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When I last purchased Member's Mark 100% Pure Olive Oil from Sam's Club it was about six months ago and the ingredient label reads: High Quality Olive oil from Spain, Italy, Greece and Tunisia. Today when I returned to buy more olive oil there was no more Member's Mark brand. Instead I found...

I made soap last week and it was sooo ugly. Three days after I made the soap, I chopped it all back up and put it in a large SS pot along with additional liquid (goat milk). It melted (kinda) and I stirred and stickblended for about 2 hours over medium-low heat. Then I glopped it back into my...

Ok - stupid mistake on my part. I made a recipe with Palm Kernel Oil (didn't mean to do that) but soaped used Palm Oil. So the lye amount is higher than needed to saponify Palm Oil. This results in a superfat of 4% if I have calculated correctly. Here is the recipe: Olive oil 50% - 16.5 oz...

I checked on the supplier's recommendations for this info, but only found comments on his lye. I buy lye from Essential Depot, but wondered about the essential oils. Anyone use his eo's? Like/ dislike? Thanks!

For those who make a shampoo bar - do you use a lower superfat than your normal CP bars? I usually s/f at about 5 - 7% for my regular bars, but am considering using a 4% s/f for shampoo bars. Will a lower s/f leave less deposit on hair, since there are fewer free oils?

I would like to make a tree-like scent and want to use spruce and balsam fir eo's. My ratio will be 1 balsam fir to 2 spruce. What PPO do you suggest? Thanks, Carolyn

Where do I find information about EO percentage rates on IFRA? I just can't seem to find them. Thanks! Carolyn

Just thinking of you and hoping that all has healed nicely. Carolyn :)

I have questions about infusing clay in lye water. When I infuse clay in lye water - I will lose some of the lye water when I strain the clay out. Do you think it will be significant? Should I adjust the superfat because I might have a tiny bit less lye (I usually superfat at 5%). Should I...

I am ready to try salt bars, but soap calc numbers are scaring me (cleansing 69- Yikes!). How does this recipe look to you? Coconut oil (92) 26 oz. Water (35%) 9.1 oz. Lye 3.8 oz. Salt 20 oz. Superfat at 20% Does this look about right or am I way off somehow? Thank you...

I am contemplating making a salt bar (Irish Lass's recipe). However, I am not sure about how much I should reduce my oils so that the recipe will fit into my mold. Right now my mold holds 33 oz. of oils - so I just can't dump in an additional 7 or 8 oz of sea salt or it won't all fit. Is there...

I have a friend who adores this essential oil. Have you ever used ONLY this in your CP soaps? Carolyn

Is the phototoxicity of certain citrus essential oils a worrisome concern in CP soaps? I know that soap is a wash off product, however your skin does absorb and retain some of the soap ingredients. I would think that folded citruses have a higher risk since they are concentrated. What do you...

I tried Tussah silk in my liquid soap this week (dissolved a small amount in my lye water). I noticed two things were different. 1. the paste was more resistant than normal to diluting 2. after dilution and neutralizing the final texture seemed somewhat different. It was like warm honey...

I just want to thank the moderators and experienced soapers who respond to the questions. Thanks for giving of your time to respond to the posts, to share your personal experiences, to give wonderful advice and correct misinformation. What a blessing to have generous mentors! Thank you!

I can find folded orange and lemon essential oils to put in my cp soap. But I cannot find folded grapefruit or lime. Why? Are they unsafe to use in cp soap? Has anyone used folded grapefruit or lime in their soaps?

Hello! I am thinking of buying Cedarwood EO, but not sure which to choose. NDA lists the following Cedarwood EO's: Atlas, Texas, Virginian, Himalayan, and Chinese. I just want to make a nice "Christmas Tree" soap. What do you suggest? Thanks, Carolyn

I have two friends with either very oily or problem skin. I would like to make salt bar for them using Irish Lass's recipe as follows: 100% coconut oil Coconut milk as 100% of water amount 30% fine sea salt as per total oil amount Super fat 13% I don't think I can just add the salt and...

Hello! I am currently using a wooden mold that I line with freezer paper for my soap. But now I am considering purchasing a wooden mold with liner. So, if you have one what do you have and do you like it? Any disadvantages? Thank you! Carolyn (Hubby offered the upgrade so of course I...

Well, it's time to think of Christmas and I'm thinking of buying a soap cutter! I'm really tired of the ruler and knife routine. Not ready for the Tank, yet. What do soap cutter do you use and do you love it? Thank you! Carolyn