Recent content by Cassie

An update, I did find a macadamia nut oil manufacturer on Maui! It's not the cheapest but not the most expensive either, $0.35 per oz before factoring in shipping. I'm planning on ordering some to see how it is in soap and body butters/lotion bars. Also I did end up making a test soap batch...

Kukui nut oil is so great for restoring dry damaged skin! Unfortunately it costs an arm and a leg down here just like everywhere else 😭 There are large soap makers down here that use kukui nut oil (North Shore Soap Factory) so there must be a wholesaler with reasonable prices but I just haven't...

I wish! If there is a local wholesaler here, I haven't found them and the small amounts they sell at the store are expensive! A 4oz bottle of kukui nut oil at the store is $16 :eek: and it's usually not pure kukui. I don't think I've ever actually seen macadamia nut oil sold in stores here even...

I've made 100% olive oil soaps in the past. It wasn't my favorite but one of my friends really liked it. Though for soap embeds I do a 70% oo and 30% co for simplicity. I actually made 2 batches of the 3rd recipe I listed on Tuesday but added a very small amount of honey and they're pretty hard...

Thank you for the replies on suggestions for alternate oils/butters. I was wondering if anyone had experience using kokum butter in soap? If so, do you have any recommended suppliers? I have read that it's slightly harder than shea and less greasy. I try to use oils/butters I can use in both...

Hi all, I have been making cp soap for a few years now but I was wanting to tweak my recipes. I currently use soapcalc.net but is there a better way to figure out possible soap qualities? I have read on some threads that soapcalc.net is not the most accurate in terms of hardness when olive oil...

Yeah I think the temperature really made a difference. I made a batch last night at around 100 degrees F and it was much easier to work with!

An update: I took your advice and increased the amount of shea butter, decreased the amount of olive oil and avocado oil, and soaped at around 100 degrees F and it worked great! I had plenty of time to play with colors. Thanks again!

I checked and I'm pretty sure I have soft water. Thanks for the link!

I'll try doing that! Thanks for the advice! I think I may have the exact same pour measuring cups too XD

Ahhh I see. The hardness of water is not something commonly talked about in Hawaii and I've never lived anywhere else. I guess I can kind of tell though because our water definitely tastes different from water in California or other places on the mainland. Everyone just drinks tap water here so...

I started reading your comment and I was wondering what oleic meant! Thanks for the info! I will definitely be looking in to sunflower and canola, Thanks!!

Oooooh I didn't even realize all those things were palm! I'm face palming myself right now, I didn't even think to look at shortenings! I will pick up some veg shortening and try it out, thanks!

Ooh I've never used soapcalc, I've only used the lye calculator with bramble berry. I will try your suggestions and use soapcalc to tweak it. Thanks for the suggestions!

Hmm, I'm not sure. I've never tested my water but I do filter it twice, though it's not distilled. How do you know if you have hard water? I live in Hawaii and to my knowledge, we don't add fluoride or chlorine to our water.