I made my first batch! (new photo added)

[PracticalDreamer]

After months of studying up on soap making and waiting until all my supplies were collected, I dove in and made my first batch last night! Everything has gone smoothly so far, so I'm hopeful that this will turn out well (despite not filling my molds high enough, good note for next time). It's been a wonderful learning experience and I can't wait to make more - the plan is to make several different types/scents for Christmas so I can make soap/lip balm/bath bomb baskets for all my family and friends. Here is a photo, I used a recipe from Miller Soap called "Almond Joy" and modified it a bit:

None of my friends seem to understand my excitement (most of them have responded with "Fight Club" jokes or general confusion over the fact that you can make soap in your kitchen), so I thought I'd share my thoughts here instead. How wonderfully addicting is this?!?!

Oh, and while I'm on the topic, does anyone have a favorite website they like to order their oils from? I can get oil locally but it's very expensive (I live in the Los Angeles area) and I'd prefer to just buy in bulk online if the shipping costs aren't horrible. Thanks for letting me share!

Christa

 

[HomekeepingGran]

I would be tempted to eat anything labeled "Almond Joy", LOL. This looks very pretty, Practical Dreamer. I hope it turns out perfectly for you! (Looks like it already has!)

 

[soapqueen]

Your swirls look great. I've only tried once, and it was a disaster, certainly looked nothing like a swirl.
I don't know Los Angeles, being in the UK. But if you have Asian supermarkets, you can get huge containers of olive, corn, etc, and smaller quantities of coconut, almond, palm and castor for very good prices. Better prices than soap making supplies websites, over here anyway.
For the more interesting ingredients, you'll have to go on line.

 

[dopersoaper]

are you sure this is your first batch, because those swirls are great! lol good job, can't wait to see the result. I love pics..yum

 

[Sunkawakan]

Re: I made my first batch! (with pic)

general confusion over the fact that you can make soap in your kitchen), so I thought I'd share my thoughts here instead. How wonderfully addicting is this?!?!

Christa

Well... you COULD make it in your bedroom but that would be a bit weird and cumbersome and then they would REALLY think you're weird??? Though I do caution you, your bedroom is likely to end up being part of the process (i.e. drying, labeling, storing, etc.)

Congrats on your batch, its very beautiful!! I love swirls but do cphp and its too difficult and messy to do swirls.

 

[jennikate]

beautiful job. Congrats. I am already 4 small batches in looking for more curing space. Lots of Xmas will be soap this year.

 

[MagiaDellaLuna]

Absolutely beautiful. I love those colours.

 

[PracticalDreamer]

Thank you for your comments everyone! I do appreciate it and am glad to share my experience with a group of fellow soap makers who understand how fun and interesting the process is.

In terms of the swirls, they didn't go exactly as planned because I took the mixture to a heavier trace than I probably should have (I was using a stick blender and since it was my first batch ever I wanted to make sure I wasn't fooled by a false trace) and I think I added a little too much cocoa powder which resulted in a swirl that I couldn't pour, but rather had to *glop* on to the off-white base and swirl from there. Nevertheless, I'm sure it will turn out pretty and it was a definite learning experience that will make me all the more prepared the next time through.

A funny aside: last night, after insulating the soap logs for a few hours, I checked on them and realized they were turning dark and transparent. Needless to say I got a bit excited over this and exclaimed to my roommate, "They're gelling! They're gelling! LOOK!" I guess the process of gelling isn't that exciting for everyone, since he just took a glance at it and then looked at me like I'd grown two heads.

 

[SimplyE]

Those are awesome! I can't believe they are your first! Beautiful.

For oils, go to http://www.soaperschoice.com You will have a hard time finding any place more reasonable.

 

[HomekeepingGran]

LOL. My husband's standard reply for just about all my projects is a super-noncommittal "Uh huh". Your soap is really pretty and it is a total kick to think that we can make it in our kitchen!

 

[CookieChan]

Wow! That is amazing. I would never have guessed that it was your first soap!

 

[MagiaDellaLuna]

A funny aside: last night, after insulating the soap logs for a few hours, I checked on them and realized they were turning dark and transparent. Needless to say I got a bit excited over this and exclaimed to my roommate, "They're gelling! They're gelling! LOOK!" I guess the process of gelling isn't that exciting for everyone, since he just took a glance at it and then looked at me like I'd grown two heads.

There are some things you can ONLY share with other soap makers
I bet he will be happy to test them once they are cured though, just don't mention the word "cure" to him. My neighbour's 5 year old heard me mention that I will give her some of the latest batch once it is cured. He wanted to know if the soap "is feeling sick".

We do have a language of our own.

 

[PracticalDreamer]

My neighbour's 5 year old heard me mention that I will give her some of the latest batch once it is cured. He wanted to know if the soap "is feeling sick".

We do have a language of our own.

LOL, that is so cute! Sometimes I forget that we do use a different language - luckily, my mom makes soap as well, so I can commiserate with her when I see that glazed, "I can't believe she's talking about soap again" look on other people's faces.

 

[jennikate]

To cute about the neighbor boy. Can we see pic once you cut it? Getting addicted to soap porn.

 

[whisks]

amazing for a first batch...well done!

 

[artisan soaps]

Re: I made my first batch! (with pic)

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[Bubbles Galore]

What an excellent first batch *clapping*. Don't worry pet, we'll share your excitement. Tell us everything, leave nothing out because every small detail is appreciated here and will help someone else to learn. :wink:

 

[dagmar88]

:shock: Good lord, you newbies are getting better by the day!

 

[PracticalDreamer]

Well, here's a quick update (I'm actually at work right now so I probably shouldn't be posting): the initial photo was taken just after the soap was poured into the mold and swirled, though as I mentioned I took it to too thick a trace and had to "glop" them on top. Unfortunately, it looks like when it went through the gelling process the swirls spread out quite a bit and now the top of the soap looks to be an almost solid chocolate color. I'll try spacing the swirls out much more on my next batch...

Another disappointment is that (as I suspected) the swirls did not extend through the entirety of the bars, they just left these vague streaks in the upper 1/2" or so. Oh well, at least they smell pretty - let's hope the scent holds. Here's a photo:

 

[PracticalDreamer]

BTW, any tips for cutting bars? Any way to get them perfectly smooth without trimming them after the fact, or is that just part of the process? Is 24 hours too short a time to wait before cutting? I used silicone loaf pans and still had a couple of places where the soap stuck and got a bit ragged along the edges. Thanks!