I just made 2 loaves of cold processed soap and realized I mis-measured the coconut oil in my recipe :/ and I’m afraid the soap is lye-heavy by a few grams. If this is a problem, what would you recommend? Should I try re-batching it?

Original recipe (each loaf): 240g coconut oil (I mistakenly only measured 200g) 200g olive oil 200g lard 80g HO sunflower oil 80g cocoa butter

207g distilled water 115g sodium hydroxide 5% super fat

I tried to re-run the recipe through soap calculator with 200g coconut oil in place of 240g, and even at 1% super fat, it only would have needed 112g of lye.

So sad. The left loaf is coffee & whiskey FO and right loaf is oatmeal milk & honey FO. Still learning from my mistakes…

With Hemp Oil & Milk Powder. Woodsy/Musky Scent.

I'm very new to soap making. My first couple of barches turned out great though. I needed to get a resupply of ingredients, and decided to try to make shave soap. The recipe is limited to what i had in stock, I just played around in soapcalc looking for the qualities I wanted the bar to have. So, I don't know if it's a good recipe or not?

Oils was at about 55C and lye mix was at about 50C when I mixed them. I did Hot Process. As soon as I poured in the lye mix into the oils, it immediately thickened and I was unable to blend it. It was so thick that the stick blender just gunked up. I let it cook for a while any way, molded it, and used it after a couple of days. Lather is great, and works really well. My question is, though, why did it seize? I did everything like I did with my previous batches.

https://preview.redd.it/ab5closfw87e1.png?width=835&format=png&auto=webp&s=f86b11e47f900bf92b8b4990e568346c3584d6d3

Hello!

I have a friend that is really into soapmaking and their roommate indicated she could really use some scents for the soapmaking, but they are worried about scents from certain companies causing skin irritation and they also won't use essential oils in the soap either (maybe i'm a bit ignorant here, as it is not my hobby, but I thought essential oils would be the preferred way to go as the soap would dilute the oil).

So I am looking for recommendations for safe soapmaking scents and/or reputable brands? If I can purchase them online, great! If anyone has any Utah based recommendations, even better!

(I am not worried about it getting here before Christmas, It can be a day or two after and it will still be "on time" as our Christmas get together is a couple days after the holiday.)

Im debating paying the 20$cad fee and setting up a shop, but the shipping for 1 bar of soap literally costs double the soap! Do people actually buy it? or is it a waste of time and investment?

Watermelon 🍉 or Christmas 🎄 vibes?

Made this soap with the recipe I posted yesterday. I think maybe I didn’t reach emulsification? I’m not sure though. This is my first loaf soap and only my second batch. Appreciate any insights.

I’m new to cold process soapmaking after several months of doing MP soaps. I know I want to keep making CP soaps and wanted to come up with a recipe with rice bran oil to mimick the properties olive oil brings to the soap- this is entirely to cut my costs because I don’t intend to sell.

Are there specific pitfalls I should watch out for with this recipe?

I am excited to start making my own soaps. There's so many brands and types and usually the lowest amount you can buy is like 1 pound.

Is there a Way to get a bar made with different brands so I can just find what works for me? Or do I have to buy each one and test it out and I guess gift it if I don't like how it feels.

Hey all! I used to make soap daily, but I haven't soaped in a couple years, so my memory is pretty foggy on recipe calculations, etc. I have *tons* of soap left, and I'm having a baby in the spring, so I was wondering if you guys thought it would be safe to use on her? Here's the recipe best I can remember, it may be slightly off:

22.8oz Olive Oil

16oz Palm Oil

12.16oz Coconut Oil

17oz Water

4.8oz Lye

3-4oz Fragrance (depending on each soap)

Mica Colorants

Obviously, most of the scent has faded by now, but I figured the soap would still be fine to use. Each bar has been stored in the individual boxes I sold them in. Thanks in advance!

Soap makers! what oils do you use to make your cold process soaps? Why do you use the oils you use? Are choices made using some sort of scientific reference or more based on ‘well this soap I heard does this’?

Pictures would be cool too to see how the oils affect the end result.

I’ve heard that citrus essential oils will fade in cold process soap due to saponification, but what about in melt and pour?

Trying to make my own base recipe to use for the majority of my soap making needs. Can I get some feedback from seasoned soap makers? How does this look and what would you change?

I’m avoiding palm and plan to not use avocado in the future.

TIA 🙏🏻

I am considering the leap into soap making for my own use. I currently use soap from Sterling. Does anyone have a recipe that may be similar? Ingredients are listed but that is not much help since I don’t know amounts or process. TIA. This is the list for my personal favorite currently.

Not sure what happened - any advice is appreciated. First time I didn’t use coconut oil for salt soap and this batch is oily and sweaty - like the saponification didn’t complete. Used a calculator that has provided reliable results in the past. Recipe: Lye 99g Water 222g Canola oil 450g Avocado oil 300g Sea salt (mix of coarse and fine) 375g

As a total newbie I made some soap that went to trace far to quickly as my soap went lumpy. Although it’s not very aesthetically pleasing is it still safe to use?

Hi ya’ll! I’m a candlemaker but I am on a mission this year to reduce plastic in my home and especially the bathroom. I haven’t made a single soap yet. I do make perfumes and I’m a professional chef so recipes, measuring, tempering and mixing are my lifeblood. I feel like I can follow a process very well. If I can temper chocolate, I can make soap, right?? 😝

My end goal is to make shampoo and conditioner bars for myself and my partner - but I’m so ADD that starting with the basics is making me procrastinate my whole dream. Where should I start? Should I bite the bullet and buy a kit? I would so appreciate y’all’s insight.

About to do it for the first time. Reading you need to keep your fat about 130°F and the lowest “warm” setting hold 165°F.

I hope you like it

Hey all, hope all is well. I'm new to soap making and would like to know if anyone has any good coconut scent bar recipes they could share, I really like the one from dr.squatch! Any help would be greatly appreciated thanks!

I made two batches of deer tallow soap - I had posted previously about the coffee one (thanks for everyone’s input!). They still have weeks left to cure - is it okay to box them and let them continue to cure in there, or do they need more airflow? These were cold process if that matters. I am going to give them away as Christmas gifts.

Showing you guys how my slices came out! 😊

Just showing you guys my freshly unmold 3Clays Soap Base of oliva oil, coconut, castor and sweet almond. Mango, cocoa and Shea butters. 25g of Frankincense and Myrrh for a small delicate aroma.

Perfect collaboration with my senior sweet loving family member, Shay❤️

Hi there! I have been on a journey lately with creating my own skin care and feminine care. I have recently begun to be interested in my own soaps/shampoos as I have contact dermatitis when it comes to coconut and all its derivatives.

I noticed on many other forums there are people suggesting books to use for soap making. But do any of these books discuss soap making with out coconut and alternatives to use?

Leave any coconut free recipes below, videos or books you suggest.

Can some one explain to me like I'm 5 what all the chemical reactions are that happen in soap making? And also the math?? I know I can plug them into a calculator but I don't even know how to read them. I have a recipe I love and follow so much I have it memorized. So I know that it works, but I'd love to know WHY it works. I'd also love to branch out and know what I can do to make soaps lather more, or increase the hardness for example. If anyone has any yt videos or blogs to share I'm all ears!! Thank you so much!

I’ve always used high percentages of coconut oil in my soap with a high superfat. Now my skin is itchy. Could be dryer air from winter. It could be my older skin just can’t take this much cleansing.

First time posting. I’ll try to type recipe

Coconut oil 30% Lard 25% Olive oil 25% Avocado 10% Castor 10%

Superfat 10%

Are either of my hypotheses re: my itchy skin likely? How would you adjust the recipe? What I like about this recipe is the lather and it’s a hard bar.