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  1. M

    Dry lather

    So my shave soap lather seems to dry up 1/2 way through the shave. Add a little water and it comes back slick again. Is this just not using enough water in the brush or a different problem?
  2. M

    Carrie Seiberts book

    So I have been doing her modified cold process method for shave soaps I’ve been making. Have any of you guys tried both hot process and her modified method and if so which do you think brings better results? Thanks
  3. M

    Beard wash

    I think I know the answer to this but can you develop a bar soap for beards or are beards PH like our hair on our heads?
  4. M

    Shave soap cure times

    I’ve been using Carrie Seiberts book and tweaking some of her ideas. I have been heating oils and stearic to close to 200 degrees and the lye water to around 150-160. I’m using her modified cold process principle. I have been curing the traditional 6 weeks. My understanding is with hot process a...
  5. M

    Stick blender recommendation

    So I have been making both soaps and lotion with my stick blender. I’m seeing debris in my lotion and in the soaps recently. I’m not putting any colors in the lotions so it’s white. I switched stick blenders and still the same problem. It’s a kitchen aide so I don’t think it’s cheap. Anyone see...
  6. M

    Another shave soap question

    I’ve been doing a dual lye shave soap that works well but have a question on adding honey. I’m already doing 10% glycerin per pound but was wondering what a good honey starting point would be? Thanks!
  7. M

    Lotion foam

    I have developed a lotion recipe that absorbs well and is the thickness I like. My problem is when stick blending the mixture there’s always foam that builds on top. I’m not removing the wand out of the liquid but it’s foamy on top every time. I have been scraping it off the top but it’s a pain...
  8. M

    White streaks/partial gel

    I made a honey soap that is 33% lard 32% coconut, 30% olive oil, and 5% castor oil. I added the honey to part of the water called for in the recipe. I put in in the freezer over night and took it out the next morning. That night when I cut it it was partially gelled even after the freezer. The...
  9. M

    Sun essential oils/“The Candle Store”

    Anyone use either of these suppliers? Thanks
  10. M

    Sun essential oils/“The Candle Store” FO

    Anyone have any experience with either of these suppliers? Thanks
  11. M

    Sun essential oils/ “The Candlemakers Store”

    Anyone have any experience with these two brands? The candlemakers store has lots of bizarre scents and they claim they’re safe for skin and cold process soap. Thanks
  12. M

    First lotion attempt

    Hi, I’m going to try taking the plunge into lotion making. I’m using brambleberry’s guide on formulating a recipe. So far I have 70% distilled water, 6% emulsifying wax, 5% stearic acid, 5% Shea butter, 5% cocoa butter, 6% sweet almond oil, 2% olive oil, and 1% preservative (germall 2). I’m...
  13. M

    Another shave soap attempt

    I think I know what I did wrong but thought I’d ask. My recipe is 60% stearic acid, 15% lard, 15% coconut oil, 5% castor oil, 5% Shea butter. I added silk fibers to the lye water and 10% glycerin after mixing. I used a 33% lye solution with a 5:1 water ratio. The mixture seized up pretty quick...
  14. M

    Pine tar/charcoal soap

    I’m going to attempt a pine tar/charcoal soap. I was thinking 10% pine tar with 2 tsp charcoal PPO. I’ve read the tar makes soft bars so I was thinking a 60% lard recipe with olive, coconut, and castor making up the rest. What do you think? Thanks!
  15. M

    Shaving soap/ lye calculator

    I have been trying to develop a shave soap recipe. I tried bentonite but have decided against that. I’ve come to the conclusion of a 60/40 dual lye soap after lots of research. I was thinking of 60% stearic acid, 15% coconut, 15% lard, 5% cocoa butter, and 5% castor oil. I tried running it...
  16. M

    100% olive oil soaps

    I was going to try making a 100% olive oil soap. I was thinking of giving it away for Christmas this year. I’ve read conflicting stuff that people either love it or hate it. I was thinking of lemongrass and lavender EO for the scent. With the long cure times is it worth scenting or just go...
  17. M

    Soap recipes

    Do most of you use the same recipes and then tweak them with colors or liquid portions like milk, juice, etc? I like this combination so far. I want to expand and try more “artsy” things. What do you do? Thanks
  18. M

    DOS?

    First attempt at making a honey soap. 1tsp/lb added to the oils after melted using a double boiler. Used a stick blender to incorporate and then combined lye and oils at 90F. All oils were purchased within a few weeks. The fragrance oil is brambleberry Palo Santo &Mahogany. Since it is a honey...
  19. M

    Water discounts with beer/milk

    I made a Guinness beer soap this last weekend and it’s got soda ash. I combined the oils and lye/beer at 85F. The beer was frozen. This was the recipe. Water discounts are supposed to help this? Can you discount 100% beer/milk recipes? Thanks.
  20. M

    Shaving soap attempt

    I tried using a brambleberry shave soap recipe that is palm oil, coconut oil, olive oil and adding a tablespoon of bentonite clay after trace. I’ve only made a few batches of soap and they turned out good. This batch I mixed to medium trace and then added the bentonite. It accelerated so fast I...
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