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Post by The Walk of the Penguin Mich on Oct 14, 2015 12:57:29 GMT -5
I have psoriasis and have tried so many different things to get it in check. Right now a home remedy of glycerin, tea tree oil, and coconut oil is the only thing that provides some relief.Tea tree oil sends my psoriasis into the stratosphere. I remember trying it and it winding up 500% worse after a few treatments. I'm lucky in that my patches are usually fairly small, but I have found that prescription meds work the best. I use a clobetasol solution (it's alcohol based, so not gummy) when I get patches on my scalp, and desonide on my skin. That's the same as Olux, right? It does clear things up when I use it. Problem is the flare up comes right back the second I stop. My dermatologist had me stop using it because he is worried about long term side effects. I've used it on and off for several years now. Steroid based solutions seem to be the only thing that will clear thing up, but they're not a long term solution. Well salicylic acid works too but I'm not desperate enough to try some of the home remedy's I've read about. Fortunately I don't have enough to go to the biologics. Not sure I'd want to anyway. I'm constantly amazed by how differently everyone reacts to the same thing. It's a miracle drugs work at all, given how individual body chemistry is. I've been fairly lucky in that my patches seem to come and go. If I hit them with the steroid for a couple weeks, it goes away and pops back the next time something stresses me out. I've had to pull out the clobetasol, as I know I've got some patches forming on my scalp again. Damned SolidWorks! I'd be avoiding the biologics too. If this was psoriatic arthritis, I'd probably be rethinking this though. You really want to keep joint destruction to a minimum.
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NomoreDramaQ1015
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Post by NomoreDramaQ1015 on Oct 14, 2015 14:07:28 GMT -5
Fortunately I don't have enough to go to the biologics. Not sure I'd want to anyway
DH has it severe enough he qualifies. They required he be on methotrexate first before they'd approve it.
He came *thisclose* to having to be admitted to the hospital with a bronchial infection while on it. Took him three months to get over it.
He changed his mind about pursuing a biologic, he said the psoriasis is ugly but at least it won't kill him.
The steroid cream works on some of the patches but they do nothing for the more severe ones.
I'll pass onto him the tea tree oil/glycerin idea and see if he'd be willing to give it a try.
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The Captain
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Post by The Captain on Oct 14, 2015 14:15:05 GMT -5
Fortunately I don't have enough to go to the biologics. Not sure I'd want to anyway
DH has it severe enough he qualifies. They required he be on methotrexate first before they'd approve it.
He came *thisclose* to having to be admitted to the hospital with a bronchial infection while on it. Took him three months to get over it.
He changed his mind about pursuing a biologic, he said the psoriasis is ugly but at least it won't kill him.
The steroid cream works on some of the patches but they do nothing for the more severe ones.
I'll pass onto him the tea tree oil/glycerin idea and see if he'd be willing to give it a try. I also would suggest a product called Dermal Therapy. It doesn't clear things up, but it does moisturize and slow down the cell regeneration so that all you have is red patches, no scale. It's lotion, though - so I can't use it on my scalp for extended times without making my hair look like a mess. The home concoction I use works faster like a sprint so I can get away with 3 treatments a week, while the Dermal Therapy is more like a marathon solution.
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weltschmerz
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Post by weltschmerz on Oct 14, 2015 14:20:15 GMT -5
You've gone way off topic. Good thing Hickle hasn't demanded the thread be shut down, yet.
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daisy
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Post by daisy on Oct 14, 2015 17:02:15 GMT -5
Ok, tagging isn't working right now... Pink Cashmere, Steff, and Sweetdreams (and any other business folks out there). Please please please! get labels for your products. DH and DD went out of town last weekend on a coaster trip and stopped at a craft fair. DH knows how much I love bath bombs so he got a set of 5 for me from a vendor. I used one last night, it was the best freaking thing ever. The water was so soft, the scent was very light (I can't handle heavy scents) and there was something else in there (moisturizer) that made my skin so soft. DH spent over an hour trying to figure out who the vendor was because there was no label. No receipts either as the vendor only took cash. IF I had contact information that vendor would already have a huge ass mail order because I'd be giving this to my friends and stocking up for myself. So now I sit sadly looking at the four remaining bombs and wondering how long I can hold out on using them . Ok this is HIGHLY ILLEGAL. Vendors MUST follow labeling laws according to the FDA. It's this huge deal among soap makers - The front must be labeled with company name, type of product (soap/bath bomb/ etc), and weight in US and metric. From the FDA: What goes on the FRONT panel? There are three items that MUST go on the front panel of any product that is sold to consumers:
Name. This is usually the brand name or product name. Identity. What is the product? (soap, lotion, bubble bath, etc). Net Quantity of Contents. How much actual product is there? In both US (oz, pounds, pints, etc) AND metric (ml, grams, liters, kilos).
The back is ingredients in descending order and contact info: website, location (you can list town and state if your company is listed in a local directory or else you must had complete address) and phone #. Someone who is injured by your product MUST be able to get in contact with you. There are TOO many people who don't do this and holy cow, while I understand that it's totally random, I can't imagine the FDA knocking on my door and fining me. OUCH! I don't mind the thread wandering, everyone must figure out what works best for their own skin, DH and I are fortunate that my soap works wonders for us. I am going to put a link to a pic of my Aleppo soap in here; I have 5 bars reserved at $10 each and I'm super thrilled! For some reason, I can only post the link, not a pic...Help? www.dropbox.com/sc/rdv0n2pr0qmbkr7/AAB4l4p9qtf-hcGHvGk32KRgaEdited to add: Someone who is injured by your product HAS to be able to contact you..That's why labeling is SO important, along with allergies. See post below too.
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daisy
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Post by daisy on Oct 14, 2015 17:09:35 GMT -5
I like having the ingredients listed because aloe makes my skin itchy. So many people are allergic to products..they just HAVE to have a label. I doubt most people are aware that Shea Butter has latex properties...how many people are allergic to latex? How about coconut, a mainstay in handmade soap - topically not so much of an issue but still a factor. I had a family who had nut allergies pick through all of my soaps to find the ones that they could use, they stayed away from Shea for that reason as it's derived from a nut. While not ingesting it, there are some who react to having it on skin. It's really just a total crapshoot. Labels make product a whole lot safer. If a vendor doesn't want labels for aesthetic reasons, then they HAVE to hand out an ingredient/contact list with each purchase.
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weltschmerz
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Post by weltschmerz on Oct 14, 2015 17:19:09 GMT -5
It would also be nice to know if there's lard in the soap.
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daisy
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Post by daisy on Oct 14, 2015 17:19:45 GMT -5
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daisy
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Post by daisy on Oct 14, 2015 17:22:12 GMT -5
It would also be nice to know if there's lard in the soap. This too - I have had vegan/vegetarian shoppers who've asked if I use lard or tallow. I know that old-fashioned soap is made with these two but I prefer soap with vegetable oils myself. Lard is supposed to make an incredibly soft and smooth soap...I've never tried it but it's just not for me so I don't worry about it. I sold half of a dozen bars to a vegan couple; they were so thrilled to find soap that didn't have any animal products in it.
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weltschmerz
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Post by weltschmerz on Oct 14, 2015 17:26:33 GMT -5
It would also be nice to know if there's lard in the soap. This too - I have had vegan/vegetarian shoppers who've asked if I use lard or tallow. I know that old-fashioned soap is made with these two but I prefer soap with vegetable oils myself. Lard is supposed to make an incredibly soft and smooth soap...I've never tried it but it's just not for me so I don't worry about it. I sold half of a dozen bars to a vegan couple; they were so thrilled to find soap that didn't have any animal products in it. Yes, this. I prefer soap without lard as well.
Do you do animal testing on your pets?
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daisy
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Post by daisy on Oct 14, 2015 17:31:40 GMT -5
This too - I have had vegan/vegetarian shoppers who've asked if I use lard or tallow. I know that old-fashioned soap is made with these two but I prefer soap with vegetable oils myself. Lard is supposed to make an incredibly soft and smooth soap...I've never tried it but it's just not for me so I don't worry about it. I sold half of a dozen bars to a vegan couple; they were so thrilled to find soap that didn't have any animal products in it. Yes, this. I prefer soap without lard as well.
Do you do animal testing on your pets?
I have yet to make a dog soap - DH keeps pestering me for one (for the dogs) but it's been shunted aside by my need to make Christmas soaps! When I do, I will test it on them. Well, I will on the GSD, my Lab hates running water. The cats....yeah, not so much.
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weltschmerz
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Post by weltschmerz on Oct 14, 2015 17:36:00 GMT -5
Actually, dog soap is a really good idea. Keep in mind that their sense of smell is THOUSANDS of times more sensitive to odours than ours, so keep scent down to a bare minimum, if possible.
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daisy
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Post by daisy on Oct 14, 2015 17:58:48 GMT -5
Actually, dog soap is a really good idea. Keep in mind that their sense of smell is THOUSANDS of times more sensitive to odours than ours, so keep scent down to a bare minimum, if possible. I agree, I think most of the recipes I have seen are unscented. Of course, the minute they are washed they find something tasty to roll in around here.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Oct 14, 2015 18:35:20 GMT -5
Hello All !! I'm starting this thread to discuss soap making and selling. I know that Sweetdreams makes soap and that Steph08 makes and sells as well and if there is anyone else who does or wants to - jump in! I got my start after attending a class on Essential Oils given by my now-mentor. She has studied aromatherapy for many years and is a great resource for many on using EOs and that has morphed into teaching classes during the winter months. She has also added soap making classes and that's what has prompted me into making not just for family and friends but also to sell for extra $$. I'm a relatively creative person so this was an easy transition for me. Mixing colors, and scents and swirling the soap batter around is very reminiscent of baking, which is another love of mine. My mentor suggested that I pursue this as a great way to make extra money (she knows we are sinking a ton of $$ into THIS Old House) and I figured, "Why not?". So here I am, 3 events later with one more next month, wishing it was March right now because I wouldn't be looking for a full time job and instead signing up for every market or fair I could. I make and sell soap, laundry butter, bath salts, body butter, sugar scrubs and lip balms. I think that's a pretty accurate summary, although I do plan to add a lot more options before I resume selling at fairs next summer. My soaps are made from vegetable oils; Olive, Coconut, Palm, Sunflower, Canola, Castor, Almond, Grapeseed, Avocado and beeswax. A lot of soap makers use lard and tallow but I'm more of a veggie kinda girl. Supposedly lard soap is amazing on your skin...but, it's just not me. Today in the mail I received 2 pounds of Laurel Berry Oil, an oil I've been anxiously awaiting to purchase. Laurel Berry oil is mixed with olive oil and together they make Aleppo soap, which is the first documented bar of soap ever. History and tradition on this soap go back 13 centuries! The properties of the olive and laurel berry oils are supposed to be amazing for your skin. Mild and moisturizing, it's a great soap for those with skin conditions like eczma and psoriasis. There are lots of people who attest to effectiveness of it; I'm going to have to wait until it cures for 6-9 months to find our for myself! The oil, from a reputable source, is not cheap. I paid $50 for two pounds, which means my bars of soap will have to sell for around $10 each if I plan to continue to make this soap. I haven't put it all into my calculator yet so I'll have a better idea of pricing after I do that. So that's my introduction - feel free to ask questions or make comments. I don't mind sharing recipes or the costs of things with everyone, there's a lot of good information on the internet - I guess I was just super lucky to have a mentor to steer me in the right direction so I'm good with passing on my knowledge to anyone who wants it! Thanks for letting me share my passion. Once again, I can't get a keyboard on my tablet unless I quote someone. Sigh. I saw the websites mentioned but I have a couple of quick questions. How long does it usually take to make a batch (is it called a batch? lol) of soap? If you were starting from scratch, making a basic scented soap, how much would it cost to buy everything you need? I know things cost more or less in different areas and all that, I'm just looking for some idea of the initial costs to get started. I'm guessing it's not exactly cheap and I'd rather have an idea in advance than get sticker shock lol.
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daisy
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Post by daisy on Oct 14, 2015 19:13:03 GMT -5
Once again, I can't get a keyboard on my tablet unless I quote someone. Sigh. I saw the websites mentioned but I have a couple of quick questions. How long does it usually take to make a batch (is it called a batch? lol) of soap? If you were starting from scratch, making a basic scented soap, how much would it cost to buy everything you need? I know things cost more or less in different areas and all that, I'm just looking for some idea of the initial costs to get started. I'm guessing it's not exactly cheap and I'd rather have an idea in advance than get sticker shock lol. Yep, it's called a batch. And the answer is....it depends. My answers below are for Cold Process soap making and some of this applies as well for Hot Process (crock pot) soap making. And then there is Melt and Pour with a premade soap base to which you add colors and scent. If you masterbatch your lye, that's ready to go right away - if you don't, you have to measure water and lye, mix them together and wait for the proper temperature. You can let this mix sit in an ice bath which reduces the time to cool, or just let it cool on its own. Lye for a 1# batch will cool rapidly, lye for an 8# batch will not, unless it's on ice. Then there's oils - these can also be materbatched but it's time consuming to set this up; measuring, melting and storing. So let's assume your batch is Coconut Oil, Olive, Palm, Castor and Avocado - the harder oils (palm and coconut) will be measured out and either melted in microwave on 30 second bursts until melted and then the liquids added, or everything can be melted on the stove. These too have to be at the correct temp. Correct temp is whatever you decide. I soap at room temp - around 80ish degrees. I was taught to temp at around 120 (both lye and oils have to be within 10 degrees of each other) but I masterbatch my lye and it's usually 70-80 degrees so I mix, melt my oils and put them in a cold bath in the sink to bring the temp down. Soaping at lower temps is tricky because you will reach trace more quickly. Oils first emulsify, then go to trace when mixed. Light trace is what you want if you are going to make swirls or pour multiple colors together etc. Thicker trace is ok if you are just dumping it into a mold. Fragrance can decrease the time you have until trace - colors don't accelerate trace. Then, what are you doing with the batch? Adding fragrance and color and dumping it into the mold? Done. Start to finish - maybe 20ish minutes if you cool your lye and oils and neither is large or hot to begin with. Or are you doing a column pour or a hanger swirl or layering lots of colors? An hourish probably. Layering colors is time consuming because you let the first color set up and then on and on - it can take quite a while for this process. Plan on 2 hours. Less if you have colors pre-mixed and lye masterbatched etc. You get the idea. I have found that masterbatching my lye decreases soap making time tremendously, but lots of people have kids and pets underfoot and into things and aren't comfortable leaving bottles of lye water around the house. Cost...oh boy. Same answer. It depends. I have around $3 or 4K invested, but I am also selling so I have a tent $300/tables/table decorations/setup/insurance $300 and on and on. I have purchased $500 worth of oils at one time, $500 worth of fragrance oils, $600 worth of essential oils, $200 worth of micas for color, $200 worth of molds, etc. Yikes, it hurts to type all of that out. And that's probably not the half of it actually. I won't look at all of my receipts until tax time - oh, and it cost me almost $300 to register with the state of WI as an LLC. To get started to just make soap for yourself ~ $100 probably? If you buy coconut oil, olive and maybe avocado or sunflower oil at Costco, that's probably 60, then a silicone mold at Walmart, 10 - if you hit the health food store and got .5 oz bottle of essential oil it might be $5?, I buy in bulk so I don't really know. You can get 100% lye at Menards for $10, distilled water for $1 gallon. Michael's sells soap colorants but those are for what's called Melt and Pour soap which uses a premade base...I don't know anything about that process at all. So for colorants you can use natural ones like some spices and herbs from the grocery store - $10 maybe. The thing is - and Sweetdreams can back me up here...it's powerfully addicting. I cannot walk through a store without analyzing EVERYTHING I see as a possible mold, or additive or something soap related. Oh, WSP is having a sale on fragrance oils....there goes $100. Rainbow Micas has a couple of new colors? $30...it can totally get away from you! Thankfully I have sold quite a bit and it mitigates the costs, but like with anything, it's a perpetual process. Out of coconut, ooops, there goes $50 out of my last profitable show...etc. Sorry if this is like a book, but I wanted to give you a rather thorough overview. I'd be glad to answer any more questions and anyone else with experience, PLEASE chime in!
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daisy
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Post by daisy on Oct 14, 2015 19:16:57 GMT -5
Ooops - I forgot a stick blender and a scale- if you can find one at the Goodwill - YAY. If not, on amazon both are about $30. All soap ingredients have to be weighed - lye, water, fragrance, oils. Recipes that use cups drive me nuts! You CAN stir soap...but it will add about an hour to your time to achieve trace.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Oct 14, 2015 20:27:10 GMT -5
Ooops - I forgot a stick blender and a scale- if you can find one at the Goodwill - YAY. If not, on amazon both are about $30. All soap ingredients have to be weighed - lye, water, fragrance, oils. Recipes that use cups drive me nuts! You CAN stir soap...but it will add about an hour to your time to achieve trace. Good information, thank you for taking the time to share.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Oct 15, 2015 11:35:53 GMT -5
Hello All !! I'm starting this thread to discuss soap making and selling. I know that Sweetdreams makes soap and that Steph08 makes and sells as well and if there is anyone else who does or wants to - jump in! I got my start after attending a class on Essential Oils given by my now-mentor. She has studied aromatherapy for many years and is a great resource for many on using EOs and that has morphed into teaching classes during the winter months. She has also added soap making classes and that's what has prompted me into making not just for family and friends but also to sell for extra $$. I'm a relatively creative person so this was an easy transition for me. Mixing colors, and scents and swirling the soap batter around is very reminiscent of baking, which is another love of mine. My mentor suggested that I pursue this as a great way to make extra money (she knows we are sinking a ton of $$ into THIS Old House) and I figured, "Why not?". So here I am, 3 events later with one more next month, wishing it was March right now because I wouldn't be looking for a full time job and instead signing up for every market or fair I could. I make and sell soap, laundry butter, bath salts, body butter, sugar scrubs and lip balms. I think that's a pretty accurate summary, although I do plan to add a lot more options before I resume selling at fairs next summer. My soaps are made from vegetable oils; Olive, Coconut, Palm, Sunflower, Canola, Castor, Almond, Grapeseed, Avocado and beeswax. A lot of soap makers use lard and tallow but I'm more of a veggie kinda girl. Supposedly lard soap is amazing on your skin...but, it's just not me. Today in the mail I received 2 pounds of Laurel Berry Oil, an oil I've been anxiously awaiting to purchase. Laurel Berry oil is mixed with olive oil and together they make Aleppo soap, which is the first documented bar of soap ever. History and tradition on this soap go back 13 centuries! The properties of the olive and laurel berry oils are supposed to be amazing for your skin. Mild and moisturizing, it's a great soap for those with skin conditions like eczma and psoriasis. There are lots of people who attest to effectiveness of it; I'm going to have to wait until it cures for 6-9 months to find our for myself! The oil, from a reputable source, is not cheap. I paid $50 for two pounds, which means my bars of soap will have to sell for around $10 each if I plan to continue to make this soap. I haven't put it all into my calculator yet so I'll have a better idea of pricing after I do that. So that's my introduction - feel free to ask questions or make comments. I don't mind sharing recipes or the costs of things with everyone, there's a lot of good information on the internet - I guess I was just super lucky to have a mentor to steer me in the right direction so I'm good with passing on my knowledge to anyone who wants it! Thanks for letting me share my passion. Once again, I can't get a keyboard on my tablet unless I quote someone. Sigh. I saw the websites mentioned but I have a couple of quick questions. How long does it usually take to make a batch (is it called a batch? lol) of soap? If you were starting from scratch, making a basic scented soap, how much would it cost to buy everything you need? I know things cost more or less in different areas and all that, I'm just looking for some idea of the initial costs to get started. I'm guessing it's not exactly cheap and I'd rather have an idea in advance than get sticker shock lol. I think for your first batch your major costs are the scale and the stick blender. Olive, coconut and palm oil are kind of considered the trinity and many start with those 3 oils. Lard is a good sub for the palm if you can't find palm locally and you don't have qualms about using animal fat. I can't find palm here I have to order it, but luckily I love what lard does for my soap so if I had to I could get all my oils at the grocery or health food store. For your first batch I would keep it pretty simple. Then you can add or subtract oils or butters and have a better grasp of which oil is bringing what quality to the soap. Like Daisy, I don't use a thermometer. Just wait until lye water and oils have cooled. I get my lye at the hardware store . You can use a cardboard box for your 1st mould but need to line it with freezer paper with the shiny side toward your soap. You can get Essential oils at most health food stores but they are pricy here so I order those online also and normally I use fragrance oils, still pricey. Fragrance can get expensive and usually if you have a soap batter go nuts on you ( it happens) the fragrance is the trouble maker. Like Daisy said the real costs come with the addiction. It's really fun! It takes me longer than Daisy to make a batch because I first have to carry everything upstairs, then soap, then dishes, then back downstairs. I hope you make one!
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megaptera
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Post by megaptera on Oct 15, 2015 13:08:22 GMT -5
Great information from everyone!
I just use clean, empty cardboard milk cartons lined with parchment paper for molds. (Since I don't sell, I don't have to make huge batches. )
I use lard or tallow in my soaps, and I can usually get it free or super cheap from the butcher. (That is, I get the fat from the butcher and render it myself, but it's pretty easy. And you can't beat free. )
Like has been mentioned, it's fun and addicting. And there are endless oil combinations/scents (or not)/colors/etc. I've made charcoal soap, coffee soap, clove and orange soap...
I've had some fails too, but that's part of the learning process.
What a fun thread!
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daisy
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Post by daisy on Oct 15, 2015 13:38:29 GMT -5
Great information from everyone!
I just use clean, empty cardboard milk cartons lined with parchment paper for molds. (Since I don't sell, I don't have to make huge batches. )
I use lard or tallow in my soaps, and I can usually get it free or super cheap from the butcher. (That is, I get the fat from the butcher and render it myself, but it's pretty easy. And you can't beat free. )
Like has been mentioned, it's fun and addicting. And there are endless oil combinations/scents (or not)/colors/etc. I've made charcoal soap, coffee soap, clove and orange soap...
I've had some fails too, but that's part of the learning process.
What a fun thread! Thank you for sharing! I have seen the milk carton soaps and they are really neat, nice and square. How do you render lard and tallow? Is it a cooking it down process? Does it smell? You are correct, you can't beat free. Do you use the charcoal soap for your face? How do you like it? It's on my list to try...that list is about 30 pages long at this point! Clove and orange...that sounds yummy.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Oct 15, 2015 13:39:40 GMT -5
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megaptera
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Post by megaptera on Oct 15, 2015 14:10:10 GMT -5
Great information from everyone!
I just use clean, empty cardboard milk cartons lined with parchment paper for molds. (Since I don't sell, I don't have to make huge batches. )
I use lard or tallow in my soaps, and I can usually get it free or super cheap from the butcher. (That is, I get the fat from the butcher and render it myself, but it's pretty easy. And you can't beat free. )
Like has been mentioned, it's fun and addicting. And there are endless oil combinations/scents (or not)/colors/etc. I've made charcoal soap, coffee soap, clove and orange soap...
I've had some fails too, but that's part of the learning process.
What a fun thread! Thank you for sharing! I have seen the milk carton soaps and they are really neat, nice and square. How do you render lard and tallow? Is it a cooking it down process? Does it smell? You are correct, you can't beat free. Do you use the charcoal soap for your face? How do you like it? It's on my list to try...that list is about 30 pages long at this point! Clove and orange...that sounds yummy. I just cut the fat into chucks and let it "melt" in my crockpot, then strain it. It doesn't smell that strong, but I'm careful not to let it get too hot. After straining it into bowls, I refrigerate it to let it harden, then chop it into chunks for storage (in ziplock bags the fridge or freezer). It's easier to weigh out that way. (Rather than trying to chisel it out of a mason jar. )
I made the charcoal soap for my DS, who has some issues with acne. It seems to help. We use the orange and clove soap for a "gardener's" or "mechanic's" hand-type soap; since it has ground cloves, it's too rough to use anywhere on the body besides the hands (ouch! Lol.) I may have used some orange EO in it, but I also put dried orange peel/zest on the top, which looked really neat.
My to-try list is about that long as well, LOL!
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Oct 15, 2015 15:21:55 GMT -5
So, I've watched a few of the Soap Queen's videos and poked around on her blog a little. I watched sweetdreams video on hot press, for some reason that process looks more appealing to me than cold press, but I agree that the soap is a bit more primitive looking. I also like that I wouldn't have to wait foreeeever to find out how I did. I'm impatient. I'm going to keep poking around and gathering information. I do think I'm going to try a basic batch of soap. I don't know when, I'm going to be kind of busy for the next couple of months. Another random question, does a bar of homemade soap tend to last longer than the soap we buy in stores? I seem to go through soap pretty quickly, so I was just wondering.
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daisy
Familiar Member
Joined: Aug 24, 2013 0:43:49 GMT -5
Posts: 739
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Post by daisy on Oct 15, 2015 17:32:04 GMT -5
So, I've watched a few of the Soap Queen's videos and poked around on her blog a little. I watched sweetdreams video on hot press, for some reason that process looks more appealing to me than cold press, but I agree that the soap is a bit more primitive looking. I also like that I wouldn't have to wait foreeeever to find out how I did. I'm impatient. I'm going to keep poking around and gathering information. I do think I'm going to try a basic batch of soap. I don't know when, I'm going to be kind of busy for the next couple of months. Another random question, does a bar of homemade soap tend to last longer than the soap we buy in stores? I seem to go through soap pretty quickly, so I was just wondering. All handmade soap, made with either hot process or cold has a cure time of a minimum of 4 weeks - 6 is better. I have never made hot process so maybe Sweetdreams can chime in here, but I know the claim is that it can be used earlier than cold. All handmade soap can be used within 24 hours of making; once the lye water and oil complete the saponification process it's stable for usage. There is a method known as 'zap testing' to make sure your lye is fulling combined. It requires wetting the soap and licking the bubbles to see if the soap 'zaps' your tongue. I have used this process many times. Never had a zap. I cut mine around 24 hours later and use a sliver to see if I like the lather and bubbles of that batch. I'm impatient too, I've been known to grab a bar and just use it to see how it feels and smells, then of course, a week later it's nothing more than a sliver...but that's ok. The trick is, the sooner you use it, the shorter life span it has. Soap that has cured for 6 weeks has lost most if not all of the water that lingered after saponification and should be pretty dang hard. With the exception of castille (all soft olive oil soap) and Bastille (70% Olive/30% Coconut) - that soap takes FOREVER to get hard. Months. Ages. Or if you make soap with all soft oils (no coconut, palm) it will take longer to harden (months). I have a 100% Coconut bar that has lasted for about 2 months in the shower and it's still going strong. It's amazing. The rest of my soaps, probably not as long. If you are diligent about keeping it out of the spray of the water and in a soap dish that drains it should last quite a while. I haven't used commercial bar soap in years so I guess I couldn't really speak to a comparison. I think the key is keeping it 'safe' from water and it should perform pretty well. Keep us posted on your soaping adventure. When you find the time and if you have any questions at that point feel free to ask. It really is lots of fun and it does snowball into a really expensive habit. There - fair warning.
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daisy
Familiar Member
Joined: Aug 24, 2013 0:43:49 GMT -5
Posts: 739
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Post by daisy on Oct 15, 2015 17:39:52 GMT -5
Thank you for sharing! I have seen the milk carton soaps and they are really neat, nice and square. How do you render lard and tallow? Is it a cooking it down process? Does it smell? You are correct, you can't beat free. Do you use the charcoal soap for your face? How do you like it? It's on my list to try...that list is about 30 pages long at this point! Clove and orange...that sounds yummy. I just cut the fat into chucks and let it "melt" in my crockpot, then strain it. It doesn't smell that strong, but I'm careful not to let it get too hot. After straining it into bowls, I refrigerate it to let it harden, then chop it into chunks for storage (in ziplock bags the fridge or freezer). It's easier to weigh out that way. (Rather than trying to chisel it out of a mason jar. )
I made the charcoal soap for my DS, who has some issues with acne. It seems to help. We use the orange and clove soap for a "gardener's" or "mechanic's" hand-type soap; since it has ground cloves, it's too rough to use anywhere on the body besides the hands (ouch! Lol.) I may have used some orange EO in it, but I also put dried orange peel/zest on the top, which looked really neat.
My to-try list is about that long as well, LOL!
I'm guessing the 'chisel it out of a mason jar' is the voice of experience? It sounds like a good process...I keep hearing lard soap and maybe I should just jump in and try it. I once froze a bottle of buttermilk to keep it...then realized that I would have to thaw the whole dang thing for the couple of oz I needed for soap....now I put it in a mold, freeze it and keep the frozen buttermilk daisies in ziplock baggies in the freezer. Live and learn I guess right? My youngest has acne issues, I think I will give the charcoal a whirl to see if it helps at all. Right now she uses a commercial product to clean her face - she's touchy about wanting something that 'works' so she hasn't been too eager to 'try' anything else, so I will have to see if I can convince her. I love gardener's soaps - I make a coffee/cream one with ground coffee as the scrub - if you don't mind I think I would like to try yours. For some reason clove and orange is just resonating with me - I wonder if it's the season, lots of clove and orange and cinnamon and spices in most of the winter fragrances. Do you hot process your soaps or cold process? Have you tried both? I'm a chicken about the whole 'volcano' aspect of hot process...I've seen some horrifying pictures of soap everywhere. There's enough to clean up with cold process, I can't imagine cleaning the counter and floor and walls.......
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Deleted
Joined: Sept 29, 2024 0:30:34 GMT -5
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Post by Deleted on Oct 16, 2015 9:20:39 GMT -5
I have a 100% Coconut bar that has lasted for about 2 months in the shower and it's still going strong. It's amazing. The rest of my soaps, probably not as long. If you are diligent about keeping it out of the spray of the water and in a soap dish that drains it should last quite a while. I haven't used commercial bar soap in years so I guess I couldn't really speak to a comparison. I think the key is keeping it 'safe' from water and it should perform pretty well.
I only use Oil of Olay, sometimes Dove if it's a good deal. Other soaps make me itch something terrible, so I stick with those and don't experiment. A bar of soap barely lasts a week in my house, if that, and I live alone. It goes much faster if DD and her babies visit for some days. That's why I've never bought homemade soap, it seemed really expensive for just a few days' use. Until this thread, I never considered it might last longer than commercial soap does.
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taz157
Senior Associate
Joined: Dec 20, 2010 20:50:06 GMT -5
Posts: 12,932
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Post by taz157 on Oct 16, 2015 9:45:52 GMT -5
We use Ivory soap and it lasts a long time it seems. I heard that leaving the soap unwrapped for a bit helps it last longer, which is what I do. Once I use a new bar of soap, I use the sitting out and open a new one to sit out.
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megaptera
Established Member
Joined: Jul 30, 2012 16:50:18 GMT -5
Posts: 338
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Post by megaptera on Oct 16, 2015 9:47:05 GMT -5
I just cut the fat into chucks and let it "melt" in my crockpot, then strain it. It doesn't smell that strong, but I'm careful not to let it get too hot. After straining it into bowls, I refrigerate it to let it harden, then chop it into chunks for storage (in ziplock bags the fridge or freezer). It's easier to weigh out that way. (Rather than trying to chisel it out of a mason jar. )
I made the charcoal soap for my DS, who has some issues with acne. It seems to help. We use the orange and clove soap for a "gardener's" or "mechanic's" hand-type soap; since it has ground cloves, it's too rough to use anywhere on the body besides the hands (ouch! Lol.) I may have used some orange EO in it, but I also put dried orange peel/zest on the top, which looked really neat.
My to-try list is about that long as well, LOL!
I'm guessing the 'chisel it out of a mason jar' is the voice of experience? It sounds like a good process...I keep hearing lard soap and maybe I should just jump in and try it. I once froze a bottle of buttermilk to keep it...then realized that I would have to thaw the whole dang thing for the couple of oz I needed for soap....now I put it in a mold, freeze it and keep the frozen buttermilk daisies in ziplock baggies in the freezer. Live and learn I guess right? My youngest has acne issues, I think I will give the charcoal a whirl to see if it helps at all. Right now she uses a commercial product to clean her face - she's touchy about wanting something that 'works' so she hasn't been too eager to 'try' anything else, so I will have to see if I can convince her. I love gardener's soaps - I make a coffee/cream one with ground coffee as the scrub - if you don't mind I think I would like to try yours. For some reason clove and orange is just resonating with me - I wonder if it's the season, lots of clove and orange and cinnamon and spices in most of the winter fragrances. Do you hot process your soaps or cold process? Have you tried both? I'm a chicken about the whole 'volcano' aspect of hot process...I've seen some horrifying pictures of soap everywhere. There's enough to clean up with cold process, I can't imagine cleaning the counter and floor and walls....... Oh yes, I've chiseled many a jar of tallow or lard. I borrowed the other method from someone's blog. Gotta love the internet.
Milk soaps are another item on my to-try list.
I've only ever done hot process. I like the rustic-ness of it and it seems easier than cold process somehow. I've never had any volcanoes, but I'm super careful because I can be klutzy sometimes, lol. Someday I might try cold process; some of the designs I've seen are amazing. Your soaps are beautiful!!
Incidentally, when I was starting out, I was a bit concerned that I wouldn't be able to tell when the soap was done cooking; that I wouldn't be able to tell what the zap felt like. I was cooking a batch one day, it looked finished, so I took a tiny amount of batter, let it cool, rubbed it between my fingers, touched my tongue, and...Zap! I finished cooking the batch, it passed zap, soap turned out great, but I'm not longer worried I won't know what the zap feels like. It only happened that one time, but I'm glad I know what it feels like for reference.
Yes, try out the orange and clove soap, I bet it would be beautiful in cold process! I agree, this time of year brings all sorts of ideas. I'm thinking pumpkin spice soap maybe....?
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Deleted
Joined: Sept 29, 2024 0:30:34 GMT -5
Posts: 0
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Post by Deleted on Oct 16, 2015 13:13:57 GMT -5
So, I've watched a few of the Soap Queen's videos and poked around on her blog a little. I watched sweetdreams video on hot press, for some reason that process looks more appealing to me than cold press, but I agree that the soap is a bit more primitive looking. I also like that I wouldn't have to wait foreeeever to find out how I did. I'm impatient. I'm going to keep poking around and gathering information. I do think I'm going to try a basic batch of soap. I don't know when, I'm going to be kind of busy for the next couple of months. Another random question, does a bar of homemade soap tend to last longer than the soap we buy in stores? I seem to go through soap pretty quickly, so I was just wondering. All handmade soap, made with either hot process or cold has a cure time of a minimum of 4 weeks - 6 is better. I have never made hot process so maybe Sweetdreams can chime in here, but I know the claim is that it can be used earlier than cold. All handmade soap can be used within 24 hours of making; once the lye water and oil complete the saponification process it's stable for usage. There is a method known as 'zap testing' to make sure your lye is fulling combined. It requires wetting the soap and licking the bubbles to see if the soap 'zaps' your tongue. I have used this process many times. Never had a zap. I cut mine around 24 hours later and use a sliver to see if I like the lather and bubbles of that batch. I'm impatient too, I've been known to grab a bar and just use it to see how it feels and smells, then of course, a week later it's nothing more than a sliver...but that's ok. The trick is, the sooner you use it, the shorter life span it has. Soap that has cured for 6 weeks has lost most if not all of the water that lingered after saponification and should be pretty dang hard. With the exception of castille (all soft olive oil soap) and Bastille (70% Olive/30% Coconut) - that soap takes FOREVER to get hard. Months. Ages. Or if you make soap with all soft oils (no coconut, palm) it will take longer to harden (months). I have a 100% Coconut bar that has lasted for about 2 months in the shower and it's still going strong. It's amazing. The rest of my soaps, probably not as long. If you are diligent about keeping it out of the spray of the water and in a soap dish that drains it should last quite a while. I haven't used commercial bar soap in years so I guess I couldn't really speak to a comparison. I think the key is keeping it 'safe' from water and it should perform pretty well. Keep us posted on your soaping adventure. When you find the time and if you have any questions at that point feel free to ask. It really is lots of fun and it does snowball into a really expensive habit. There - fair warning. The crock pot soap is really easy. Just keep your eyes on it because it does want to rise out of the pot. With Hot Process you can avoid some of the trouble that fragrance can cause in Cold Process because it's added after saponification. It was a really good way for me to start and get me hooked. My first one with no color added looked kind of like a block of cheese. I have seen some Hot Process soap that look close to Cold Process so I imagine with practice you can make them pretty also just maybe not as detailed as you can with Cold. Even with Hot Process a few weeks curing time will improve it's life in the shower. You could weigh your bars when you un mould and then again a week or two later later and when they stop losing water weight at a decent pace they should be hard enough to last longer in the shower. My husband goes thru it way faster than I do. I think it's because he's hairy?
I always do the zap test and have never gotten zapped either. They say it's like sticking your tongue on a 9 volt battery. I have never rendered my own lard . I use a brand called Morell Snow Cap, good stuff. So far I have used lard probably at the most 35-40% of my oils but I hear people raving about 75 and 80% lard soap and I do like it a lot so I think I will probably try a really high lard batch and see if I like it. Daisy- you must try some! I know it sound icky and your vegan customers wouldn't want it but Ido have a vegan friend that has no problems using a lard soap. She is a vegan not for ethical reasons though, more for health reasons, so while she won't eat animal anything she doesn't have a problem using the soap. Soap making really does require you to learn how to be patient. It is not a quality that I really have either and my two major hobbies- soap and gardening require it so I guess I'm learning. Pink- if you ever do make your soap don't forget we all want to see it!
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Chocolate Lover
Distinguished Associate
Joined: Dec 17, 2010 15:54:19 GMT -5
Posts: 23,200
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Post by Chocolate Lover on Oct 16, 2015 14:24:04 GMT -5
I have a 100% Coconut bar that has lasted for about 2 months in the shower and it's still going strong. It's amazing. The rest of my soaps, probably not as long. If you are diligent about keeping it out of the spray of the water and in a soap dish that drains it should last quite a while. I haven't used commercial bar soap in years so I guess I couldn't really speak to a comparison. I think the key is keeping it 'safe' from water and it should perform pretty well.
I only use Oil of Olay, sometimes Dove if it's a good deal. Other soaps make me itch something terrible, so I stick with those and don't experiment. A bar of soap barely lasts a week in my house, if that, and I live alone. It goes much faster if DD and her babies visit for some days. That's why I've never bought homemade soap, it seemed really expensive for just a few days' use. Until this thread, I never considered it might last longer than commercial soap does. I'm reading along just because I'm nosy, but it sounds like your soap is getting too much contact with water. Dove will melt like crazy if you keep it damp or it's getting under the spray while you shower. The kids have a bar in their shower on the rack you hang over the shower head and because it's out of the spray, it's probably 3 months old. (Only one kid uses it of the 3)
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