Teach Soap

I've made that recipe, too--I use it as shampoo! There are a few bottles around that are months old, no problems. In fact, it's in foaming bottles, so the soap is pretty dilute. I'm really flummoxed! How did you measure the pH? I've been thinking of getting a meter...

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Lesli Sagan
Avital's Apiaries
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pH 8 is too high for a lot of preservatives. sorbate and benzoate only work at pH 6 or lower. I tried Spectrastat once to preserve a shampoo and it messed up the shampoo. It sure looks like the batch went off due to flora and fauna, though. Maybe at pH 8, it isn't alkaline enough to discourage growth of organisms? I don't know enough about it to guess.

That recipe was my very first liquid soap batch and had zero problems with nasties growing in it. It didn't thicken up like hers so maybe I didn't use enough salt solution. Hmm, may try again. Coolah's success has encouraged me to work on a shower gel again.

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Linda

I learn so much when I can't leave well enough alone!

Which of AM's recipes did you guys use? She lists a few in the PDF that comes with the kit. I did give it a shot and wasn't happy with it in my hair, but I'm going to let it cure more and try again.

Mine was a bit different--90 olive oil, 10 castor (I think A-M's is 24 oz olive 4 oz castor). I was hoping for a baby-type soap, and I felt it worked pretty well as a shower gel/shampoo, at least for curly or dry hair.

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Lesli Sagan
Avital's Apiaries
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The one I really messed up on was just olive and castor.

I can't find the sheet for the 2nd one, but I added a bit of coconut and I think shea. I really need to clean off my desk!

Because I've removed all scents to see if my cat gets better, I am now using a Kiss My Face 100% olive oil bar in the shower. Not sure I'm liking that too much for my hair!

I've also used VT soap "castile" and a Dr. Woods until I figure this whole liquid soap thing out. So far I like the Dr. Woods better in my hair but I still find I have to do a vinegar rinse every couple of weeks.

I have not had to use conditioner yet this winter!!

I forget the recipe off hand, its the one Anne Marie makes in the paid for liquid soap video. I've made a few batches of it, all around pH8, and all fine except that first batch.

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~~Heather~~
Mad [soaping] Scientist

I'll look through it agin. I think I skipped a couple or her recipes as they had palm and I didn't think I bought some, but I ended up finding a pound in my box. Thinking of placing another order soon. I did get that video with my kit, can't believe how many times I watched it! Getting itchy to try again lol

Mine is just olive and castor.

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~~Heather~~
Mad [soaping] Scientist

The olive/castor one was the one I completely ruined. When I tried the second time, I added 10% coconut and 5% SAO. Next time I'll eliminate at least the coconut, maybe just try the olive/castor again.

Mellifera, do you have to use a vinegar rinse sometimes?

I also did not have much luck thicken up the soap with the salt solution. I am thinking that next time around I may cut down on the water and see if that works better

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Roxana
*** Just keep trying
Follow my Soaping Journey at:

I will do the same thing. I followed the BB instructions, but kind of had a feeling on that last addition that I should have halved it!