Recent content by anniet8777

I love my coconut milk soap but have never tried using buttermilk. I’m just experimenting. This is also my first time trying a 50% Olive oil recipe as my typical recipe is at least 40% lard. I’m wondering if rather then putting in my loaf mold to put in individual molds instead, because I put...

So do you think it’s overkill adding the buttermilk powder? I am absolutely loving my soaps with the added coconut milk. The creaminess is amazing. Since I don’t use full coconut milk, I thought adding a little buttermilk powder to the mix would make it even more luxurious.

This recipe is 50% OO, 10% Coconut oil, 20% Lard, 5% Shea, 5% Cocoa butter, 10% Castor. 6% SF. My lye concentration is 30%. My temps of oils/lye mixture were at 115 degrees when I mixed. This is cold process.

Twice now my newly made soap ended up with heat tunnels with oil oozing out of it. The first time, I believe I allowed it to get too hot by insulting. This time I didn’t insulate and the room was cool. I did add 1/3 of the liquid as coconut milk which I do with all my soaps but this time I...

Thanks! Sounds like a good plan!

This was my thought too. I’ve done many batches with no separation until recently. And my separation wasn’t mild. Nor have I ever noticed my batter boiling until recently so it makes sense to me that my batter just got too hot.

Thankyou for your helpful information!! I’ve had many successful batches in this same crock but have experimented with slightly changed ingredients. I used to use only lard for my 45 to 55% but have recently added a bit of the gv shortening lessening my percentage of lard. I think I’ll try...

Yes, I’ve only used it on the low setting.

Yeah, I’m thinking my crock is ready to be thrown away. I haven’t had any issues until recently. I have revised my recipe a bit but no major changes. I was thinking of trying my hand at CPOP and/or buying a new crock. And I use the aloe juice. No alcohol.

I’m super frustrated, this is my 3rd batch of hot process soap in which the oils have separated during the cook. Fortunately I was able to re-emulsify with the stick blender but this is becoming too time consuming trying to fix it. I’m wondering if my crock is getting too hot. I have it on low...

Can someone please recommend a good economical soap cutter? At this time I’m making soap on a small scale using a wavy cutter slicing free hand. I find I’m not that great at getting a uniform size with my soaps. I don’t need a big fancy cutter that cuts the whole loaf at once but would like a...

I will try that next!! I work the next 6 days 12 hour shifts but look forward to trying my next batch next week! Today’s recipe is babassu 10%, coconut 5%, lard 40%, shea 5%, cocoa 5%, olive 20%, avocado oil 10%, castor oil 5% with goats milk as the liquid. I went out and bought a cheap 4qt...

Thankyou all so much for your wisdom! I have all my soaps lined up on my craft table waiting to be cured. I do enjoy using the small ends I cut off to try in advance but it’s good to know they will improve after curing. I’m making the lard recipe now that was recommended by one of you. I’m...

Since I’m using hot process I sample a bit the day I remove from molds but I’ve been keeping the sliced bars out to cure. I’ve not stored them yet. They’re just collecting on my craft table. I was thinking up to 4 weeks then store in lunch type paper bags so they can breath? I don’t have a ton...

So one more question, I bought my lard at Walmart. I got both the Armour Lard and the Armour premium all natural lard. Does it matter which one I use the premium was double the price.