Teach Soap

Reading over my liquid soapmaking book before I jump back in tomorrow, and I happened to stop randomly on a page with a big title 'Preservatives'. Guess what it advises you to use? Rosemary Extract or Vitamin E!!

/sigh

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

Man that is a bummer! It's so hard to get out the "right" message when there are so many resources out there that practice the "wrong" one. *sigh*

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Lisa
“What soap is to the body, laughter is to the soul” ~ Yiddish proverb

I know what you mean.

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

You would be surprised (or not) how many of the older books regard Vit E., Grapefruit seed extract or Rosemary oleoresin extract as preservatives.

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

I've seen this book recommended so many times - even called 'the bible of liquid soaps' before. That's why I picked it up months ago...

Has a very orange and pink cover.

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

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

Carrot root oil? That's a new one on me. I just went to their web site and used their contact button and wrote this.

"Handmade soaps do not need a preservative. The ones you list like Grapefruit seed extract and Vit E are anti-oxidants only. They help extend the shelf life of oils, but they are not preservatives, natural or otherwise. Carrot root oil is not an anti-oxidant or a preservative. Your info is misleading to those that are just starting out making soaps. I have been making soaps since 1969, so I do have experience in thise dept. I suggest that you change that info on your web site.
Sincerely,
Irena"

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

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

Yep. My first book was The Soapmaker's Companion, and she recommends GSE as a preservative, even in bar soaps. It took some research to discover that it has been discredited even as a preservative, let alone in the water-and-oil emulsions she has recipes for.

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Lesli Sagan
Avital's Apiaries
Like us: http://www.facebook.com/AvitalsApiaries

I remember when I read about Grapefruit seed extra when I firt started making soap.

And I had just finished 2 semesters of Chemistyr at University, allong with Microbiology.

In my mind I was like "Why would soap need a preservative? Salt doens't go bad!" (Or at least it takes a long time for the breakdown on the chemicals)

It never occured to me that Grapefruit seed extra would not even work as a preservative in the first place.

lol.

I'm glad I studied Chemistry. Although those courses were bloody difficult, and I'm not persuing a science background anymore. It came in handy when I decided to make soap.

Kat, I am curious.... if you have given up science\chemistry what did you change to?

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

Hi, I'm new here and just jumping in. So, regarding vitamin E: I'm looking into goatsmilk soap and wanted to know- will the vitamin E help it have a longer shelf life at all? Should I even bother adding it?

If so, when do I add it? (I can't seem to find this info anywhere.) Should I add it to the oils before mixing in lye solution? Should I consider it as part of the oils in the recipe?

TIA!

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

Thank you for the reply!