Teach Soap

My typical batch of soap is 40 ounces of fats/oils. Typically, I use 1 oz. of FO for these batches. While the soap smells good, I guess the final product when used doesn't really "smell" on my skin. I'm testing these batches out as they become ready to use & before I decide to market them. Right now the FO's that I have are Bramble Berry brands (I do love them! ) and I have: Sleeping Angels, Sleigh Ride, Soapy Clean, Buttercream & Snickerdoodle, Baby Rose, Ginger Orange, and Applejack Peel. Any thoughts, advice, words of wisdom, or just plain old "This is what you need to do" would be great!

For 40 ozs. of oils that's 2.5 lbs. I would use 1.7 ozs. of fragrance for a strong scent, or 1.5 ozs. for a medium strength. I would start off with 1.5 ozs. and see if that's strong enough for you.

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

Thank you, soapbuddy Outside of the scent being too strong, will it hurt anything if too much FO is used? I always read if the FO will bring the soap to trace quickly, discoloring, etc.

Hi Ace! I typically use 1oz per pound so soapbuddy is right on ( as usual!!). The discoloration and acceleration is very specific to the scent you pick. Read the description of the scent carefully and it will usually tell you if it accelerates-- quick trace to seize--- and/or if it discolors. It may also depend on your recipe. I have had 2 scents cause oil separation during the first 24 hrs--- nothing was posted to say this may happen. So my biggest advise is to buy new scents in small amts--- 2oz so that you can see how it acts in your particular recipe. Some scents also fade after 4weeks while others are great stickers-- even after a year. It's a trial and error thing and just part of the fun.

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You may be only one person to the world, but you may also be the world to one person

Hi knine Have not had oil separation yet......sounds bad. What actually happens? What does the soap look like when this happens? Is it able to be salvaged?

Well, I can tell you what it looks like. Oil actually sits on the surface of the curing soap. Sometimes it soaks back in especially if there's not too much of it. Sometimes if it soaks back in, it's not a smooth surface. Other times it just stays "goopy" and can't be used as is. I have often wondered exactly what the chemistry is behind it because the soap traces fine and it's a recipe that works fine with most fo's but when the "culprit" is added, there's usually acceleration, then the oil slick ...... Anyway you can look up info on rebatching if it doesn't soak back in however I have not done that. . I just choose not to use that fragrance oil again.

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You may be only one person to the world, but you may also be the world to one person