Teach Soap

As a very new soap maker I am having some problems. Made two batches - the first one with olive oil and bees wax. I added goodies of kelp powder and cucumber melon FO. It does not smell good! . I blamed it on the additives. So my second batch I used palm, coconut, veg shortening, olive oil. I added goodies of honey, cinnamon and oatmeal. It too had that funky smell but is lightening up alittle. I was so happy I was able to identiy trace and unmold the soaps but don't think these will work for gifts. Has anyone else had this issue? I'm hoping to try another batch tomorrow but am alittle concerned since I don't know what I have done wrong. Suggestions are appreciated. Susie

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Susie
Sometimes A Mistake is so much fun, You just have to do it again!

I know you are probably excited about making your own soap, but please, start out simple. Make a small 1 lb. batch with no additives. Add a little scent to the next batch. If that comes out well, add a little color next.
I don't think kelp powder and cucumber melon FO is a good combo. Honey can make your soap overheat if you use too much. Cinnamon can be irritating; or if you are using cinnamon powder, too scratchy.

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

I agree with soap buddy, start simple like a basic uncented, no color lard or castille soap or even crisco. I understand the excitement which will undoubtably grow with each successul batch. I do alot of playing with recipies in my mind and formulating on soapcalc before I ever start a new formulation - part of the creative process I guess. And when I first started it was many many batches before I added scents & colors. You'll find you can make some truly truly wonderful simple unscented soaps.

Just out of curiousity, why the beeswax?

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Sunkawakan
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Finally open!
Blog -

kelp needs to be used sparingly. it has a terrible stink, i'm sorry to say.

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I got the first recipe from a "hand made soap book" it was for bees wax and kelp. I changed to the cucumber melon because my husband uses that scent in his candles and it was always a favorite of everyone. I do think that the combination of kelp powder and cucumber was a poor choice and will limited my kelp use to zero for now. Kelp is reported as very good for our skin so maybe someday I will make a SMALL batch just for me with only kelp. I'm also thinking that maybe the honey had something to do with it - even though we had added some in the class I took, mine was listed as raw honey and maybe that made a difference.
So, I did my third batch this afternoon.... took my recipe to a soap calc to reduce to 2.5#, NO coloring, but I could not resist the scent.... I kept it light.... 0.5oz of the free sample matcha tea (THANKS BB). So far so good. I am enjoying the process.... makes me practice patience. I'll let you know how it is after I unmold it Friday. Until then I will get rid of the first batch.... the second may be saveable if I get it away from the first one!
Thanks for the help! Susie

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Susie
Sometimes A Mistake is so much fun, You just have to do it again!

Glad to hear that your second batch came out better. Congrats!

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