Recent content by LiliKuenca

I may be another one that doesn't use castor oil anymore. My decision was primarily financial as in the UK is a bit expensive and couldn't justified using it. Good later without it but good to try it and see if it makes any visible difference.

Hello Everyone. My name is Liliana and I have been making soap since 2020. I set up my business last year and taking it very slowly. I have a full time job that pays for everything so I'm being strategic let's say. So probably one market a month, building up my local customers and making my...

Yes that's correct. We can only use synthetic indigo. I use chlorella for green. It does fade with time but if left in a place where direct light doesn't hit it, it can last for a few weeks. I only use plant colourants and i don't mind fading. That's what natural colourants do!

This seems to be a bit old but hopefully the author is still looking for an answer. I have used madder and h.rhubarb with better and more durable results with rhubarb. I get a super deep purple but I'm sure i can get a lighter one if i use less of both (obviously). My recipe is 50% OO so i...

Ahhh definitely. My first time doing anything with natural colorants is because I came across Jo's post is modern soapmaking. I'll be forever grateful.

Thank you all for your replies. @DeeAnna: Yes it was fascinating to watch. I couldn't believe my eyes. Is there anything on my recipe, apart from the 25% butters that I may be doing wrong or that probably I should change? Probably going a bit higher on the olive oil? In any case, I'll try a...

Hi all I have one question I could use some help with (Q#1) and another one (Q#2) just more "has somebody seen this before" kind of question. My recipe is at the end (if you are still with me by then =) I made a coffee replacement soap last night. It reached traced well and didn't seem to take...

Hi Arimara. I've double checked my superfat with soap calc and the soap making friend calculator and for both the superfat corresponds to 5% (I didn't do the calc manually though). I still haven't tried this with higher lye concentration but that's my next task.

Yes. Solid at room temperature.

Thank you Todd. Your comment made me think and I did I little research and it seems like it doesn't make a difference as Arimara said. But yes it's strange. After 3 days the bar is ok-ish. If I squeeze it I leave a mark so still soft! I did exactly the same recipe 2 days before this one without...

Thank you DeeAnna. I will definitely try with higher lye concentration. Thank you again!

DeeAnna Thank you very much for taking your time to reply to this and I have made a note of all your comments (fair enough on the units). And yes close to the 500 g but 5% superfat and it was light trace (I was trying to do the pointy layers from Treemarie). In terms of the gelling, I can see...

You mean my balance? No I haven't as I have just bought it. Do you think that could be it? What about the atmospheric humidity. It has been around 75% and above all week.

Hi Good morning. I have a question that has me puzzled. I made the following recipe: Organic virgin coconut oil: 35% Cocoa butter: 14% Olive oil: 35% Sweet almond: 9% Castor oil: 7% From Soapmaking friend: Lye: 67.7 g (31% concentration) water: 150.5 g Added 1 t PPO of sodium lactate Soaped at...