past few days. I'm in a bit of panic. Made my first batch of MP with PA's recipe. I used a metal, non-stick bread/meatloaf pan. It's been cooling about 4 hours, will let it stay in the mold overnight. I have no idea how I'm going to get it out of the pan - HELP!!!! Do I put it in the freezer? Do I use a knife and cut around the edges? Put it in the oven and hope it melts around the edges and slides out? Was I suppose to do something to the pan before I poured the soap in?

Oh what a mess. I think I waited to long to stir as I was surfing the net to find a solution. The buds almost solidified into soap on top. I stirred like a mad woman and broke up most of the solid pieces.

Let me understand what you're doing. Pouring half the batch, letting that skin. Then you add the lavender buds to the half batch in the mold or the half batch still in the pot?

I'm making my first batch of the Prairie Annie MP recipe. I also read the entire thread, several times, and see that CandieBee mentions to wait until MP is completed cooled before adding "items" that are meant to be suspended in the soap.

I waited until the MP had a skin on it in the presto pot, stirred it one more time, and then poured it into a new, metal, non-stick meat loaf pan. I've stirred it a few time while in the meatloaf pan to help it cool. The pan is warm to the touch, not at all hot, but also not room temperature, it is warmer than room temp. I added lavender buds and some cranberry seeds and stirred. Seems to me they all floated to the top. Maybe they need to absorb some moisture to sink a little? Or should I stir again once it become even cooler to room temp?

Thanks.

I'm done worrying. All ingredients have arrived and tomorrow is the day I'll make my first batch. I'll let you all know how they turn out.

Thank you. Never even thought of Costco! We are rural but can't recall seeing 25 lb bags. Then again, never looked for them either.

Thanks, again.

Thank you! LindaNelson, I saw your post on another thread and it gave me some relief. As I recall, you've been doing this for 7 years with not problem with the low sweat plus added goodies. But then I saw other posts that still had sweat issues, etc.

Another question, if you all don't mind. Not everyone uses soap right away, they kind of hoard pretty soap! If this low sweat M&P with additives sits on a shelf somewhere for a few months and not used, will it shrink, lose scent, or something else? As mentioned, I'd like to wrap in freezer paper (love the look of the coffee filters, too) but that is not air tight.

Maybe I'm worrying too much.

I have been reading and reading all the threads on this MP forum. My only large concern is about sweating.

I bought the LCP Low Sweat White MP base from Brambleberry. I don't know, perhaps you do, if it is a Brambleberry own product or if it is SFIC. I plan to use PrairieAnn's recipe with the added jojoba, honey, shea, cocoa butter, liquid soap, etc.

Brambleberry indicates the base I bought can be wrapped in paper and Linda (I think) said she has successfully used a low sweat MP (did not mention the brand or supplier) with oils, etc. added and wraps in paper with no sweating issues.

I'm still very concerned about sweating, am I worrying over nothing? It sounds horrible.

How do I test for sweating? Put it in the bathroom with the shower on to create humidity? Our weather and homes are bone dry right now.

Thank you in advance.

Maybe one of the dipped or injected bears that are mentioned in a few threads.

I say a small room. We only use one like that in our powder room. The scent will drift into the hall and up the stairs with the air flow but I think if it were plugged in a larger, more open room, the scent would get lost. It's a small melt pool in those compared to a regular warmer bowl and most onlyuse a 15 watt bulb which is not very hot at all.

From reading, I believe it is the same as when making candles, most use 1 oz FO oil added to 16 oz of wax, all by weight. I would say dip a few, see how well they scent and if not strong enough, add more FO and dip a new batch of clothespins. As long as the FO isn't weeping out and you are ok with expense and throw, I don't think there is a formula!

I love it! What is the soap wrapped in beside the cigar band? Your tearing looks darn perfect.

Even as a fundraiser where folks are usually a bit more generous, that sounds like a lot to me for a 4 oz candle.

I sell in singles and they are each in a zip lock polypro back with a my label on it.

Please tell me more about coffee filters. I have one in my hand right now. Is this for giving it a more homespun natural packaging look or does it serve a purpose? I was going to use freezer paper to wrap mine and then seal with my label. Should I wrap in coffee filter first for some reason?

I was reading the descriptions of the three different white M&P bases on the Bramble Berry site. Something caught my attention. This is their description of the Low Sweat M&P

A cold process melt and pour base? How can this be you ask? Our newest base allows you to enjoy the look of cold process in a Melt and Pour base! It is perfect for someone who wants to wrap their soap in paper. This soap base is an opaque white base that does very well in humid climates with little to no sweating!

What do they mean by the phrase in red? Is there normally a problem wrapping M&P in paper? If so, what is the problem?

Thanks to both of you!

I remember reading somewhere that Soapers Choice/Columbus MP bases aren't that good. I tried EBC bases, Peak's bases and NG bases. I will stick with the Bramble Berry bases; cheaper than Peak's, NG and EBC - and excellent. I believe they are the SF bases.... same ingredients.

Ravens or Anyone, I went to order at Bramble Berry and then saw they have three different M&P white bases. One is $39/25 lbs, Bulk White Melt and Pour Base, the second is Premium Bulk Base, $49.25/25 lbs and the third is LCP White Melt and Pour at $110/50 lbs which is clearly the most expensive. Do you know which is the SFIC one you recommend?

No reason you can't use it. I've played with a lot of waxes for my tart formula but not this one. I'll be very curious about your results!

I use golden brand 416 for tarts, can I mix that and the 4794 or should I mix 4794 with my golden brand 444 or 464..I think I even have a few more different wax here, but can I mix it with soy? if so whats a good starting point to mix

There really isn't one right answer. I always say 50/50 is a good starting point as long as it keeps your melt point for tarts at about 128-132. Another way to start is 75% pillar blend and 25% container blend.

It should not take away the scent. I have found that some brands of liquid dye, if used in excess of 20 drops or more per pound, do add a chemical type smell.

I'm looking for an inexpensive, plastic one. Just starting to play with melt and pour and don't want to invest in the wooden ones. I'm not sure what it is called, it's the long rectangle and the soap would be one big loaf that I would slice. Thanks.

NDA carries a great foaming base too. I use it in my foot care line.

Hi, I'm new to bath and body, who is NDA? Thanks!

Thank you so much for sharing! How did it go? How many came? What percent of your inventory was sold? Great idea? Also, those large jars storing your tarts had to cost a fortune as a display, but they sure are perfect and lovely.

Thanks, Ravens. Bramble Berry has a flat shipping rate 25 lb of box for only $16. That's great. Sorry, what is SF?