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I'm wondering if anyone has gotten DOS in their soaps from using goat milk powder? Specifically from the method of adding the powder directly to the oils before adding the lye water. I almost always use this method without a problem, but I noticed 2 of my last 5 batches of GM soap have teeny...

I tried searching for this on the forum but came up short. Does anyone else find that vanilla stabilizer affects their unmolding time? This is my first time doing a lot of "Christmas" scents so this is the most I've used stabilizer at one given time. I'm noticing all my batches with the VS (in...

I'd like to start master batching my lye to save time for each batch. I understand most but I can't seem to figure out how you determine the quantity per batch when everything is already pre-mixed at my desired rate (33% in my case). I've noticed that my water weight plus lye weight does not...

I’m wondering if I have DOS on some areas of two batches of soap that I unmolded and cut on June 4. On the red/pink/yellow swirl soap I’m seeing some discolouration on the tops that almost look like rust puddles. But I’m wondering if this could be due to a weird mixing of the red and yellow...

Does anyone know of a good "rule of thumb" for discolouration due to vanilla content? For example, if the FO has less than 1% vanilla content will it typically discolour to a light tan, whereas up to 3% goes medium brown, etc. I'm trying to determine in which instances I can skip the...

Just cut this loaf. The recipe is the same I always use with familiar EOs, but there’s some odd discolouration (the lighter areas) on some bars, and only in the yellow (which was the top in the mold) later. Any ideas at what causes this? Hopefully it’s just appearance and doesn’t mean the lye...

I've only ever used oil dispersible TD and micas to colour my CP soap. But it's time for some new purchases and I'm wondering what are all of your preferred products for colouring - oil dispersible TD and micas, or water dispersible TD and oxides? Are some easier to use than others? Does one...

I have never used palm oil for soaping before - I love the way lard makes my bars feel and function and my base recipe is quite high in lard. However, I have some vegan friends who have asked me if I could make some vegan bars for them. I haven't committed but said I would look into it. By...

I hope this is the right section to post this - it's been a while since I've been around! Does anyone know which companies selling/shipping FO to/within Canada are "up to date" or not SUPER backlogged right now? Or perhaps there are Canadian sites (or US sites that ship with reasonable costs to...

Has anyone been bold enough to make their own multi-bar soap cutter? I've been eyeing them (on Etsy and sites such as BB) but I just cannot bring myself to spend $170-300 on a cutter since I'm only doing this as a fun hobby. But, on the flip side, I'm lazy as heck and my bars are always cut...

This may be a silly, basic question but...I know citrus EOs do not fare well in CP because the scent tends to fade/not make it through the saponification process. Would using an FO take care of that problem? If citrus FOs do well in CP - what are some of your faves/go-tos? I currently use...

I attempted my first secret feather swirl last night. I watched every YouTube video I could on the subject and eventually attempted the thin layer, multi colour, hard as heck version that Handmade in Florida makes look SO EASY! I haven't done the cut yet but I know already it was a big ole...

I finally got around to trying goat milk soaps and they actually turned out successful!!! I was so nervous about scorching the milk, or getting too hot by using honey for the first time. But it all worked out and I’m so relieved. thank you to everyone on this forum for all the advice!!! You’re...

I will preface this by saying that I know I should follow the supplier details to determine safe percentages for all FO's...problem is, the ones I just bought do not list this. Anywhere. So I'm wondering if there is a "general" rule of thumb I can follow for these specific FO's. I recently...

I *think* I now have a favourite CP recipe after about 10 batches that I would like to now try making with goat milk for the first time. I have some questions that I *think* I know the answers to, but would love confirmation before I attempt! 1. To use goat milk would I simply replace the water...

I've now made a few batches of bath bombs and they fizz nicely, smell great and don't leave the skin feeling oily. But now I'd like to make some tweaks to accomplish foaming and floating. I found this website (http://howtobathbombs.com/wp/2018/08/22/make-a-bath-bomb-float-like-lush/) that claims...

I did my first swirl attempt earlier this week (Wednesday - 2 days ago) and added lavender flowers for the first time. Just checked on it in the mold (first time since pouring) and it appears I already have DOS (pretty sure...), specifically around the lavender flowers. Is this typical when...

I'm hoping someone with some lip balm experience can help me out. I've recently made 4 batches of lip balm (only about 8-10 tubes each, keeping it small batch while I work out which recipe I like the best) and I'm having a huge issue getting any scent to "stick". So far I've tried grapefruit...

I just unmolded my second batch in a row that is full of glycerine rivers. I’m hoping (as a total newbie) that I can get some advice on how to best avoid in the future, when I want a full gel. Both batches were soaped around 120 (admittedly the first one was closer to 130). Should I be...

My first batch of cold process soap was finally *almost* firm enough to unmold! Split the batch into 4 little molds to play with colours. Two molds barely released from the mold after over a week, the other two didn’t fully gel properly. But all in, not bad for a first attempt. The most...