Teach Soap

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Linda
I know the voices in my head aren't real, but they sure have some great ideas!

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

Thanks for clearing up that you guys! I was wondering about that. i.e. is this stuff from whales or fossils or trees or what?? LOL.

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I soap therefore I am.

You can buy an amber oil, but it is [usually] amber that is mixed in a base of beeswax and combined with other essential oils and carrier oils. True amber resins should not contain artificial ingredients, petroleum by-products, or have any mineral base.
As SB said you can use a small piece to add into your soap, but you can also make it into an oil yourself, by infusing your resin pieces into the carrier oil of your choice. And know that a small amount goes a very long way.

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Remember, it's not just that we weather the storm, but how we dance in the rain.

Tammy

Thanks!

So if you dilute it in a carrier oil than you'd treat that like an infusion, yes? i.e. it goes into the lye calculator as x% of your oils or whatever...

Where can one buy amber resin? I've been hunting around on the 'net but it seems that many soap suppliers just don't deal in amber.

Karri

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I soap therefore I am.

I crushed my resin into olive oil and used that infusion as part of my olive oil amount in soap. I did heat it up in my mini crock pot for a couple of hours, then strained it.

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

So I rec'd my copaiba today and it does smell wonderful! More woody than I anticipated but in a good way. Definitely a warm note in there somewhere that's more food-y than say cedarwood.

Also got a wee bottle of cardamom (holy cow that stuff is expensive). Very yummy smelling!

Sigh. So many soaping possibilities and only 7 (very late) nights in a week to make it all!
Karri

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I soap therefore I am.

I do mine like SB said she does hers.
Yep, there are a few spices that are very expensive to cook or to make soap with.
And yep, so little time, so many things to try and soap with!

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Remember, it's not just that we weather the storm, but how we dance in the rain.

Tammy

Cardamon is my newest go to oil. I just love the way it smells and adds richness to blends.

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

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I soap therefore I am.