JI Posted December 5, 2012 Share Posted December 5, 2012 Hello Everyone, I know nothing about soap but am in candles. I have always loved Caswell-Massey soaps but my pocketbook doesn't feel the same. I have purchased cold press soaps from a couple of local soapers in my area. Dye free, fragranced with either fragrance and/or essential oils. Some have oatmeal for a little nice exfoliation and goatsmilk. They are undyed and brownish in colour. Good lather, moisturizing. They are soft and tend to "break down" a little even though I drain my soap dish and keep the soap elevated using the rim of the soap dish. I am on the quest to find a handmade soap that is similar to Caswell Massey. I don't need artificial dyes, but I would love to find a soap like this. Is this unrealistic? Is it not possible? CM soaps are just so fragrant and I love them. Maybe they're chock load of bad things and I just don't realize. This is why I am asking your soapers for your opinion. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chefmom Posted December 5, 2012 Share Posted December 5, 2012 This is why I make my own soap dishes. Commercial ones don't have enough air flow from the bottom of the dish or tall enough ledges in the bottom to keep a good dry environment.You could ask the soap makers if they use sodium lactate or beeswax to help keep the bar hard.Also I have found having two bars in use helps. That way when one is a little too wet you can switch back and forth and let them dry really well between uses. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Candybee Posted December 5, 2012 Share Posted December 5, 2012 I use a shower caddy. It hooks onto your shower head and has a couple of shelf/holders that hold tall shampoo bottles and a smaller shelf for soap. The soap sits on the 'shelf' and stays very dry. MY soaps last forever using the caddy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChandlerWicks Posted December 5, 2012 Share Posted December 5, 2012 Me too!I use a shower caddy. It hooks onto your shower head and has a couple of shelf/holders that hold tall shampoo bottles and a smaller shelf for soap. The soap sits on the 'shelf' and stays very dry. MY soaps last forever using the caddy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jenn624 Posted December 5, 2012 Share Posted December 5, 2012 ditto on the shower caddy. really extends the life of my soaps. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ProudMarineMom Posted December 5, 2012 Share Posted December 5, 2012 Even if you have 4 or 5 bars on it! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JI Posted December 6, 2012 Author Share Posted December 6, 2012 So what type of soaps are caswell massey? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Judy, USMC Posted December 6, 2012 Share Posted December 6, 2012 So what type of soaps are caswell massey?Copied this from their website - "All of our other soaps are made with a blend of coconut and palm oils, sometimes with olive oil added. Milk protein is in our milk line and Honey is used in our Goats Milk & Honey products. ... Please see the “ingredients” tab of the individual product for a full listing of ingredients."Here's the link so you can but I haven't found the "ingredients tab" they mentioned. http://www.caswellmassey.com/bath-and-body-soap-bar-soap.aspx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jenn624 Posted December 6, 2012 Share Posted December 6, 2012 I found one with an ingredients tab, it says: Key ingredients:Glycerin: for enhanced moisturizing propertiesSandalwood fragrancegee, how helpful. I saw something about triple milled.... my guess is a base of some sort.... yup: http://www.caswellmassey.com/about/art.aspx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ProudMarineMom Posted December 6, 2012 Share Posted December 6, 2012 Kinda curious as to how they triple mill the base. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chuck_35550 Posted December 6, 2012 Share Posted December 6, 2012 French milled soap from Provence region of France is very nice. The soap base is crystalized and then ingredients are added and rolled between stainless steel rollers to make the paste uniform and this is done three times. I love French milled soap and this high end soap seems to have a long history pedigree and uses costly herbs in their product. You can normally get a huge bar of lavnder bud soap from de Provence for about $5.00. There have been countless discussions on what ingredients survive the saponification process and in answer to the question, I would say no. Rebatching and triple milling aren't the same thing and few soapers would afford the chemists and perfumers to concoct the formulas that would equal such a companies product. But yes, I believe you could aproximate that product and be just as satisfied with the results. I didn't find the French soap to be extrordinary for my skin but it was very nice and it stayed in the dish for a long time. There are hand crafters that produce soap as good or better than commercial (Irena of Ginger's Garden comes to mind) but the results are always subjective to the person using the produt and the type of skin and water hardness or softness in any given area of the world. IMHOSteve Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jeanie353 Posted December 7, 2012 Share Posted December 7, 2012 (edited) Disregard...Steve just answered it all while I was typing questions Edited December 7, 2012 by jeanie353 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Candybee Posted December 7, 2012 Share Posted December 7, 2012 Awww! French milled soap. Got some years ago for Christmas. It was so nice I hated using it up but soooo nice I loved washing with it.Wish there was a process for that for the handmade soapmaker. I don't think hand milled fits the same quality but I have seen some soapmakers selling hand milled handmade soap. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cmzaha Posted December 8, 2012 Share Posted December 8, 2012 What soapmakers sell as hand milled is not, it is rebatch. Biggest point to the triple milling is creating a very long lasting smooth soap. Without the pressing & rolling equipment it is not possible to mill soap, but that does not mean handmade soap is inferior, it just needs to be treated a bit differently and let it dry between use. It is really best to remove it from a shower after use since showers tend to stay damp for awhile. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
soapbuddy Posted December 18, 2012 Share Posted December 18, 2012 French milled soap from Provence region of France is very nice. The soap base is crystalized and then ingredients are added and rolled between stainless steel rollers to make the paste uniform and this is done three times. I love French milled soap and this high end soap seems to have a long history pedigree and uses costly herbs in their product. You can normally get a huge bar of lavnder bud soap from de Provence for about $5.00. There have been countless discussions on what ingredients survive the saponification process and in answer to the question, I would say no. Rebatching and triple milling aren't the same thing and few soapers would afford the chemists and perfumers to concoct the formulas that would equal such a companies product. But yes, I believe you could aproximate that product and be just as satisfied with the results. I didn't find the French soap to be extrordinary for my skin but it was very nice and it stayed in the dish for a long time. There are hand crafters that produce soap as good or better than commercial (Irena of Ginger's Garden comes to mind) but the results are always subjective to the person using the produt and the type of skin and water hardness or softness in any given area of the world. IMHOSteveThank you Steve. I didn't find this thread til now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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