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    "chamois cream" bicyclists' butt cream

    Lanolin and...?
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    "chamois cream" bicyclists' butt cream

    OK, I'm primarily a soap maker, but(t) I'm also a bicyclist. Chamois cream is what they call the stuff you put on your butt when cycling to reduce chafe when you ride on a narrow bike seat for a hundred miles or in my case, less. (it gets it's name from the leather insert portion of bicycle...
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    African Black soap?

    I'm interested in making black soap, but not in using the original African Black Soap process. It would seem that in that process, the dark color comes from the charcoal that is produced when they make their lye or potash. So... why not simply add charcoal powder to your favorite recipe...
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    I made Castile Soap last night...

    This is exactly the issue I framed in my post about the 'gel pattern remaining." I'd like to get the answer. I just made a batch that was identical to my last that gelled 90% or so and kept that pattern after curing. This time the only change I made was to increase my water to oils...
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    Gel stage color pattern remains

    I left out what may be a critical part of the recipe, the discount. I use less lye than when I started, about a 14-15% discount. This may account for a gel stage that only takes place fully in the center 95 (or so)% of the soap. I fully insulate the soap for 24 hours.
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    Gel stage color pattern remains

    As far as I can tell, this has no effect on the quality of the soap, but I've noticed that my cured soap retains a different, darker color in the center. This is equivalent to the gel stage pattern. Most of the log stays slightly darker, with the outer edges whiter. Why does this happen...
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    Natural Green Colour

    Natural chlorophyll, usually made from alfalfa, is a great colorant. You can get a great, dark green. I've used it to marble white CP soaps, mixing it with a little oil and adding to mold after pouring. I haven't used it to make a solid green soap, you'd just have to experiment with how...
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    Sources of non-traditional oils

    Thanks Paul. I'm really looking forward to using the cutter. I'll try local pool supply folks for prices. Shipping costs really take a bite.
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    Sources of non-traditional oils

    Paul, I'm looking for a good source for lye. I know you buy yours in bulk at a good price. If possible I'm looking for a local supplier to shave on shipping costs. I live in an agricultural area and wondered if caustic soda is used in that industry. I get my soy and olive oil at Costco at a...
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    What is your best/easiest soapmaking recipe?

    85% and 75% Coconut Recipes After following Paul's 100% coconut oil, 20% discount with good results, I've been experimenting, gradually replacing some of the coconut and lowering the discount to 15% to compensate for using softer oils. These have become my favorite batches so far, 'tho they...
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    Strange Smelling Soap

    No, didn't burn it. My earlier batches using goat milk used no added scents and no problem. I always cool or partially freeze my water or goat milk before addin lye. This last time, I froze the goat milk solid before adding lye. It was about 89 F when I added the oils, which were about...
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    Strange Smelling Soap

    I had a batch of soap result in an off smell. Not really bad, just not appealing; worse than if I hadn't scented it at all. Couldn't figure it out, but today I made another with the same smell, tho weaker. Only common denominator is goat milk. I've made soap with goat's milk before and...
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    Lather like Shaving Cream

    What oils or other additives contribute to a soap having a thick, dense, shaving cream like lather? Castor oil? Shea butter? sweet almond? coconut?
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    What is your best/easiest soapmaking recipe?

    I went ahead and made some, 20% discount, water 30% of oil. 100% coconut oil. Actual recipe: 1650 grams of coconut oil, 495 g water, 242 g lye. + 10 g sodium lactate, an eye dropper of grapefruit extract and 2 oz. 'Bugoff,' a proprietary blend from Oregon trail. I held out a little soap for...
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    What is your best/easiest soapmaking recipe?

    Great, Paul! Just like you, I plan to tinker with this, adding maybe a little castor oil and shea butter. Since coconut oil is such a great soap oil for many reasons, and the only knock on using recipes of 100% coco is the supposed dryness/harshness, I'm very pleased to experiment. I've...
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    Lye Percentage Discount Superfatting

    The more I read the less I know. The lye calulators I've looked at suggest a discount of 5 to 8%, but other expert soapiers like Susan Miller Cavitch and Paul talk about using 10%, 15% and even 20% (at least with certain oils such as coconut. Please check my assumptions: The higher the...
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    What is your best/easiest soapmaking recipe?

    This seems almost too good to be true. The downside to a 20% discount is that the remaining oil may go rancid or otherwise spoil if the soap is not used soon? I've never had orange spots (in my soap at least :) ), but don't the chances of that increase as the discount percentage goes up...
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    What is your best/easiest soapmaking recipe?

    20% lye discount Paul, this is a revelation to me, if I understand it properly. Instead of using fancy oils to moisturize/superfat; I can just use a 20% discount instead. This results in saving money by using less lye AND using less of the more expensive stuff like shea butter, castor...
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    Swirl soap newbie

    I agree; clear oil makes sense. I've used Sweet Almond oil, also soy. My main focus has been on having my swirling, colored oil stay thin enough to swirl well. I just use a little clear oil first so I don't have to take the time later during the critical moment when the soap starts to...
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    Swirl soap newbie

    Swirling is fun and easy with cold process soap. I like to use powdered alkanet root because of the dark color that can change from dark grey to purple depending on the ph of the soap, or so I've been told. Mine come out dark purple, but that may change as the soap cures. I simply take...
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