Recent content by northwoodsgal

Yes! Sweetcakes is pricey. I've avoided them for that, but they're supposed to be great. I've had some good luck with Rustic Escentuals because they sell at affordable prices to test fragrances. That's how I discovered Succulent Aloe for Irish Spring. My guess is you'll like the White Tea &...

Oh and this website also has a nice overview on oils, although I find Susan's book more manageable: http://summerbeemeadow.com/content/properties-soapmaking-oils

I use the Brambleberry app and it's all I use now. In their main app, I use their lye calculator. You can add any weight from the huge list of oils, even the exotic oils. I store my different recipes for different weights or depending on the mold. For example I save the recipe and title it...

I haven't tried the Sweetcakes FO, but my husband also loves Irish Spring. We discovered quite accidentally that the "Succulent Aloe" FO from Rustic Escentuals smells like Irish Spring after the saponification and curing process (in a pure olive, 76 coconut & refined Shea CP soap, soaped at 100...

I typically work with soap, but used to do candle making with wax based candle dye. I'm assuming your dye is wax based (soy, beeswax, parrafin etc?). Either way, I've found Goo Gone to be invaluable in getting stains out. They make specific products for fabric stains but I've used regular goo...

That was very helpful! Thank you! That article didn't come up in my web browser. C'est la vie. Time will tell, but it looks like it's going to be brown soap.

Currently typing this with the tip of my pointer finger slightly shaved off from my soap planer. I wasn't even trimming soap! Just moving the planer back to storage! I always trim my soaps with the planer, using an oven mitt, but it got me anyway.

I LOVE that bright red swirl soap and in general, really enjoy all the soap pics you post! Out of curiosity... Does that red soap create red lather?

Looked through the thread database and couldn't find anything on a general vanilla discussion. I avoid any vanilla FO in my CP soap because I tend to make really bright soaps. I accidentally bought a fruit scented FO that had 2% vanilla content-- wasn't listed on website or bottle. I was trying...

That mint green layer bar is dreamy! So elegant!

Provided the soap was safe to use from the beginning (passed the zap/PH test), then it will continue to be safe to use with DOS. You can refer to this great article by Kevin Dunn on DOS and how to manage it. I've found that in general, he is an invaluable resource to understand the chemistry of...

Hi mrscow-- I totally understand your predicament of getting local access to NaOH (sodium hydroxide). Don't know if you have access to a Lowes in your area, but I use this "drain cleaner" in a pinch when I'm out of lye that I've ordered online. It's granular sodium hydroxide (without...

Trimmed up some of my holiday gift soaps. Getting organized for sending out a bar of soap to family and friends in lieu of cookies this year.

So excited about the results Very much looking forward to the results!

Wow! Great reviews Your fragrance reviews are amazing! I'm new around here, but have been snooping around without being a member for a long time. I've been so very grateful for the usefulness of the Fragrance Oil Chart Review Database and your reviews. Thank you!!