topofmurrayhill Posted July 7, 2007 Share Posted July 7, 2007 Recently I was asking some advice about formulating a hand soap and this is what I ended up making. I'm really optimistic about the recipe. It lathered up beautifully right out of the mold and was pretty gentle on the skin for newborn soap. Something about the surface texture and the way it's curing seems good too. These are the SoapCalc numbers for it:Hardness 44Cleansing 24Conditioning 52Bubbly 24Creamy 20Iodine 62INS 152It's fragranced at 0.8 oz ppo with Shaw Mudge Red Currant, which BTW soaps with zero troubles. Coloring is Select Shades.I won't bore you with the story of why, but this batch ended up going into the mold at the thinnest possible trace. I mean seriously, it was the flattest top you ever saw on a mold full of soap. I just left it alone for a few days in a warm place and it firmed up beautifully, but I did have to use a soap cutter around the sides to make it part ways with my Doright mold.Since I use a loaf mold, I add swirl color squiggles in layers. This soap ended up mainly swirling itself because of the thin consistency. I just gave it a little extra help.Oh yeah, and (oops) could this be moved to the gallery please. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SpaceGirl Posted July 8, 2007 Share Posted July 8, 2007 Those look absolutely gorgeous. Wow!Are the balls leftovers from cleaning up the bars? What a neat way to salvage them! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
topofmurrayhill Posted July 8, 2007 Author Share Posted July 8, 2007 Are the balls leftovers from cleaning up the bars? What a neat way to salvage them!Yeah I saw the soap balls thing on the Miller site and did it. I decided that planing and beveling is my style, so it's good to have a way of putting the scraps to use. Thanks for your comments. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mystical_angel1219 Posted July 8, 2007 Share Posted July 8, 2007 Beautiful soap and the coloring is totally lush. :highfive: I always pour at super thin trace as well. It makes a world of different on how the smooth and shiny the soap comes out after it goes out of the mold.Great work, you've made some very impressive soaps already. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brenda Posted July 8, 2007 Share Posted July 8, 2007 Gorgeous soaps! Love the coloring and the way you've planed and beveled!I make soap balls from my trimmings as well. It's tradition for me to hand them out to my 4th grade students about twice a year. So, nothing goes to waste!Obviously, you're a "natural" soaper! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blest2BAmerican Posted July 8, 2007 Share Posted July 8, 2007 Beautiful soap! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DONNAMAC Posted July 8, 2007 Share Posted July 8, 2007 Those are very pretty, I love the color. How important is the trace.? I am thinking that as long as everything is well blended and it has gelled, that the soap is soap. Does anyone know what the trace is actually for? I did a batch yesterday and just blended until I thought it may come to trace, and poured very thin, unmolded it today and it was fine. Firmed up very nice, smelled good, and I didn't get zapped. I am just thinking I might start doing this more. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eugenia Posted July 8, 2007 Share Posted July 8, 2007 Top, those look excellent! You are such a quick study. Way to go!e Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Di_in_AZ Posted July 8, 2007 Share Posted July 8, 2007 Wow Top those are absolutely beautiful, I imagine they smell great too Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spatreats4u Posted July 8, 2007 Share Posted July 8, 2007 beautiful!!!!!!!!!!! A+++ I love the soap balls Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
topofmurrayhill Posted July 8, 2007 Author Share Posted July 8, 2007 How important is the trace.? I am thinking that as long as everything is well blended and it has gelled, that the soap is soap. Does anyone know what the trace is actually for? I did a batch yesterday and just blended until I thought it may come to trace, and poured very thin, unmolded it today and it was fine.I bet you're right. My take on it is trace can give you an indication of how much head start the soap has gotten firming up. With a very fast recipe the question may be whether you have time to get it fully emulsified and mixed before that. With a slower recipe you have ample time to mix and can pour it very thin if you like, but sometimes you may have to wait a while. Mine was still pudding after 8 hours in the mold, but now it's transformed into good hard bars that came out really nice.I think I might do this more often too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tangerine Posted July 8, 2007 Share Posted July 8, 2007 Top, your soap looks lovely! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CBE Posted July 8, 2007 Share Posted July 8, 2007 Purty Bars!!! They look absolutely DELISH Top!!!! I bet they smell delish too!!! Love the colors you used! I say....... A+ !!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
marika Posted July 8, 2007 Share Posted July 8, 2007 Great looking!Mari Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AnitaG Posted July 8, 2007 Share Posted July 8, 2007 Beautiful color. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Meridith Posted July 8, 2007 Share Posted July 8, 2007 I pour at thin trace as well. I think it is the way to go. Your bars are just beautiful. Totally loving the color and swirls. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
idacandlelady Posted July 8, 2007 Share Posted July 8, 2007 Those are very nice soaps! I have been pouring at very thin trace also. My batches seem to come out a lot nicer looking that way! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
topofmurrayhill Posted July 8, 2007 Author Share Posted July 8, 2007 Thanks for all the nice comments.As you go along I guess you figure out what kind of soaper you are. I'm a planer and beveler. I'm a room-temperature guy. And now I think I'm a thinnest-trace pourer, LOL.This kind of swirl can be a signature look for me, but I also want to try the more distinct ITM swirls, just to say I can do it. For that I'll need to do a batch at a thicker trace. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RobinInOR Posted July 8, 2007 Share Posted July 8, 2007 Thread moved.And those are very pretty indeed! Great color.I usually pour at thick, but have done it super thin too - poured just after everything emulsified. I usually get more ash that way, but it does let you play with colors more. I'm a rustic/non trimmer - thick - cold lye gal myself Though I did just polish and bevel my wedding favor order, and it looks really cool. So shiny and smooth. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wickerbeal Posted July 9, 2007 Share Posted July 9, 2007 Very pretty soap, bet it smells wonderful too! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jujutwin Posted July 9, 2007 Share Posted July 9, 2007 Really beautiful! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
topofmurrayhill Posted July 9, 2007 Author Share Posted July 9, 2007 I usually pour at thick, but have done it super thin too - poured just after everything emulsified. I usually get more ash that way, but it does let you play with colors more.That's a good observation. I had a film of ash over the top of the loaf. The way I finish the bars it doesn't matter at all but for others it might. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shannon WY Posted July 9, 2007 Share Posted July 9, 2007 Great looking soap- love the color and swirls. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tara Posted July 9, 2007 Share Posted July 9, 2007 Those are beautiful!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MsDammit Posted July 9, 2007 Share Posted July 9, 2007 Hey you have the same countertop as me. Soap looks good too! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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