carillon said:
I have to respectfully disagree that no one is ever happy with the lather in m&p soap. I'm satisfied with the lather I get from my goat's milk m&p. I currently use SFIC, but I've also used Stephenson's I bought from The Chemisty Store and found that the clear had a fantastic lather. I don't know what manufacturer makes it, but m&p base from Essentials by Catalina is very popular among some m&p'ers.
My understanding about coconut oil is that too much can be drying. Other options youmight consider using to increase the lather include adding sugar, glycerin or castor oil.
I make triple layered soaps and to get them to stick together, I do as Tabisha says--mist them with alcohol. I pour the first layer and spray the top of it to remove bubbles, then I let it firm up, but not until it's real hard--it should be just a little bit soft or spongy (but not so soft that you can easily poke a finger through it, but rather to the point that your finger can leave a dent in it without liquid oozing out of it), then spray it again with alcohol and pour the next layer and spray the top of it as well.
What is this SFIC I see everywhere, and where can I order that? I only hear good things about it, but at the same time I hear it's more expensive.
As for pouring the second layer, I just tried another test waiting to dry. I poured one layer down, spritzed alcohol, and I left it long enough to develop a "film" on top, but the inside is still liquid when I tilt the mold. Then I spritzed on more alcohol (a thin layer, I guess), and then poured the other layer on top. Do you think I didn't wait long enough before pouring the second layer?
*crosses fingers*