Teach Soap

Hello everyone! I just found your forum and have read many helpful comments on cold-process soap making. Thanks for that! I do have one question. I like to use these 4 ingredients for my soaps, but what is the best percentages for each when making a 2 lb. batch of soap?

Olive Oil
Coconut Oil
Vegetable Shortening
Vegetable Oil

Thanks!
Vicki

Welcome!
I would use the olive at 40%, coconut at 20%, then depending which vegetable oil and which vegetable shortening (there are many), I would use for the rest. You could use some castor in there too for bubbles.

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

Thanks so much! I do have some castor oil and will add that too. This forum is really a great place and I look forward to finding more valuable information.

Happy soaping everyone!!

Vicki

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

No I've been using the cold process method for about 2 years now. I've never used the MP method. I like the chemistry involved with the saponification. I researched all the necessary precautions, then made my first batch and I was hooked. My recipe is usually the same 4 or 5 ingredients though. I just couldn't figure out the best ratio. I actually just make soap for myself and and a few friends so I try to keep the cost down by using ingredients I can get locally. I do order my fragrance from Bramble Berry though - they're awesome!

As far as ingredients go, should I try using a different type of shortening other than Crisco? I was having trouble with my bars after about 3 - 4 months - they would lose all the scent and turn very hard and yellow. Do you know what might cause that? I was using equal parts of all 4 ingredients: coconut oil, olive oil, crisco, and soybean oil.

There's heaps of good recipe's on here... as well as google can provide you thousands of others, all with the percentages of each oils. I'm amazed you've been doing it for two years without having a set recipe down.

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The Soapinatrix! *whip-crack*
- Posting the trials and tribulations of my Soaping Journey!

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

No, no not selling them. It was for personal use. I would just make one batch and divide them with friends. We would use them pretty fast. So I though the recipe would work - until I had to store a few. I'm just now starting to experiment with other recipes. I'll search the forum for better recipes.

Thanks guys!

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

Hi Vwel! you could also check Kathy Miller's site for some recipe ideas: www.millersoap.com
She has a whole section for recipes using crisco. I've never used all vegetable shortening in my soap, but I have used the shortening from walmart that's a combo of beef tallow and palm oil - it makes a really nice soap. I used it at 35% along with olive, coconut & castor oils.

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