Teach Soap

Ok, now that I know I can use the stick blender I have, I want to keep my first batch super simple. I was thinking of just using one type of oil, I was going to do olive oil, but after reading several people's posts about how it can be a 'slimy' soap and can take up to 6 months to be a nice bar I've changed my mind..I just don't want to wait THAT long. So then I was thinking maybe coconut, and I saw someone (I think soapbuddy) say that you should superfat at 20%. Would that be difficult to do starting off? I know I'd have to use a lye calc and it'll give me my numbers, but is it technically 'harder'? I was wondering about later/bubbles from a 100% coconut bar, and could I make it a mix of coconut/castor? I think I saw that you shouldn't use castor at more than 5%..so I guess I'd be looking at 5% castor 95% coconut oil and a 20% superfat. Anyone tried anything like this?

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~Krystal~
Sweet Destiny Candle Company

No, no, and nope. Please don't try that recipe. If you don't want to do a Castille soap we can help you with a good, slow tracing recipe. What oils do you have or are you getting? I take it olive oil, coconut and castor. Do you have another? Let us know this and we can go from there.

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

Tammy

I don't have anything yet. I'm looking for oils I can get from say walmart (or the grocery store) so nothing too exotic. Do you have reasons why this wont work, or is it just too complicated for starting? I'm definitely open to suggestions, but am looking for palm free recipes because I have no idea where to get that without ordering online, which is just not something I want to do right now.

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~Krystal~
Sweet Destiny Candle Company

You cannot do any other oil except coconut with a 20% superfat. If you have access to olive oil, do a 95% olive with 5% castor. That will give you some bubbles and make this kind of a soap less slimey. I normally superfat at 7% as that what my skin likes. You can usually find small amounts of castor in the laxative section or ask at your local pharmacy.

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

I don't care for that much olive oil either, so if you don't want to try it (and yes, it will need months to cure), then You can usually find coconut, sunflower, olive oil, sometimes soybean, usually sunflower, and sometimes safflower oils. They also have lard and crisco, which also are good additives. There are probably more I am not thinking of. I don't use palm, never have, so I know that you make a good soap without it. The only question is, which oils you want to try. We have to know that before we can create a recipe.

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

Tammy

Why not try a 75% olive, 20% coconut, and 5% castor. That would give you a nice bar with good properties and you won't have to wait 6 months to use it. Superfat at 7%.

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Haven

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

I'm sorry to jump in on your post Krystal but I hope it's ok.

So when you guys are talking percentages of oils in recipes, is there a simple way to figure that amount in ounces?

You need to enter the recipe into a lye calculator and depending on the size of the batch, it will give you the amounts. If you are doing a small batch, 1 pound, measure in grams. Its more accurate. I like to use www.soapcalc.net.

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Haven

I like 22% coconut, 8% castor and the balance in oo better if you only want those three, because it is more bubbly and creamy and a tad more rounded out, although neither are greatly rounded, both are still descent. But I'd add one more oil if it were me, to make it a bit more balanced out. Whatever works for you though, you will have descent bar and have time to soap it without being rushed with either recipe here and can always add more oils later on.

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

Tammy

Ok, I get the superfatting now..thanks Irena!

Could you use sunflower oil as a 4th Lavenderlady? I'm pretty open to ideas, as I don't really know much about the oils..

Katie, no worries, you're asking good questions, and we're all here to learn!

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~Krystal~
Sweet Destiny Candle Company

Yes, you could use sunflower, but probably would only get similar numbers as the recipes already given, maybe even softer. You really need a secondary hard oil or butter to support that end of things. So a lard, crisco, cocoa butter or some other type of butter would be best. Really, the two recipes above, with the 3 oils are probably good ones to start with. I think you'll like the feel of those and the numbers are okay, while still giving you time to get everything traced and poured.


ETA: You can even do a 100% crisco soap, or a
44% Crisco, 28% Olive and 28% Coconut soap

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

Tammy

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

Alright Linda, you've convinced me I was thinking about doing this one anyway, it seems pretty straight forward, which is a good place to start. Thank you all for your input, I'm sure I'll have more questions!

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~Krystal~
Sweet Destiny Candle Company