Teach Soap

Hey everyone!
I'm going to make my first bar of soap today and am so excited to get started. But I just wanted to ask a few questions which I hope some of you can help me with please!?

First of all I saw someone selling a bar of soap on eBay uk with cinnamon, nutmeg and sweet orange so that's what I hope to make; how much of each oil should I use? I'm hoping to just make one bar that I can cut in half for my family to sample so how much soap base should I use?

I have watched a lot of videos on you tube which have been helpful (well some at least), one lady was talking about the shampoo bar she made and she listed about 5 different oils she used as well as Shea butter and honey (she melted both beforehand), are there disadvantages to having so much oil in a soap whether it's regular soap or shampoo bar?

Also, and this is just out of interest for the future, I hope to make an oatmeal and honey soap and maybe add cocoa or shea butter - can I make such a bar using m&p? And when would I add the butter, honey and oatmeal?

Hope you all can help me out.

Let's see....141.75 grams equal to 5 ounces. For 5 ozs. I would go 20 drops at the very most. Be aware that cinnamon can be irritating on the skin, so I would use the orange the most. Shampoo bars are mostly made with oils and lye. I don't think MP base would work very well for your hair, but I could be wrong.

You can add up to 1 tablespoon of an oil or butter per 1/2 kilo of soap. If you go any higher, you will start loosing bubbles. Honey can be added, but at a very small amount. Otherwise it will make your bar sticky. You would add any extras to the MP after it has been melted. Make sure that you stir well and spritz with alcohol to reduce any bubbles.

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

I've done MP with both regular oatmeal and oatmeal powder, either works super well. My advice for adding the oatmeal is to add it last minute when the soap is at its pour temperature, if you add it while the soap is super hot it will all sink to the bottom! I've had that happen a few too many times! Also if you use the hard plastic molds I suggest you watch the temperature closely, if the soap is a little too hot your mold will warp. I know that from experience too! Ugh!

Good luck with your experimentation!!

_________________
~~Heather~~
Mad [soaping] Scientist