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I made soap for the first time in my new house and I already ruined my kitchen island. It's my own fault for not laying down a protective layer, but a soap bowl or lye bowl must have somehow been dripping and created a ring in my dark quartz counter. It looks like the top layer of colorant has...

I tried some WSP/Crafter's Choice Caribbean Coconut FO after reviews on WSP and on the coconut experiment thread in SMF. It smelled just as described OOB, but IMMEDIATELY faded to a faint gingerbread smell after cure. I soaped at 110 F and gelled, with no colorant. So disappointing. Just...

I tried my hand at piping soap for the first time ever (well, piping anything for the first time ever.) Originally I wanted to enter this month's GC soap challenge, but I spent a week out of state during prime entry-making time. Oh well, I still got some practice in.

I had a big batch of herb infused OO sitting around waiting for my lazy butt to do a castile. Then I was making some mashed potatoes and remembered a thread on SMF about using potato water for liquid dish soap. I looked but couldn't find any "after" photos of a potato-water-for-water bar, so I...

These are old soaps using my favorite recipe of the past year. I usually have trouble with my edges getting ashy and crumbly, and I'm an impatient un-molder. These soaps have a lovely smooth semi-opacity with no ash, and unmold beautifully with sodium lactate. Like most milk soaps they have...

I'm forever looking for suppliers in the PNW to save on shipping costs. Just found one that looks to be a good source of raw materials for bath/body. Has anyone ordered from organic-creations.com? I was impressed by their selection of hydrosols and proprietary bases. A couple of the unrefined...

Looking to formulate my first hair conditioner, and hoping some more experienced lotion/hair crafters have guidance. I'm looking at Lotioncrafter as a supplier primarily because of their location 1. This supplier offers a number of hydrolized proteins, and I'd like to try one. What is the...

I cut two batches of 100% coconut w/ 20% SF, 50% salt bars about 10 days ago. Tried to put some paper labels on last night and the soap seeped some kind of moisture onto the inside of the label. (Not a ton, just enough to darken the paper in the inside creases.) Is this probably evaporated water...

Sometimes when I'm too busy to soap that week I'll watch soaping videos on YouTube to get my "fix." But oh my gosh, some can get so annoying. One was a full five minutes of talking, focused on a still shot of her gloved hands, before she started mixing all ingredients. In real time. Gosh I...

Anyone work with an FO that gave them crazy food cravings? Maybe because I'm preggo but when I got a sample of Honey Bee in the mail, I had to have two pieces of toast with honey and orange tea with honey. I might order a huuuuge bottle.

My latest few batches of CP have been crumbly in the corners with a tendency to flake when cut by wire, and have all had a pretty dull/powdery finish. They aren't lye heavy, and are otherwise fine soaps. I'm using a pretty standard 30/30/30 type recipe with 36% water and 6% Sf, so my prime...

Shaving soap isn't particularly artistic or photogenic, but I'm just so happy I made it! I first made a tallow version of Songwind's recipe about a year ago. I finally got around to making a new version when I got a pound of bison tallow in the mail. This is 90% KOH/10% NaOH, stearic...

After struggling with stearic spots for my last few batches, I did a simple batch with grocery store lard. It turned out perfect. **** it. Still have a 5 gal bucket of palm to work through. 30/30/30 olive/lard/coconut + castor + avocado oil, scented with NDA Lime FO

I got my hands on a pound of free range bison tallow and plan to use it in shaving soap. From past threads it looks like SAP value is very close to beef tallow. However appearance is more yellow vs. ivory. Soapcalc doesn't have values for different fatty acid properties. Has anyone else used...

A little less than 8 weeks until Valentine's day! I'm thinking hard about what I want to do. Already ordered some of my favorite florals (NDA gardenia, Aztec Romance dupe, NDA midnight jasmine). But I also want to do something a little different. Not heart-themed or red or pink. Also not...

Has anyone soaped with BB Rustic Woods and Rum yet? It's a newer FO. I dislike it so much OOB I'm hesitating to actually use it. (OOB smells like a fruity cheap rum.) Reviews claim it mellows, but unless it turns completely autumnal I'm not sure I'll ever like it.

I've made two batches with buttermilk powder that have turned out really crummy and dry-looking. I'll try to post a picture, but the problem is texture: it pours smooth, but dries very matte with lots of evenly-distributed, very tiny white bumps. I think this may be unmixed powder, but I'm not...

Just wanted to share my recent success because you all will understand better than anyone! I am a complete hobbyist, every soap batch is an experiment, and I buy whatever supplies I like even if not the cheapest. I've been soaping for two years. However a couple months ago I heard about a new...

I've been shopping FOs extensively (restock!) and stumbled across some good deals. Aztec: $5 for 5 1 oz samples with coupon code $1JULY Free 1 oz FO with every 8+ oz bottle purchased Chemistry Store: A couple FOs left at 50% off Soapalooza: Free shipping all week (lower 48 states) with...

I just finished my first fragrance sample test! Usually I go whole hog with a 2-3 lb loaf but this time I actually did it right and tested all of my little dingly fragrances in individual guest soap molds. I tested: Liberty Naturals: Bee Balm (EO) Save on Scents: Guy Vanilla Tobacco...