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When I gift my hand cream made with shea (I don't sell) I call the granules "beads o' shea."

I'm pretty sure that's because when you home render lard or tallow it is really hard to filter out all of the impurities (i.e.: particles of the non-fat organic stuff that can grow mold).

What do you all think about freezing oils, like palm, tallow, coconut, lard, etc? Or even liquid oils. I have frozen them all with good success. I have purchased 50# containers of tallow, palm and coconut oils, separated them into gallon ziploc bags and frozen them (also have heard that if...

Occasionally I'll have a CP batch that will accelerate to the point where it's almost seizing and I have to get it in the mold quickly and smash it down. That's when I seem to get these white spots. I think think it's the rapid acceleration that hardens some of the oils prematurely... ?? They...

I discovered early on that lavender buds end up looking like mouse turds in CP soap. I also do not put botanicals in my soaps. Also discovered that they never end up looking like they do by themselves, along with the other problems mentioned. A rose or lavender swirl is much nicer. I'd...

I have the 5# Nurture Soap mold and can attest to the fact that they are indeed high quality. At one point I had a problem with the liner warping from ??... (soap gelled at too high a temperature?). and all I did was run it under hot water and put it back into the mold to re-shape it.

I have never experienced DOS, not saying that this couldn't happen-- especially with those people that I gift soap to who use it as "pouporri" (like my aunt--I found a bar in her bathroom that I gave her about 10 years ago. Not only were there DOS, It was covered with dust, the wrapper faded--...

My go to formula is similar to yours Zing, with the addition of either cocoa or shea butter and less avocado. I end up with a bar that is adequately hard, but here's my gripe: We all know that DIY soap needs good drainage. I even stick a card to that effect in soap that I gift (I no longer...

OK, here's another option. I've been soaping for 20 years + and have gone through all the stages of kids, grandkids, dogs, several cats-- you name it (I'm down to 1 cat at preset). I do small batches (5# at most). I mix up my lye in the kitchen sink in a very tall plastic pitcher with a very...

I keep wondering if regional variances in the atmosphere like humidity, barometric pressure, or ????.. contribute to soda ash. When I lived in northern Minnesota I got lots of ash, and it would appear even when I carefully covered my soaps with plastic wrap, delayed unmolding for a full 48...

Maybe your kitty thought he was doing you a favor by covering up the stink of the neem oil, hahaha (I'm a kitty mama too....)

These Home Depot wire "drawers" are my curing system. I used to have them in their metal frame like drawers but I don't make as much soap now so I just stack them criss-crossed. The frame gives a little more space between "shelves." The price is quite reasonable. (This beer soap was for my...

I should have said soap selling....

Just out of curiosity, what is the cost of insurance for soapmaking?

Yup-- Salad Shooter! I bought mine at a garage sale years ago and use it for grating rebatches (which I seldom do) and confetti. Works great. For super small gratings you can put it through twice. Once in awhile it gets used for vegetables......

Thanks for quick response!

I usually do not put "food" in my soaps. However I'd like to do a couple of batches with cucumber and avocado. I'm wondering if I should add ROE as an antioxidant to prevent DOS??

I've been using PKO from Wholesale Supplies Plus for years. I think it comes in 5# bags. When a formula calls for coconut oil I use 1/2 and 1/2 CO and PKO (recalculate lye). Have never had a problem.

This is a very small jar. What does it sell for?

Is there any difference between fresh and powdered goat milk other than label appeal>