Brenda Posted July 4, 2006 Share Posted July 4, 2006 What do you do when your 4th of July guests leave and you have a little time before the evening's scheduled campfire? Make your first salt bars, of course. It does seem just a little obsessive, doesn't it? Here's the batch in the mold swirled with a little Black Cherry mica. I used about 10% monoi in with all that regular coconut, so am hoping for a little scent in these bars. I hope they turn out!Thanks for looking! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jwahlton Posted July 5, 2006 Share Posted July 5, 2006 WOW, I'm the first to see these Those look great Brenda. Do you make your lye ahead of time so that you can make these wonderful batches at a whim? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brenda Posted July 5, 2006 Author Share Posted July 5, 2006 Do you make your lye ahead of time so that you can make these wonderful batches at a whim?Nope! I always make my lye as I need it. But I will admit that I put the lye pitcher in an ice water bath this time to get it cool fast enough. Thanks, Julia! Didn't get to stay out at the campfire very long tonight. :undecided Husband has to get up very early for work tomorrow morning. So now I can keep a close eye on the soap. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Darwin Posted July 5, 2006 Share Posted July 5, 2006 Absolutley beautiful. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
the_amber_woods Posted July 5, 2006 Share Posted July 5, 2006 Ohhhhh Pretty! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CandleFreak Posted July 5, 2006 Share Posted July 5, 2006 I'm always loving your soaps....swirls are pretty!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kaybee23 Posted July 5, 2006 Share Posted July 5, 2006 Beautiful bars Brenda Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thecandlespastore Posted July 5, 2006 Share Posted July 5, 2006 ***looking at clock....it must be time to cut them already....growing impatient over here to see what those look like cut up, hehehe. You're obsessed? I am the obsessed one here! That's it, I'm making my first batch tomorrow! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mystical_angel1219 Posted July 5, 2006 Share Posted July 5, 2006 Looks fabulous. Can't wait to see it out of captivity! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Luvcandletarts2 Posted July 5, 2006 Share Posted July 5, 2006 Woo hoo, another beautiful soap. Can't wait to see it cut! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Purple Lilac Posted July 5, 2006 Share Posted July 5, 2006 There is no doubt, they will be great. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scented Posted July 5, 2006 Share Posted July 5, 2006 These are so gorgeous! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AnitaG Posted July 5, 2006 Share Posted July 5, 2006 That's so pretty Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grumpy Girl Posted July 5, 2006 Share Posted July 5, 2006 Very nice! Did you use any FO with the monoi at all? One of these days I'm going to swirl like that, I swear! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MaryinCary Posted July 5, 2006 Share Posted July 5, 2006 Sheesh....thats real pretty! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brenda Posted July 5, 2006 Author Share Posted July 5, 2006 Well...I've cut the bars, but they are not all trimmed up because I have made the world's shortest salt bars! I adjusted the size of my recipe and reduced it too much and now the bars are way too thin - rather like brownies baked in a too-large pan. Plus, they are sweating like the dickens today, so I'm not handling them anymore right now. Is this normal? I saw that carolgrant mentioned hers "sweating" too. Grumpy - I didn't add any scent to the batch, just the monoi. You can smell it in the finished soap at a low level. Might increase the percentage of that in the next try. And try swirling in the pot plus saving some soap out to dress the top with a swirl so there is color throughout in each bar. Plus I'll gel the next batch - I didn't gel these. I LOVE the micas for coloring. So easy to incorporate. Thanks for looking! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CareBear Posted July 5, 2006 Share Posted July 5, 2006 I LOVE them! I know what you mean about too thin, mine were just a little too thin too. How do you calculate the proper batch weight? (I can do volume, but don't know the density of soap, salt or otherwise). Anyone got a rule of thumb?What level did yo udo the monoi? I want to use it but I'm too cheap to use any ore than necessary! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brenda Posted July 5, 2006 Author Share Posted July 5, 2006 Thanks, Carol - I halved my normal recipe so next time I will reduce it only by one-third and it might work out okay. Just guess work, so if anyone has a specific formula...I'm all EARS!I used roughly 10% monoi...I say roughly because I spilled some :rolleyes2 and had to make up the ounce or two difference with the plain coconut. The scent does come through enough for me, but perhaps not for those who prefer a stronger scent. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thecandlespastore Posted July 5, 2006 Share Posted July 5, 2006 Those bars look wonderful even if you think they are too thin.I believe the formula is L x W x H x .4 to calculate how much oils will fill your mold to a certain level. Let's say you have a mold that is 12 inches wide, 10.5 inches long, and 5" deep. If you want your soap to be 1" thick, instead of multiplying 10.5 x 12 x 5 x .4 do 10.5 x 12 x 1 x .4 instead. It will give you the fluid ounces you need to make 1" thick soap in the mold. Just vary the depth number by what you want. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Christy Doc Holley Posted July 5, 2006 Share Posted July 5, 2006 they look nice but why didn't you gel them ? that could be why they are sweating . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brenda Posted July 5, 2006 Author Share Posted July 5, 2006 they look nice but why didn't you gel them ? that could be why they are sweating .That's a very good question and I've been trying to figure out what I was thinking yesterday. :rolleyes2 I'm going to try it again and this time force it to gel thoroughly! ...and up the oils too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Christy Doc Holley Posted July 5, 2006 Share Posted July 5, 2006 That's a very good question and I've been trying to figure out what I was thinking yesterday. :rolleyes2 I'm going to try it again and this time force it to gel thoroughly! ...and up the oils too.I always force gel but I don't use abunch of different oils either .Ive used vco and regular co and I think one time I used babuso oil ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tonyalc Posted July 5, 2006 Share Posted July 5, 2006 Wow Brenda!! Those look GREAT! Your swirls are mighty fine-they're perfect!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
von691 Posted July 5, 2006 Share Posted July 5, 2006 very nice job, love the swirls Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MsDammit Posted July 6, 2006 Share Posted July 6, 2006 ooh those swirls, sighhhhhhhh. U need to open up a swirl school for the swirl challenged! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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