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Hello, I'm creating a new work area for my soap making. What is the best countertop surface? Formica? I've also seen some commercial grade stainless steel work tables available. So what's the preferred countertop surface for soapmaking? My highest priority is "Easy to clean." Thanks!!

I've been having some major problems lately with my batches cracking. I've been fixing them after the fact by just squishing some soap from the ends into the holes and smoothing it out. I've posted on this forum multiple times about my issue. I've blamed it on everything from hard oils, to...

I've been reading about Citrus Essential oils such as Lime, Lemon, and Orange. That they are photosensitive and can alter the color of the skin permanently. I'm pretty certain that we are "Good to go" with products such as soap since we are rinsing it off. But, what about leave on products...

What's the difference between Solid Perfume/cologne sticks and Solid Lotion sticks? I've been recently making sticks out of Beeswax, Shea Butter, Carrier Oils, and Fragrance. I've been putting it in those .5 ounce tubes that are similar to large lip balm tubes. It's been working out really...

My lotions seem to be settling a little more than normal. When I pour, I fill the bottle up. The temperature is usually about 100 (maybe 105) degrees when I pour. About an hour or two later after cooling, I now only have about 3/4 of a bottle full of lotion. I have about 10% liquid oils, 4%...

When you do bars as wedding favors or baby shower favors, do you put the name of your business on the label anywhere, front or back? I've seen a million pictures of fronts online and no one puts the business name on the front of the bar. Is it common to put it on the back though?

When I first started soaping I started with a basic recipe. Olive Oil 44% Palm Oil 32% Coconut Oil 24% I would always select the default for the water on the soap calculator (water = 38% of oil weight). I use wooden molds and I would cover them and insulate a lot. I usually soaped at around...

Does the selection of base soap oils affect the scent retention of the bar? For example, is it possible that coconut oil retains scent better than palm or olive retains scent better than coconut?? Etc.

I've been doing this for a while now and have done tons of batches. But I still have never tried leaving a batch uncovered. I use wooden molds that I built out of 3/4 inch birch plywood and I have tops that I use to cover them with. Every batch I have ever done I have covered. I can...

I'm having major issues when I try to scent my liquid soap. Just about every oil I use, fragrance or essential causes if to thicken quickly and become an unpleasant jelly. PS20 and PS80 both made it worse. I am referring to my soap that I have left after I have diluted my soap paste. It's a...

I have some fragrance oils and essentials that will almost instantly thicken my liquid soap when I add it. I've been somewhat frustrated by this lately since I did not want my fragrances to thicken my soap (although the soap is not very thin to start). I want to thicken my LS, but I felt like...

There is an upcoming farmer's market where we want to set up shop. Due to some logistical reasons, if we do this market, we would have to leave our soap in my truck overnight and during an entire day, and then overnight again. The soap would be in my truck for 2 nights and 1 day. It would be...

Are there any official safe usage rates out there for essential oils? There are IFRA sheets for all the fragrance oils that I use, but seems like none for essentials. For the essentials that I use, I currently just go out to the supplier's website and use the calculator. But I'm thinking...

I have somewhat of a dilemma. I know a lot of people here when they make liquid soap, they store the paste and then dilute it when they need it. I chose not to do it that way. I dilute the paste into liquid soap and store it in jugs unscented with no preservative until I need it. I do it...

I know. I periodically go off on rants similar to this topic. But really, does anyone actually label their products properly? I'm specifically referring to micas and colorants. For example, I have a mica that I use and the ingredients are: Fluorphlogopite, Titanium Dioxide,Tin...

How to you provide samples of lip balm at craft shows? Anybody have lip balms at craft shows? How do you put out samples?

OK, someone had to bring it up, so I will. Realistically, we're (referring to all of us on this site) all making a different version of the same type of soap. We mix lye with oils. I have heard "Wash your hands" about a million times this week. Is the soap that we make sufficient for the...

I have a liquid soap that I make. It is similar to most of the ones discussed on this forum (soapmaking 101 thread) with some minor differences. I want to scent it with Tea Tree essential oil. When I put the TT in, it immediately starts clumping up and behaving very badly. If I dissolve the...

What paper weight are you using for cigar band style labels? Shaquille O' Neal almost has me sold on one of those Epson Ecotank printers. But I did notice that they don't always work too well with some heavier papers. So I'm wondering if I can reduce the thickness of my paper. I'm currently...

I get a lot of requests for Baby Powder scented soap. I found a supplier that has a good one, but I really don't want to use this supplier any more, for reasons beyond the scope of this post. My go-to supplier has awesome scents. So I got some Baby Powder. Unfortunately it accelerated so...