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naninkansas

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SOAP ON A STICK!!

Being the adventerous person (aka 'sometimes not so bright') I decided to try Pine Tar soap for my sis that has exzema. I've made 4 batches of soap so far and figured I might give this a try.

I also learned that pine tar is not the most pleasant smelling stuff around. I scented it with Eucalyptus and Tea Tree Oil so hopefully it'll smell obnoxious in a 'better' way.

Oh, and pine tar is MESSY.

But, the soap is in the mold so time will tell.

BTW, I want to get my post count up but everytime I have a question I do a search and find my answer....... I'm not a very chatty person, so at this rate I'll never get my post count up!

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I didn't check the temps with a thermometer (need to get one). I let them cool, but I know they were warmer than room temp. I added the fragrance to the tar/oil mix before mixing in the lye because I was afraid I wouldn't have time to after. I used my stick blender for less than a minute, then used the whisk, but wow, was it fast!

I'm anxious to see if it turns out. If it does I will give it all to my sis and tell her to MAKE IT LAST! :)

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Thank you. I'll look for a thermometer next time I'm in town!:)

Where in this soggy state are you?

You could always mix your oils and let them sit overnight. E might slap my hands for this, but I wait till the containers of my oils are cold to the touch, about 4 hours works for me.

I also add scent before the lye water.

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You could always mix your oils and let them sit overnight. E might slap my hands for this, but I wait till the containers of my oils are cold to the touch, about 4 hours works for me.

I also add scent before the lye water.

Not at all. I've done several hours, as long as they are cool. I add the scent to the oils as well, unless I know it will discolor.

e

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Hi Scented. I'm between Wichita and Hutchinson, right off 96. Itty bitty place called Mount Hope. Where are you?

I need to learn to be more patient. I fix the lye water, then measure and melt the oils and wait. :waiting: Obviously not long enough though! :rolleyes2

I like the idea of getting the stuff ready the night before though.

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For pine tar soaps I recommend using full water, soaping relatively cool and melting your pine tar with some reserved oil from your batch and adding the tar/oil mix at trace.

Don't try to stickblend the tar/oil mixture into the traced soap, it's better to whisk it by hand.

I've noticed that PT soap takes longer to cure, it will feel pretty sticky for a while, especially if you use a large percentage of pine tar.

Nothing will cover that scent, but it does mellow over time to something almost pleasant.

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Thank you all for the advise. I'm not sure that I'll ever be making this again, but if I do I will heed your words.

It ended up looking like some of the nastiest, lumpiest, most disgusting stuff I'd ever seen.:( I almost pitched it, but since it was soft I thought why not try to melt it down and do something to salvage it. So I cut it up and threw it into the double boiler, added a little water and beat the crappola out of it when it melted. I put it back into the mold and it now looks like soap. It's been cut and is curing so we'll see.

Thanks again.

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glad you rescued it.

yep room temp oils, room temp lye solution. measure your pine tar (I use 20%) into a disposable cup with a plastic spoon. stir - don't let your SB get near it. I don't even have to whisk.

I like the mild wood-fire scent of the brand of pine tar I use, but I know some are stinky. And after a couple of months there is almost no scent of it left. I didn't use any EOs or FOs either.

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