Teach Soap

Does anyone else make salt bars? Just wondering. I'm pretty intrested in them. I tried to download a pic here but it wouldn't work. You can see it here though: http://luxurysoap.blogspot.com/
I would like to see pictures of others.
Do they sell well?

I tried them, but they weren't a big seller.

_________________
Irena
Closed minds are like faulty parachutes; they refuse to open.

I sell a ton of them, but they did take a while to catch on. I don't necessarily agree with everything in the blog post you linked to, about how to make them.

Here's the section to my Etsy shop with the salt bars:

_________________
http://www.magichandsworkshop.com
http://www.magichands.etsy.com
http://www.magichandsworkshop.blogspot.com

Magic your bars are beautiful! What is it that you don't agree with on my blog. I'm intrested in anyones take on salt bars. The information I put on the blog was gathered from research over the net. I'd like to hear your version on how to make them:)
Thanks

Thanks for the compliment - yours are lovely, too!

I didn't disagree with a lot of it, though my first post sounded like I probably did (sorry, I should read more carefully before I post). I haven't found the 20% superfat to be necessary - that came about through 2 different things. First, people were making salt bars at the normal superfat range. Then later somebody tried a 100% coconut bar with a 20% superfat. Somehow a lot of people confused those two things, and started saying that all salt bars needed a 20% superfat so they wouldn't be drying. But I've never found that to be true.

I also wouldn't necessarily use a regular soap recipe. They work the best for me with 90-100% coconut. I get a lot of lather, and people like them.

Some things are just better when they're simpler.

_________________
http://www.magichandsworkshop.com
http://www.magichands.etsy.com
http://www.magichandsworkshop.blogspot.com

When I went back and read my article I see you are right I made it sound like you HAD to superfat 20%. Your right you don't, and the actual bar I made was superfated 15% and 70% coconut.

I agree also that more coconut is best, but I believe you can use any recipe.

I will go back and work on my article Thanks I'll have to be more careful in the future how I write things out.

I'll be careful, too! I really didn't mean to be insulting, thanks for being so gracious.

_________________
http://www.magichandsworkshop.com
http://www.magichands.etsy.com
http://www.magichandsworkshop.blogspot.com

LOL, it's ok HUGS!

MagicHands - how did you manage to swirl the salt bars? is it easier to do with CP than with MP?

_________________
~Shell

I don't do M&P very much, so I think most things are easier in CP - but that's just my own bias, lol.

Salt bars are not terribly hard to swirl - I add the fragrance to the oils before I add my lye water, and add the salt right away, then seperate and add color to part of the soap just as soon as I get light trace. Stir in completely, dump back in the main bucket, and pour.

I'd only try it with a tried and true FO or EO that I'd worked with before, that I knew for sure didn't accellerate. Something like the Sensuous Sandalwood that Brambleberry has - that one actually slows down trace for me, so I know I'd have all the time in the world to work with it.

I've also noticed that colors morph a bit in salt bars, so as long as you're testing the fragrance, test the color. Oxides and ultramarines seem to be the most stable, but it might be different in someone else's formula.

_________________
http://www.magichandsworkshop.com
http://www.magichands.etsy.com
http://www.magichandsworkshop.blogspot.com

kewl! sounds pretty easy

_________________
~Shell

100 % coconut oil salt bars sounds like it would be a really hard finished bar if I want to try making salt bars here in Thailand....at least during the winter when the humidity is pretty low.

My only question is; doesn't it make skin dry? That's what makes me really skeptical bout using all coconut oil, I've always heard that although it will lather in sea water, it's very drying to the skin.

Thanks,
SabuuFong

That's why you up the superfat percentage. The next batch I do I would like to add some cocoa butter. I think it can be added at trace....gotta make sure first

Just try you a one pound batch and see if you like it. I'm told that it is not as rough as you would think. But mine is still curing and I haven't got to try one yet

_________________
http://www.magichandsworkshop.com
http://www.magichands.etsy.com
http://www.magichandsworkshop.blogspot.com

I love salt bars! In fact, the only handmade soap my husband used was one of Magic Hands salt bars.
He's not a solid soap lover.

I am also one that doesn't do a 20% superfat with them.
Generally, I use 80% coconut oil and 20% other oils that I'm in the mood for.
Salt bars seem to slow trace for me. I can soap Salty Mariner very well in them.
They are fun to make and wonderful to use.
I can never say enough about them. I need to make a batch, dangit!