What are you adding to M&P

[Livelovebath]

Hi

I am a new soaper, and I was just wondering what things (and how much) you add to melt and pour soap. Babypowder? Oatmeal etc....

Thanks

[adefrier]

Welcome to soapmaking!

I am new at making CP soap (which is but one of the reason I joined this board) but have been making M&P soap for years.

You have an amazing amount of options when working with M&P. I usually start out with a basic 'hand milled' recipe before adding anything else but you certainly dont have to. Some of my favorite things to add are:

cinnamon--1/4 tsp per 6 oz. of soap

ginger--1/8 tsp per 6 oz

chamomile--contents of one tea bag usually will do the trick

unbrewed coffee--about 1 tsp per 6 oz

There are also a bunch of fruits and vegetables that you can add but you will definitely need a preservative for those. You can also find recipes to add cornmeal, aloe, vit E, sand, witch hazel, almond and all other kinds of herbs and spices. Pick a recipe, try it out and have fun!

[LovelyLathers]

I put 2 ounces of shea butter in a pound of mine. You can do the same with cocoa butter also. I also use Lavender buds, oatmeal. I really do not measure them but I would say it is about a half a cup per pound. Make sure your soap is cool enough so it suspends in the soap. I made a chocolate one last night I added a heaping tablespoon of cocoa powder to 2 lbs and 2 ounces of cocoa butter. It came out great. You can also add loofah to it. Hope this helps.

[Michi]

I think there was a thread on this a couple of weeks ago.

You can basically add anything you want, just need to play around and test to make sure it's giving you the results you want.

[tamtam]

I did alot of research on the web, there are tons of recipes out there. Here are some basic guidlelines that I use

Essential oils- 1 tsp. PP

Herbs finely ground- up to 1 TBSP.

Aloe gel- up to 1 TBSP

honey- up to 1 TBSP

oils(jojoba, apricot, hemp, others) 1 TBSP

oatmeal finely ground-up to 1/4 cup

powdered milk- up to 1/4 cup

clays- 1-2 tsp

Those are the basics- I have found with dried materials, like herbs or oatmeal, the finer you grind them, the more they stay suspended, let the base cool way down then stir them in.

[Livelovebath]

Thanks for all the ideas, I am so addicted to finding out more!

[alhughes]

i am also new to m&p soap. just wondering why adding differnt things to soap is it to give it appearance or does it achieve a different purpose? such as smoother skin & can anyone recommend different links that gives this info. such as shea butter adds smoother skin for an example. so if this sounds weird not feeling good.

[jessicamarie]

the possibilities are endless with MP lol i would sugesst that you invest in a book or 2 on MP i have one with 300 some odd resipies in it plus the techniques!!!!

[Noodle]

I don't add much to MP. I think that butters and oils kill lather. I always say if it ain't broke, don't fix it.

[KJohnson]

The most I ever add to MP is..real honey..liquid goats milk..and oatmeal...hence Oatmeal Milk and Honey MP

here is a picture of it

[prairieannie]

I add allllllllll kinds of stuff to MP soap, here are just a few:

Shea Butter

Mango Butter

Jojoba Oil

Emu Oil

Coffee

Cinnamon

Paprika

Cold Cream

Lotion

Stearic Acid

Glycerin

Sugar

Salt

Castor Oil

Cocoa Butter

Cream

Goats Milk

Honey

Oatmeal

chamomile

Vitamin E

beeswax

Milk powder

Poppy Seeds

I have a very large list of some things I haven't tried yet as well, in addition to a whole bunch more things I have tried lol. I have found that when something suggests that a butter or other additive will "kill" the lather, it generally means that it kills the bubbles a little, but in these cases, the lather is usually extremely creamy and luxurious.

[Noodle]

Nope. When I said that oils and butter "kills" the lather, I meant exactly that. It kills it.

[prairieannie]

Nope. When I said that oils and butter "kills" the lather, I meant exactly that. It kills it.

Well that sucks! What kind of MP base do you use? I haven't made an MP soap yet that doesn't lather. I've made several that don't have a ton of big ol bubbles though. There's always some, but when I make a luxury bar they aren't as big and free flowing! Lather is always present though, and lots of it!

[Noodle]

I generally use SFIC soap base. I have used oatmeal, honey, powdered milks (which happens to be my favorite), vitamin E, herbs, all kinds of exfoliants, etc... Adding oils and/or butters in small quantities makes a very slick and softer bar with practically no lather. Perhaps the base that you are using can handle such a change. I have also added some olive oil and had ZERO lather. LOL! I think that SFIC base is perfect as is. I do love the dry milks in some of my variatations. Did you really add lotion to your MP base? That sounds so interesting and I always pondered doing that, but did your finished soaps get a lot softer?

[prairieannie]

I generally use SFIC soap base. I have used oatmeal, honey, powdered milks (which happens to be my favorite), vitamin E, herbs, all kinds of exfoliants, etc... Adding oils and/or butters in small quantities makes a very slick and softer bar with practically no lather. Perhaps the base that you are using can handle such a change. I have also added some olive oil and had ZERO lather. LOL! I think that SFIC base is perfect as is. I do love the dry milks in some of my variatations. Did you really add lotion to your MP base? That sounds so interesting and I always pondered doing that, but did your finished soaps get a lot softer?

Hehe, yeah, I really did add lotion. I'll have to dig up that recipe. It wasn't much, I think around 2tsp pp of mp base. The finished soap was no different in it's softness, but the lather was nice and creamy for sure. I have to admit, with my MP soap, I measure like a fool. I highly doubt if I've ever had 2 recipes turn out exactly the same. MP soap has been very forgiving in that respect for me, which is one of the reasons that I enjoy doing it probably a little more than I enjoy making CP soap.

[Pam W]

Well that sucks! What kind of MP base do you use? I haven't made an MP soap yet that doesn't lather. I've made several that don't have a ton of big ol bubbles though. There's always some, but when I make a luxury bar they aren't as big and free flowing! Lather is always present though, and lots of it!

I've been experimenting a little with additives. The base that I'm using (BB's) by itself gives a instant, frothy-bubbles; the Castor Oil changes that to a thick, creamy lather which I like better.

Shea butter made the bars moisturizing but too much did raise havoc with the lather.

[Noodle]

Shea butter made the bars moisturizing but too much did raise havoc with the lather.

Exactly! If you put in a decent amount of shea, it is goodbye lather. If you put in too little, how can you really call it a shea butter soap?

Now about lotion in soap base.... I always like creamy lather. So I am going to try the lotion for the heck of it.

[prairieannie]

When the weather cools down we might have to think about doing a MP swap huh? Maybe a Ultra Additive MP type thing? Recipes included?? It's too damn hot right now to even consider it for me, I have enough on my plate with the shop and the wholesale accounts, BUT.. come fall, I'll be much more energetic lol!

[firegirl]

When the weather cools down we might have to think about doing a MP swap huh? Maybe a Ultra Additive MP type thing? Recipes included?? It's too damn hot right now to even consider it for me, I have enough on my plate with the shop and the wholesale accounts, BUT.. come fall, I'll be much more energetic lol!

Okay Prairieannie.. I am new to this MP soaping and I want in on the Ultra Additive swap too! Please let me know when it cools down enough for ya! I was given what is sounding like an amazing recipe with Goats Milk MP and I want to give it a try, and get the opinion from gals like you that have the experience. THanks!

Teri

[gagal40]

hey...me too...addicted...can't stop getting on line to find out more and more.

[Darwin]

I almost always add castor oil. I think it actually helps the lather. I add about 1 tsp per lb.

[Brandyanne]

I think your soaps look wonderful- did the honey make them that color or did you add color?

[LynnS]

I just add skin safe FO.I might try a couple things like shea butter but I am like one person.If it isn't broken why fix it? I do not color for the reason I think what is in the MP is a good soap.Like Goat's Milk and Honey MP so I have what I want in the soap base itself.JUST NEED some scent.

LynnS

[Brandyanne]

Thanks- I think I am going to give this a try!

[angiestaff]

What about Calamine powder-has anyone added this to MP, I purchased some in hopes of making a calamine soap for posion ivy for my mom who seems to find PI on a regular basis. I haven't researched it enough to see how much to add yet but figured it wouldn't hurt to have the calamine powder here just incase I find the time.

Angiestaff