Teach Soap

I want to make soap now! Been waiting a week for my package of supplies. I would like to make soap today. I have on hand coconut oil, olive oil, sunflower oil and castor oil. Can I make an acceptable soap with only these oils? What percentages would you recommend? Playing with soapcalc and I put in these percentages. OO 55% CO 30% SO 10% Castor 5% Superfatted 8% What water percent? Thank you for any help you can give me.

The percentages of oils looks fine to me. Should make a nice hard bar. For a beginner batch I recommend a 38% water. It will give you more time to work with the batch. It may stay softer for a little while longer but it's not too bad of a wait. Good luck! Remember your safety gear please. I took a drop of raw soap to the eye the other day and it burned really really bad.

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Haven

I would use full water & cut the coconut down to 20%. I would also read the sticky I posted. viewtopic.php?f=2&t=3800
Good luck!

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

I did it. Made my first batch of soap. Everything went so smooth. It is now sitting on my kitchen counter. Feels pretty solid already. I know its not ready to cut but how long should I wait and how can I tell when it is ready?
MaryLou

If it gelled then cooled off, you can cut it when the top feels like firm cheese.

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

I don"t think it gelled. It didn,t heat up after I poured it. Is this a problem?
MaryLou

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

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Jeannine

~the journey is everything~

If it didn't gel, you should not test it for being lye heavy for several days. It can take a week for the saponification process to complete. I hope you ready the reply from Soapbuddy before you made your soap. Coconut oil at 30% can be very drying to the skin -- I only use that percentage in my gardening or foot bars. Still, it should be a lovely soap. Congratulations!

I no longer use sunflower oil in my soaps. I'm pretty sure that's what caused some of my soaps to smell rancid after a few months. They should last and last. Oh well.

I would like to warn you . . . making soap can be very addicting, expecially when you start experimenting with swirls and embeds and other techniques.

Have fun,

Jill

I didn't see Irena's reply before I made my soap. My final recipe was OO60% ,CO25%, Sunf.O 10% and Castor5% superfatted to 8%. It is still soft but I can wait. I hope it is not too drying. I want to make another batch but I will wait for my order from BB to arrive. I really appreciate all the support you all are giving me. It is not BBs fault it is taking so long. I used PayPal for the first time and didn't realize how long it would take for a check clear. Next time I will use a cc.
MaryLou

That should be a great bar! Wait a week and cut them into bars (unless you used individual molds). Then let them cure at least four weeks. As they cure, the water evaporates and they become harder, which makes them last longer.

I think your recipe should be lovely. I don't use sunflower oil, but I use: OO, CO, Castor oil and shea butter and it's a great bar.

My first batch is cut and sitting in my spare bedroom. I didn't think it was going to gel after I made it. When I went to bed it felt about room temp but the next morning it was warm and gelling. It definitely looks like a first batch. I didn't have a proper mold so I used the plastic pencil boxes that you can get at Walmart for .99. I lined them with sheets of plastic cut from a trash bag. It worked but not the prettiest bars. I still think they are wonderful. My package from BB finally came today so I now have more oils to work with. There was a sample bottle of woodland elf fragrance and it smells just like Christmas. My husband is going to make some wooden molds for me. He has lots of pieces of wood on hand. He is so supportive of everything I do. One batch and I am hooked on soaping.

I've made about 6000 bars of soap and I've never used a wooden mold. That's very awesome of your hubby. My molds are plastic storage boxes (about 9" x 15" x 3") from Home Depot that I line with the plastic garbage bags. Nice hubby! In my opinion, "proper mold" is whatever works for you! Congratulations on your first batch!

Jill

Congrats on your first batch!
My first 5 batches or so were in plastic containers. Then I invested in a 2# silicone mold. Use whatever works for you.

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

Congrats on your first batch! I'm new to soap making too and only have done a few batches. My husband made me a wooden mold as well. I first lined it with freezer paper. Then I watched a video of someone useing trash bags. I use Painters plastic. Works great!

Good luck on your new hobby!