Have a Soap Making Question?

Homemade Vanilla In Lye Soap 
I made a batch of lye soap and used me homemade vanilla at the end when I would usually add an essential oil. I added about 4oz. I have read that I should …

Speeding Up The Cold Process? 
I've heard of a way to speed up the curing process using the oven. Do you know of this method? If so will it work on your Cold Process recipe's? …

100% coconut oil soap could not stir in seconds 
This is my first time making 100% coconut oil soap and when I mixed the lye water mix to the coconut oil it started to be thick. I hand wisked it for …

Powdered coffee creamer 
Can I add powdered coffee creamer to cold process soap recipes? Answer: I'm going to assume you are referring to products like 'Coffee Mate', etc. …

Crumble free sea salt soap 
I'm working on a sea salt soap and want it to be relatively crumble free. It's been a challenge, and perhaps it's impossible without reducing the amount …

Color change in goats milk soap 
I recently tried my hand at goats milk cp. Using a 1 lb recipe and using frozen goats milk as the water phase - keeping all temps below 88 degrees. …

Soybean Oil Alternative 
I am new to soap making... If I have a soy protein allergy and (though not common) have been told to stay away from soybean oil-is this safe to use in …

Soap Swirling 
My CP soap is turning out beautifully! I've found a recipe I can trust. In my research, it seems colorant "penetrates" the loaf better if the soap …

Oil pool in hot process soap! 
Hi! I've been doing soap for over a year and never had any major problem, but I just made a honey soap that won't become soap.... It's just a pool of oil …

Cupcake Scented Soap 
I've found a ton of cupcake soap recipes, but all of them are for making cupcake SHAPED soap. I was wondering if you had any suggestions on ingredients …

Goats milk shampoo and preservatives 
I have a few goats and am looking for a pet shampoo recipe using 100 percent milk. I am also finding it hard to get info on as natural as possible preservatives. …

Essentional Oil recommendation 
Hi Cathy, I'm interested in trying the spoon swirl method of making soap. In your recipe for this method that you have on this site, you mentioned …

Dog soap 
What would be good smelling essential oils for a dog soap recipe? Answer: I would suggest using ones that are gentle on the skin, repel insects …

liquid glycerin 
Hello, I am rawan from middle east-Joradan, well my wedding is in July and I want to prepare a home made soap as bridal shower party give away. I …

May cooking methods be interchanged in a recipe ? 
Hi Cathy, Thank you for your wonderful site !! May cooking methods be interchanged in a recipe ? May a cold/room process recipe be made in a slow …

Thank you 
I had a question until I found your website. As a new soap maker I didn't understand what ratios to use and I needed to know as I can't get a lot of these …

Has this ever happened to you before- colourless crackles in soap? 
Hi, 1. In my last two CP batches I have noticed colourless crackles - like sort of color separation throughout entire soap (see photo). I have done …

Hot Process Soap Problems 
I made HP soap base 2% superfatting, solid cotton oil, soybean oil blend, I added 4.51 oz to account for the M&D as palm oil premixed into my recipe. I …

Evaporation of Essential Oils 
I am making totally organic goats milk soap with essential oils. It is evaporating within two weeks after making it. Should I be wrapping it so it is air …

Mixing rebatched shreds into CP soap batter 
I have visited this subject quite a while ago but would like to get an update from members with any new comments.. I have a lot of rebatch soap shreds …

Titanium Dioxide 
I have tried using a water based Titanium Dioxide in my CP soap and I am not happy with the results. I use 1 teaspoon of TD per pound of oils, mixing …

Kids soap making 
I have been asked to teach kids ow to make soap, however I make my soap with lye....not a good idea for kids. can you give me a recipe/package that I can …

Waxy feeling soap 
I made soap using 1lb beeswax, 1lb crisco and 16 oz canola oil, soap set up but feels waxy and hand to use--what did I do wrong Answer: That amount …

How to make white soap? 
I have made several batches of soap and they all are tan or brown or some off color. I would like to make a really white soap - something like the …

Click here to write your own.

Beef Tallow Soap? 
Is there a recipe that you can just use cow Tallow in? Without using all the other oils? If not why? I am new to the soap making but I have my own …

Goat milk soap failed...what went wrong? 
Wanted to make goat milk soap for my daughter's acne.....a first time try at soap making :-( Used a recipe I saw on Martha's show.... goat milk 12oz …

3 in 1 
Hi Cathy, First I would like to say that I really appreciate your time and advice you share with us! I have few questions that are running through …

Can i substitute coconut oil for palm oil? 
Hi there, I am wanting to go palm free. I am wondering if I can replace the palm oil with coconut oil in my recipe (I am already using coconut oil so I …

Butcher v Parchment paper? 
Hi! Making my first batch of soap after pouring over your site for many days - THANK YOU!! Can I use parchment paper instead of butcher paper to line …

Can any 1 pound recipe be changed to a 15 pound recipe just by calculating? 
First of all, thank you for providing all the information you have. For your Lemon Verbena recipe how big of a batch does it make? And is it safe to …

Room temperature soap 
I am new to saop making and the first batch I made I tried the room tempurture method, upon completing it I did the zap test. I couldn't find any information …

Not sure if its right? 
I made this a week ago today and its still soft but you had to apply a bit a pressure to it to make a finger print. It has a white film that I can peel …

Why is my soap still runny 10 hours after I poured it? 
I made a honey, almond milk, oatmeal soap this morn and 10 hours later it still is runny? This has never happened to me before. The recipe said not to …

Bees wax and honey 
I know to add honey at light trace, but I would like to use the room temperature method and I am not sure when to add the bees wax. Should I put it with …

SCALES 
I have a very good, accurate digital postal scale but it will only weigh up to 10 pounds. Would I be able to use it? Would hate to have to buy another …

Oil Choices for Us Are Limited 
My daughter has many sensitivites so I was wondering just how much can I alter the oils. Not allergies, but sensitivities so using as little of the other …

Adding pictures and layering MP and CP soap 
I am trying to think of a way to put pictures onto my CP soap bars. Would it be possible to add a picture that is on water soluble paper by layering MP …

Salt Soap Scrub 
Thank you for your website and wonderful information along with all the ideas and recipes. I tried your salt soap recipe yesterday. Scales to the following …

What is lard?? 
I note that lard is listed in your recipe but we don't really have lard in Australia so what can I use instead?? Answer: Lard is pig fat. Visit …

Mold Pouring 
I have a heart 6 cavity mold, the soap site said they should hold about 3 oz. ea. equaling 18 oz...2.5 x 2.5 x 1.25 x .40= 18.75...that being stated.... …

The Dreaded orange spots! 
I am not sure where to start. But I will give it a try. I have asked you questions in the past and thank you very much for all your help. I am Still trying …

The Color Purple  
I use the Room Tempature and/or CP method with essential oils to scent and oxides for coloring to make my soaps with much satisfaction. I do have a problem …

What stage do i add the fresh aloe vera gel in hp soap  
Hi every one i have been googling this question all i get is melt and pour formulas, The soap recipe i am working with has palm stearin ,coconut and olive …

Light Trace...or Not Yet Traced? 
My gracious...this measure of trace is stressful! I've got this soap-making thing going pretty well, if I do say. I've made my mistakes, I've gotten …

Cover soap with Blanket? 
I watched a video about soap making the other day and the soap maker cover the soap with a heated blanket for 24 hours after the soap has been made. Is …

Rosehip soap 
I made a soap tonight, I bought a cold process soap kit for a beginner from one of the supplier here in Australia. I followed all the instruction but didn't …

Castille Soap - Water: Lye Ratio and Curing time 
I want your advise about the castille olive oil soap. One friend told me that in soapcalc i have to insert Water: Lye Ratio: 1:1 and when i make it …

Soap Base 
Hi, So good to come across your website. I had a quick question but something I've been going crazy about. I live in india and can't find lye, sodium …

What are the best oils for swirl technique soap 
I would like to learn the swirl technique soapmaking. What are the best oils to use in this soapmaking method. Answer: Most recipes are fine to …

Click here to write your own.

My wrapped soaps and shop :) 
http://www.etsy.com/shop/PhiloSoapyUSA or https://copious.com/profiles/daniele-brodeur I wrap my soaps in cellophane, one by one, and I put the label …

Decorative tops and soda ash 
I love all the beautiful tops--thick swirls etc but how do you deal with soda ash? I have always laid plastic wrap directly on the soap but did a thick …

Extreme Humidity 
I made my very first batch of CP soap a week ago. I expected it to be ready to cut 2 days later. The PH came back at 9, but, the soap seemed too mushy …

Adding Sponges 
When do I add sponges to my soap before it hardens? Answer: For cold process soap making, sponges are added to the soap when the soap reaches a …

White Camellia Soap 
I am fairly new to soapmaking but getting better all the time, I finally purchased the oils i needed to make your white camellia soap, the only thing is …

Sagging in the middle 
I did a 1.5kg batch placed it in a wooden mold and let set for 2 days. The soap had sagged in the middle by about 1/4 inch (5mm). What would cause the …

Shampoo Bars 
I will be attempting to make my first batch of Shampoo Bars pretty soon. I was wanting to add some of the following ingredients to the recipe: Honey-for …

Aloe Plants in Soap? 
Hello, First off, I am very sorry for your loss. I hope the happy memories help the healing. Next, I was wondering if you could use the 'juice' from …

Room temperature method and plastic soap molds 
First of all, please let me congratulate you for your website. It has inspired me to give soap making a try and I can't wait to get going. I have a couple …

Won't soponify 
I have made your goats milk, lavender soap, your exact recipe and I cannot understand why it will not trace and what I should do with my pot of expensive …

Tussah Silk in CP Soap 
I recently purchase some tussah silk to add to some shampoo, but realised the type of silk I purchased was not a liquid but of a fibrous material. I would …

Whipped soap frosting 
I would like to decorate my soaps with a whipped frosting. My query is WHEN do I apply the frosting?S Also, since the frosting is cold, can I still apply …

Can I mix 2 different types of alcohol to get to a 70-140% alcohol level for transparent soap? 
The recipe for transparent soap asks for no less than 70% proof and better still-140% proof alcohol. Where I live the highest % of Gin/Vodka is 43%. Can …

My soap has white spot 
HI there, i am new in soap making. i do not know who to ask and i found your website :) i have read up on the similar scenario on your web. but i am …

No insulation?! Help! 
I made my first batch of soap and completely forgot to wrap in a blanket. 2 days later and my soap seems really soft-- normal? What should I do? Thanks …

How to identify a soap smell 
I found and have a bar of soap that I really enjoy. How do I find out what the aroma is? I stoppped using the bar of soap and put it in a plastic bag. …

My beer soap didn't set! 
I followed the directions for making beer soap with a locally-produced pale ale. I let the ale go totally flat and combined ingredients as I normally do. …

Making soap from homemade lye 
I have searched for days to find correct measurements for making soap from homemade lye(the kind that is liquid and ready, not crystallized). Do you happen …

Replacing canola  
Hello everyone. I am new in soap making and I find your site one of the most helpful. Now I have a problem. I want to replace canola oil with sunflower …

Adding sodium lactate 
To add powdered sodium lactate to my cp soap, do I do it at trace or another time? Answer: I've not used it myself but I believe you add it to …

Fruit and Preservatives 
I am a newbie to soap making. During the time I've been researching I've been thinking about recipes. I myself would like to experiment with using real …

Goats milk 
Why my goats milk turn brown? Answer: Goat's milk and lye react with one another so a soap made with goat's milk will turn brown and sometimes …

Cocoa in soap making 
Can we use cocoa powder/ovaltine in soap making? Answer: You certainly can use cocoa powder in soap making. Not sure about ovaltine as I am unaware …

Liquid soap separating 
I'm trying to make liquid castile soap, but it keeps separating no matter what I do. Any ideas? Answer: Sorry but I specialize in cold process …

Using liquid lye solutions 
I am looking for a basic recipe, olive oil and coconut oil , I will be using a liquid lye solution 30% lye concentration. How much oils do I need and do …

Click here to write your own.

How do you determine how much stearic acid to add? 
Hi Cathy...Thank you so much for answering everyone's questions. :) I have been learning a lot! Thanks Again. Now It's my turn for a question......or …

Storage during curing time 
I am trying to figure the best way to store the soap while it is curing for 5-6 weeks. Does it have to sit out in the air totally? I am concerned about …

Brown Streaks Through Out My Soap 
I made a Room Temperature Cold Process Soap 4 days ago and I allowed it to cure about 24 hours in the wooden mold I have and put the secure fitting Lid …

Local Suppliers vs. Purchasing Online 
I started making my own soap about a year ago. I love it - cannot say enough good things about its amazing benefits! I'm having a problem with not …

FDA guidelines 
Hi, First I want to say : I love your site, and am so thankful to have stumbled across it months ago!!!!! I have asked a few questions here and there, …

Cow's Milk Liquid Soap 
Is it possible to use cow's milk for the dilution of the paste instead of water? I've seen the recipes for adding slushy to frozen milk for the "lye/water" …

my lye solution and oils separated, what do i do now? 
I have a bowl of stuff, thick stuff topped with oils that smell like lavender and vanilla. What am I supposed to do with that stuff? Answer: I …

Problems with Chalky edges and tops of Soap using the Shea Butter Soap Recipe 
I have been using your Shea butter recipe- many times with great success and others had problems with a chalky/ flaky outer layer and tops. I also see …

Butcher paper sticking to soap 
I've lined my wood molds with butcher paper, and the paper is sticking to the soap! The soap seems to be soaking thru the paper. It's done this on the …

Laundry Soap 
Why will homemade soaps leave film or whites gray? What to do to wash the soap out of clothes? Answer: Try using vinegar in the rinse cycle. It …

Substitute for coconut oil & Palm Oil oil 
I read that the palm oil is not environmentally friendly and coconut oil, although is very cleanse but creates dry skin. I read the table in section …

Silk in homemade soap 
How much silk to put in soap? Answer: Most soap making suppliers recommend adding in between 2% - 5%. Cathy

Home made lemon soap 
When making lemon soap can I add the spice turmeric to make my soap a yellow color? Answer: You certainly can add turmeric to handmade soap. It …

Soap wrappers. 
I would like to print my own soap wrappers and was wondering if there is an inexpensive program out there that does this? Also, thanks for all the …

Nikki Hoefer wrap 
Can you give me instructions on that cute packaging by Nikki Hoefer. It is the half box with the cute flower on the front. Thank you Kathy Sheeran …

Green Spots 
I have been using my Shampoo soap for about a month leaving it in the shower between washes. I have seen 2 Dark "Green" spots on the soap and was wondering …

Trace overmix? 
I just did my first trial for making soap and my trace became as potato mash very quick and I'm not sure about my soap color too :( What did I do wrong? …

Using Lye 
I can't use Lye. Can these soap recipes be made without the lye? Answer: "Soap" is the result of a chemical reaction between lye and oil. Unfortunately, …

What did people use before soaps came to existence? 
I was working on a history of soap making. I would like to know : 1. What did people, especially in India use before soaps came into existence, for …

Fresh Goats Milk vs Powdered for Soap Recipe 
I live a very long way from civilization, where goats milk isn't available, however, I am able to access powdered goats milk from an online supplier in …

Sw. Almond/Vit. E (80:20 blend) 
Hi Cathy! I LOVE your site and have learned so much from you!! I noticed you use this Sw. Almond/Vit. E (80:20 blend) in your basic homeade recipe. …

Coconut vs Palm Oil-allergies 
I want to say thank you for your website/blog. It has been a tremendous resource and I am always learning something new every time someone posts another …

Vanilla pods and/or essence in soap 
Thanks for such an informative site! I'd like to know if I can use ordinary food grade vanilla essence in soap making? I'd also love to use the ground …

After setting in mold for 24 hrs.  
I make homemade goat milk soap. I am wondering why I am getting lumps on the top of my loafs of soap? Can you help me? Thanks.... Answer: Could …

Used wicks 
Can you re-use unburnt wicks stripped from candles? Answer: For what purpose are you wanting to use them? I can't think of anything related to …

Click here to write your own.

Laundry Soap & Household Recipes 
I Would love to try out the laundry soap & other household cleaning recipes. However, one of the ingredients, namely 'BORAX' Is banned for use in the …

The price of soap (?) 
Hello Cathy Im newbie in handmade soap but i loved it! I read and i learn every day new things and your site and your advices is a truly treasure of knowledge! …

Would you help me find a supplier? 
I am really enjoying your website! I am having a difficult time trying to find someone that carries the grape seed oil and the camilla tea seed oil …

Glycerine Usage in Whipped Shea Body Butter 
As a newbie, I have been wondering: 1.What percentage of glycerine should be used when making whipped body butters? 2.What is the main purpose(s) …

Shampoo PH 
What is the proper PH for hot process shampoo? I added hydrolized silk and it looks like it is about an 8.5 is that ok. This is my first time. Answer: …

Confused about the ratios of ingredients? 
I am new to the soap making world. I have been trying to read as much information as I can. I have a couple of books (old ones), but they were confusing …

How To Work Out Percentages of a Recipe 
I would like to know HOW to work out the percentages of a soap recipe. For example, if I want to use 65% of olive oil and 15% of palm oil, 20% coconut …

Confectioners Sugar? 
I noticed you use confectioners sugar in a lot of your recipes. Can you tell me how you incorporate it into your soap mix and why you use it? Thanks so …

Liquid vegetable shortening in making bar soap? 
Can I use a liqiud vegetable shortening in making bar soap? Answer: As long as you know what vegetable the oil is made from and what the SAP value …

How to stop greasy soap at market stall? 
I made some melt n pour soaps to sell at a craft market. However, the weather was a little warm/humid and they became so greasy I couldn't even pick them …

Soda Ash 
I notice soda ash on top of my soap even though I have covered it with cling film. I think the US call it Saran wrap? Does the cling film need to be …

Trace too thick, too fast 
Our soap traced faster than we thought it would and didn't get to pour into molds. We had to spoon into molds and aren't really sure if we packed it in …

Same batch- different look 
I'm trying to understand what happened to my soap. I havo no experience (this is my third batch). I made a batch of soap with coconut, palm, olive pomace, …

Does Anyone Know A Very Slow Tracing Recipe 
Does anyone know of a fool-proof 'slow tracing' recipe? I would love to try doing some swirls but by the time I mix the colours to the trace, my recipes …

Which grade of oil? 
I am looking at wholesale oil suppliers for good value oils to use for cold process soapmaking. My thoughts are that I don't want to waste money on buying …

CP soap stinging some people after full cure 
Is there something to add to cp soap to avoid stinging in tender areas that some people get? Answer: I'm afraid not. What you need to figure …

I am allergic to coconut  
I was wondering if I could substitute Babassu oil for coconut oil. Coconuts oils INS value is 248 and Babassu is 234. I am having a hard time finding recipes …

Room temp soapmaking 
I am wondering if anyone has tried the room temperature soapmaking method using beer, wine or milk as the liquid? Is this safe and does it work? Are there …

E/O confusing  
According to your site I added 3 tsp per pound E.O. and didn't get quite right result. I added 12 tsp for 1417 grams soap and you told me "You can use …

M & P Organic Soap Base - Can I make it white with TD? 
I love M & P soaps. I really do. But I have a problem with one of its ingredients (propylene glycol), so I have chosen to use the Melt & Pour MPG-free …

Confusion in the Catherine Failor book: Making Natural Liquid Soaps 
The query relates to the making of Castile Shampoo. I want to make a Castile liquid SOAP and the author does say that her (liquid) Castile SHAMPOO …

What temperature should lye water be? 
What temperature should my lye solution be when I mix it into my oils? And how does the temperature of lye water affect the saponification process of the …

Can 'unrefined' palm oil be an off-white colour? 
I was researching the best prices for purchasing some palm oil on a number of UK websites and became confused by one site in particular: the site did …

Soft 100% Olive Oil Castile Soap 
I recently made a batch of 100% Olive oil castile soap using a very basic recipe...after 24 hours I unmolded and it feels like set up jello..is that normal …

Soap making Supplies - Zimbabwe 
I live in Zimbabwe and would like to locate my nearest supplier for soap making ingredients and materials Y.D Answer: Unfortunately I do not …

Click here to write your own.

My soap does not smell good. 
It was my Second time I made soap and asked people to give me honest feedback. I used avocado, coconut, olive, palm, walnut and 2 oz grape and almond …

Is palm oil same as shortening? 
Hello. I am trying make home made soap by my self. All of handmade soap require palm oil as base. However, I could not find the just palm oil it self from …

Crumbles in the end when cutting 
I made one CP batch with Rice Bran, Coconut, Olive and Castor and another HP with the same ingredients. And poured it into a pvc mould, lined with silicon …

Cracking 
I have just made my first batch of soap from your web site recipe. I used the Champagne and Roses recipe omitting the coconut milk and micas. It has …

Gel phase issues / can't get an even color through out.  
I do not have any fancy tools or molds in order to properly insulate my soap, and it appears that it doesnt want to go through the entire gel stage :-/ …

Setting of soap 
I have been following Kirstie Allsops soap recipe (from her TV programme on Channel 4, December 2011). I have followed the recipe to the letter and …

How much Kaolin Clay do I use? 
What is the general amount of kaolin clay to use per pound of oils? I am using the kaolin clay as a fixative. Thanks, Keith Answer: The general …

Detergent Powder formulation, any chemists there?pls help.? 
hi i have these following ingredients to make a detergent powder but i dont know how much of each i should add. please help. 1. Soda Ash 2. LABS liquid/powder …

CP soap sticks in mold and "crumbles" 
I make CP soap with olive oil, coconut oil, shea butter, grapeseed oil, and a little beeswax and castor oil. It has always been a little "sticky", …

Why does my soap always turn brown? 
I just started making cp soap and so far no matter which liquid I use, it turns brown. Am I not letting it cool enough before mixing the oil and lye solution? …

M&P and CP together? 
Can you add M&P as an accent to a CP soap batch for special effects? Like curls..bits..swirling? If so...I have heard of the M&P "sweating" will this …

Amount of honey in soap  
Finally I made my first batch of C.P soap. It was cool and interesting . But I had few problems and questions on it. When I place my soap into the …

Working with children 
Are there any soap recipes not involving lye? I teach an after school class and I have to be very careful. Answer: Your only option to avoid working …

African palm oil 
Can African palm oil be use in cp soap? If yes how is the best way to use? Thank u Answer: You use it the same way as regular palm oil in a soap …

Lemon soap 
When making homemade soap is it bad to just directly add lemon juice? Answer: You would have to use the lemon juice in place of some of the water …

Is the darker oval spot in each bar of soap normal? 
On a few of my batches of soap I notice a darker oval area in each bar of soap. Is this normal? I thought it would go away after the curing process, but …

How to increase TFM IN SOAP 
I want to ask you how to increase the amount of TFM in soap? So I'll tell you the formula of our soap then you can help me to make it perfect. First …

Pine tar soap 
Can pine tar be added to a melt and pour soap? has anyone ever done this and how did it turn out? Answer: Good question!! Since I haven't tried …

Liquid soaps and heat source 
I was wondering if you have a liquid soap recipe and instructions. Also we are using your "process" for a chemistry project so we do have access to a crock …

Sodium Hydroxide 
Where can i find sodium hydroxide in Canada? Answer: Visit my page on Sodium Hydroxide and scroll down to the heading "Canada" and you will find …

I want to grow all my soap ingredients! 
I have a small farm and I would like to grow crops which I can make all my soap ingredients (oils and herbs). The two oils that I know I can grow the …

Copha 
I think I have been told that you can use copha instead of coconut oil. is this true & do you just substitute the amount in grams? Would you melt it first? …

Expensive soap making supplies 
I want to start making soap but I don't know where I can buy oil and lye for the cheapest price. If I buy online 10 lb lye and buy 3 types of oil: Coconut …

Can soap be made without lye? 
Can soap be made without lye? Can I use LIQUID glycerin instead? If so, any suggestions? Answer: Unfortunately you can't make soap without using …

Soap with high TFM% 
I would like to produce soap in my home. My aim is it should contain high TFM as much as 80% ie. First Grade soap. My proposed base oils are Ayurvedic …

Click here to write your own.

Wants to produce a harder bar of goatmilk soap 
The current goatmilk soap recipe that I am using is as follows: 4 1/2oz olive oil 5oz coconut oil 12 oz veg. oil 2.9 oz lye 8oz goatmilk This …

Palm oil in CP 
Palm oil makes my soap stick and cling to the skin. Why is that, when Crisco does not? Answer: After doing a Google search on the ingredients of …

Dry and burnt 
My very first batch of crock pot soap and its awful. It reached trace within very little time after adding the lye. Then it took long time on low to begin …

Can I Rebatch This Lye Heavy Soap???? 
I made a batch of soap a few hours ago and used a fragrance called toasted sugar and vanilla and my soap seized and I mean really seized to the point it …

Help! Liquid CP Soap 
I'm new to soap making and think I have a problem. After 48 hours my soap batch is "liquidy" in areas. Will this solve itself in a few days or is all lost? …

The problem 
Hi the problem am having it soap make some of what i need ℓ̊ can't find because am in Nigeria and i know i can make a leave it this soap making please …

When is Lye no longer toxic 
Question: at what point does the lye no longer hold caustic properties. Why is it safe for soap making as well as for other toxic components. We are …

Vanilla Fragrance in CP soap 
I scented a batch of CP with a vanilla fragrance and I don't know quite what to make of it. I previously made soap with the same recipe and scented it …

How do I stop my soap from going to Gel? 
I believe all my cp soap batches have gone to gel. How do I stop my soap from going through gel? Answer: This isn't something I've done myself …

Appearance Gel phase vs no Gel phase 
What is the difference in appearance in cp soap that does not go through the gel phase vs one that has? Answer: When soap is going through the …

Essential Oils and Pregnancy 
I have noticed that you have phrases that say "best to avoid during pregnancy," or "do not use in pregnancy," in the detailed info section of some essential …

Fragrance Oil 
I made a beautiful soap using Olive, Coconut, Palm and Sweet Almond. At trace I added a fragrance called "white chocolate raspberry" and it turned …

Trouble regarding soap embeds 
I have a question related to soap that I have made with curls and grated strands of soap. It seems to fall apart when it gets thin. Is there something …

Oil on top of the goat milk soap 
A friend and I just made goat milk soap with a recipe that has worked well before (without the goats milk). The difference is that we substituted half …

Baby Powder Essential Oil Scent Blend 
I make CP soaps. I'm looking for an essential oil scent blend that smells like baby powder. Do you have a combination of essential oils that would result …

Copha subsitute? 
I have a lovely recipe called honey blossom soap that has vegtable shortening in. I have used copha (as we cant buy veg short here in Oz). Copha is hydronated …

Regards To Making Pine Tar Soap??? 
I use the room temperature method and am wanting to make a pine tar soap. Now do I add my pine tar to the solid oils and allow the lye/water solution …

Crystallizing on top of soap 
Hi, I notice that two of my recently made soap batches have some crystallizing on top of each loaf. My technique includes melting the saturated fats …

Soy wax and oil. 
I have 100% soy wax. Can this be melted and used as soybean oil? Answer: Unfortunately, most soy waxes are 'made with 100% soy oil' and aren't …

Organic handmade soap ingredients. 
I see some homemade soaps that are made with natural (non) organic ingredients and some that are made with natural organic ingredients. When it comes …

Plastic or paper 
My husband and I have been trying to decide what the best way to package our soap. We take it to the craft fairs so it does face a lot of climate issues …

Hot process soap still in gel stage 
My hot processed soap has not set,surface has crusted but when I went to remove from mold realized it was still in gel stage. Have about 1/4 cup of …

Liquid on top 
Recently I bought a new soap mold (a flat mold ~4lb capacity) and I've made 4 batches so far. Out of the 4, two have ended in mysterious disaster. All …

Lye flakes vs. lye beads??? 
I used a Lye calc. for my recipe and it said to use 6.08 oz of lye which would have been a 5% discount. However the flaked lye i am useing seemed like …

Aloe vera pulp 
I have an aloe vera plant and was wondering if I can add the pulp to my soap. If so, at what stage and how much for a 1 lb batch. What about adding it …

Click here to write your own.

Soap Overheat 
I made a shampoo bar this morning, in the afternoon about 4pm, the soap was caking nicely and I tot I'll cut it much later, 2 hours later, the soap overheated. …

Superfatting 
I was just wondering when you use a lye calculator which calculates the super fat percentage do you submit the oil you intend to use for superfatting into …

Substituting Vegetable Shortening and other Oils for Palm and Soybean in a recipe 
Hello, newbie here - so far I have learned that you can substitute Palm Oil with Vegetable Shortening or Coconut Oil, so what do you do when a recipe calls …

How much colour?  
For a competition at school we have to set up our own business, we have decided on making our own soap using the melt and pour soap base. I was wondering …

Sulfur Soap  
I have a request for me to make a sulfur soap - do you have a recipe you could suggest and a scent that would be good at covering the sulfur smell? I …

M&P no suds 
Hello I have just started making M&P soap. I made some Shea and it's ok soap but it doesn't suds very well. How can I make it suds more. …

Replacing Palm Oil with Vegetable Shortening 
I have been having a tough time finding Palm Oil locally (I have since ordered some) but was wondering what I could replace the Palm Oil portion of a recipe …

Adding fruit at trace? 
Hi i am quite new to soap making and i have made a few batches and now Im starting to think of my own concoctions and I was wondering what happened if …

Lye in Mexico 
I am having trouble finding a lye supplier in Mexico. Are there any soapmakers in Mexico who can give me a lead? I just make soap for fun and gifts …

My Recipe 
Hello friends, May I ask you to take a look at recipe I am working on?. Olive Oil 330g Castor Oil 110g Coconut Oil 320g Palm Oil 240g Batch size …

Goats milk soap 
Could anyone tell me what to add to my goats milk bar to make it a little harder. Would the use of salt make any difference? Thanks Mae Answer: …

Need a good goats milk soap recipe that lathers great 
My lover died 6 years ago and when he did along went our goats milk soap recipe . I make soap for family and friends or used to. Am wanting to again …

Adding fruit slices to soap 
Hi,im very new to this and have just ordered a decent looking home made soap kit from ebay,i wish to make my gf a surprise soap containing her favourite …

Trouble with Goats Milk Soap 
I am having trouble with my goats milk soap as it completely separates as it gels..I mix my lye/milk mixture with the warm oils at about 110 degrees and …

Butcher Paper vs. Parchment Paper 
It appears I have accidently purchased parchment paper rather than butcher. Will this still work to line molds? Answer: I think parchment paper …

Weight of Oils 
I am very new to the Cold Process Soap Making. I've yet to try my first batch, as I am intimidated, however I have all the supplies. I found a really …

The room temperature process 
I just want to confirm how long it will take for the room temperature process made soap to be ready for packaging? Answer: Just like regular cold …

Colour in cp soap 
I have used green clay in my soap. It looked fine at trace and poured well. I left it in the mold for 24 hours when I took it out it was a yucky brown …

Residue-free soap? 
I want to make my own bar of soap for washing dreadlocks, but I don't know where to start. It has to be residue free - do you have any advice that you …

Soap traced super fast?? 
I'm really new at soaping but just can't stop. I just this minute attempted the salt scrub soap recipe on this wonderful site. I changed olive oil …

Why the sugar? 
I notice a lot of soap recipes call for a very small amount of powdered sugar...what does this do? Answer: Generally sugar is used to increase …

Need fresh goats milk soap recipes 
I have lots of fresh goats milk and can't find a soap recipe. All the recipes I have found are made with powdered goats milk. Does anybody know a …

Making soap that will not set! 
Hello, I am new to soap making and have been following Anne L Watson's book milk soap making and also have her other book Smart soap making. I first …

My CP soap has white speck throughout 
Hi - Thanks for the site - I just ran across it and have spent hours reading all the informative questions and answers. I have been making CP soap …

I am making homemade soap 
Can you use blue food color in your homemade soap? Answer: I have not found food colouring (especially blue) to be successful in handmade soap …

Click here to write your own.

2nd Time Making CP Soap..Used Shortening and Thickened Right Away!! 
Is this normal?? I used a soap/lye calculator and measured correctly. This was an experimental batch using ONLY veg. shortening for fats, with the exception …

Aloe Vera in soap? 
I was wondering if you can use aloe vera in cp soap. If so, can you use it straight from the plant? Answer: Many people use aloe vera in their …

super fat  
I use a recipe and I calculate it with 6 percent in calculator spot for superfat, now my question is, do I then hold out some of the oil FROM the recipe …

Coconut Oil 
Hi, Im new to the incredible fun of soap making. I have only been using solid Coconut oil. Is it fine to use liquid coconut oil as it seems to be cheaper?? …

Lye can be purchased at Lows? 
I heard that there is a lye that can be purchased in-expensively at one's local lows or home depot. What is it called? Answer: I'm afraid I do …

Curing Soap 4-6 weeks 
I make CP soap and I know that everywhere says to cure soap for 4 - 6 weeks, and I currently do this with my soap. I read that it allows the soap to cure …

Coloring with spices 
When coloring with spices such as cinnamon, turmeric, paprika, etc, do you just add the dry spice to the soap at trace, or does it need to mixed with gycerin …

Baking loaf pans for soap molds 
I know flexible plastic molds are best, but can you use loaf pans used for baking to mold soap? Are there any special kinds of prep you need to do first? …

Insect repellant 
I am trying to locate a recipe for a soap or lotion that would keep the bugs off of me while camping, mosquitos are the main problem. Any suggestions would …

Volumn of molds 
What about the water, the formula L x W x H x .40 will give you the total volumn desired but, is that oils only or does that include water/lye too? …

Shampoo Bar 
I am in search of the perfect shampoo bar recipe. I have tried some and am just not happy with how they leave my hair feeling. It feels like my hair …

Alternative for Palm Oil 
I want to make your almond oil soap, but cannot find Palm Oil in South Africa. With what can I substitute this? Thanks! Answer: Visit my page on …

Mixing Sodium Lactate With Ultramarines 
How do you mix ultramarines in a hot process soap batch that has sodium lactate? Answer: I am unfamiliar with using sodium lactate, I'm afraid. …

Classes 
Does anybody teach soap making classes in Ontario? Would love to start making soaps and lotions.

Goat's milk soap and the lye calculator. 
I want to make a batch of goats milk soap and I know that I want to add my lye to the water instead of the goats milk (it sounds easier and gives less …

Goat Milk Lotion Bar 
I make goat milk soap but stay away from lotions because milk does not keep without being refridgerated. I have seen lotion bars and would like to try …

Hands Feel Tight 
Hello, I have made my first 2 batches of soap and have let them cure for 3 weeks. What I found with both batches is that they create a wonderful lather, …

Java JumpStart Soap..... my curiosity 
HI Cathy, I have been on your site (on & off) for a few years now. My curiosity has gotten the best of me. I just love the look of your Java Jumpstart …

Soap making class in south Florida? 
Does anyone know of a soap making class in southeast Florida? Thanks Answer: I'm afraid I do not know of any...hopefully someone else does. …

How to produce M & P soap bases ? Can I use those made from cold process ?  
I know that we can simply acquire M & P soap bases from any soap suppliers but I would like to find out how to make it by myself ? Can I use cold process …

How to get that beautiful whiteish soap 
Hello beautiful people :O) With regards to the previous question on layering different colours, I wondered how you got the white part of your soap so white?????. …

which oils would make a good substitute for the grapeseed oil in your salt soap bar recipe? 
Hi Cathy, I am going to give your salt soap bar a try. I just made your basic recipe. turned out perfect! Thank you so much for all your recipes and knowledge …

How do I recalculate the E/O's in your recipe for a larger batch of soap? 
Hi Cathy, I just love your site. Very very helpful. I have been making soap for a bit now. I have no problem with calculating the soap oils to fit my …

Can I make a living off soapmaking? 
Hi, I have been making my own handmade soap for a while now and was thinking of selling my soap. When I brought my idea before a few successful entrepreneurs …

One color encased in another color? 
Please tell me how to make a soap that looks like a peppermint patty. I actually want a chocolate raspberry but I want the inside one color with the …

Click here to write your own.

Goat soap no lye 
I want a recipe for goat soap using glycerin and not lye? Is that possible? Answer: You can't make soap using glycerin instead of lye but you can …

Soap Factory  
Hi There, I have just been employed by a soap making factory to be a consult for them to help them with little problems they are experiencing. The …

Gel in middle of soap  
I made goats milk soap for the first time and it came out perfect, I never added any colour or fragrance. I then made another two batches one exactly the …

Old fashion Dish flakes/Laundry flakes 
Hi. I want to make hard, cleansing, extra sudsing, soap that can be grated/ or flaked, for laundry or dishes, similar to the the old LUX or IVORY soap …

Blended oils and lye 
I was wondering how blended oils should be run through a lye calculator. I have a 90% canola and 10% olive oil blend. Should this be considered 100% canola …

Coconut, Babassu, and Palm Kernel Allergy 
Hi, I got tested by an allergist and found out I am allergic to coconut, Babassu, Palm Kernel, Apricot oil, Avocado oil, Oat meal, wheat, Rice, Barley, …

Creating a Marbled Effect in Soap 
Hi! I love your soaps where you create a marbled effect. Could you explain how you do that? I'm trying to create a similar look and not having as much …

Strawberry goatsmilk soap recipe. 
I came up with a recipe for a batch of soap, but I'm not sure it will work! When i put it in a LYE CALCULATOR I come up with different results! Can you …

Calculating mold/recipe size 
I am having trouble calculating the size of a recipe vs the mold. I did your basic soap recipe today. I like to make large batches because I have 3 …

Room Temperature Method? 
Hello...just wondering with the room tempeture method how long would you leave the soap in the mold before you would take it out to cut it up and what …

What can replace Palm Oil? 
There are a couple of soap recipes I would like to try that have Palm Oil. Unfortunately it is difficult to find locally where I live and ordering …

Colorants/oil 
When using the glycerin or warm oil in the mixing of colors in hot process (after the cook). Are these oils accounted for in the cooking process? …

Glycerin soap flop 
I made glycerin soap...rebatched tallow soap....all the fat came to the top while I was busy stirring in the double cooker...had to scoop it off....now …

Adding essential oils  
I am using a recipe I found online (first batch!) that calls for gardenia fragrance to be added but I prefer to use lavender and geranium essential oils. …

My soap has harden and now i want to do the melt and pour  
my soap doesnt melt in the mircrowave, it just gets full like air ( I have no clue on what i did wrong , ( can some one help me ,, ( also is there s special …

Determining water content of a soap recipe 
As I'm a scientist and I actually enjoy manually calculating lye. But, being new to all of the soap making, I can't find anything that tells you a general …

Shea butter lotion too thick! 
This is not a soap making question but a question related to lotions and face crreams. I've recently tried to make a lotion, following a recipe using …

Super-fatting Hot Process Soap 
I want to super fat my batch of soap but don't know how much extra oil to use. Am making 1Lb of soap now as a test batch. I know I can discount it …

Food Coloring in Soap 
Can you use food coloring in soap? Answer: Some of the powdered dyes I have bought were food safe colours and they did work in cold process soap …

Substitute for Rosemary Extract 
Is there a substitute for Rosemary Extract? Oh, I love your site, thank you!!!! Answer: Depending on what you are using it for you could use Grapefruit …

how to avoid a lye film on the soap 
I pretty upset I having more difficulty making soap in winter then in summer. The lye gets cool too fast and I have lye film on the top of the bars of …

Food Grade vs Tech Sodium-Hydroxide 
Recently I purchased Sodium-Hydroxide-Lye-Tech-Grade. It was cheaper than the food grade, although it states that both can be used for soap making I …

Making M&P soap with dead sea or moor mud 
Thanks so much for your wonderful site:) I would like to try making a soap from a melt & pour organic base with a wet mud as the main ingredient. There …

Making Whipped Cream Soap (Easy shortcut) from Melt and Pour Base?  
I was intrigued by a forum post years ago that said oft, fluffy whipped cream soap can actually be created through melt-and-pour bases - just with a combination …

Should soap still be warm after stirring for 45 minutes? 
I have just made my first batch of soap and frankly do not have high hopes for it. All the videos I have watched show people stirring and stirring …

Click here to write your own.

Very dry mess 
I made a recipe of cold pour oatmeal and honey with goats milk. It came out very dry, hard and brittle. I wondered if I can rebatch it using the freezer …

Help!! my soap went to very thick trace immediately. 
I made my second batch (ever) of CP soap today. It went to a hard, thick trace within a couple of minutes. I added my FO into the oils before …

Liquid soap making - Catherine Failor 
I hope you are doing well! I just want to know if you perhaps know what Catherine Failor's email address is? I searched everywhere on the internet but …

Mica and oxide color 
I was wondering what can you pre-mix the micas and oxides with prior to adding them to the thinly traced soap and how much if mixed with something else? …

Gentle soap recipe 
I need a gentle soap recipe that hopefully may have some healing qualities as well. It is for skin that has been radiated as it is very tender. Any suggestions …

Number of soaps 
How many soaps can be made from your given recipe- homemade recipe (cause maybe I can just do half recipe)? Answer: Here is a quote from my page …

Fruit juice soap 
How many soaps can be made from your given recipe- homemade recipe? Is it okay if I use an orange juice and pineapple juice as an alternative for water, …

Soft soap after 48 hours 
My soap is still very soft on the surface even after being in the mold for 48 hours. Is there a way I can fix this? Answer: Without more details …

Soap full of mold 
I'm Carina from Portugal. I love your site. I´ve tried my first recipe on 2 january, but now my soap is full of mold. I didn't use any kind of preservatives. …

Salt foot scrub bar 
I am wanting to make a cold process soap foot scrub bar with salt. I want it to be a coarse and exfoliating bar. What type and grade of salt do I use? …

Whipped cream soap 
I want to try whipped cream soap based on your experiment posted here - Whipped Cream Soap . How much soap does this recipe make? Did you try …

Hardening Melt and Pour Soap 
I make only melt and pour soaps. What can I use to make the soap harder? Answer: You can add a small amount of beeswax or stearic acid (up to 1 tbsp …

Soap molds 
Hi, just want to say this is a great find, keep up the good work guys. I first want to find out if there is a way I could participate in this forum? …

Oil on Top 
I made a batch of Goat milk, honey, Oatmeal soap. It came to a nice thick trace. I even hand stirred for a few minutes to make sure it wasn't a false trace. …

Homemade Deodorant Recipe 
This is not a soap question, but I would like to make my own deodorant. I know there are recipes on line, but they have so much drag to them. …

Soap Making Questions 
I have been considering making soap but have no idea of any of it but do love your page and information on it, so helpful and beautiful looking soap. …

Soaping in hot climates 
I live in Patna, India and our summer temperatures are 40 degrees C and above. Our winters would be app. 8 degrees centigrade. How does climate …

Curing CPOP Soap 
I've been trying out all of the different soap making processes and love them all. Im a little confused about CPOP. When I checked the soap after …

Soda ash layer on soap. 
I have been making soap for a few years now. I have made some perfect batches. The batches I make more often than not have a layer of white soda ash …

Beef Tallow from McDonalds fryers 
We have a large dairy, I can get tallow from our feed supplier which is used in the formulation of dairy feeds for next to nothing. The feed supplier …

Cleaning up after Soap Making 
I've been pretty successful with making the soap, but I am having trouble with the clean up. Where does everyone clean their tools? At the kitchen …

Layering 
How do I layer my soap? Answer: There are a couple of ways to layer CP soap. One method is to make a half batch of soap and pour it into your …

When can I take the gloves off? 
I hate to wear gloves! I put them on when it is time to start the lye and keep them on until I pour the fresh batch, but.. do I still need them once the …

Double a soap recipe 
I want to double my soap recipe to make 2kg's of soap. Can I capture on "Soap Calc" under the weight of oils column, 2000gram of oils and click on "calculate …

Cold Process / Oven Process Method 
I have just heard about this CP/ Oven Process Method. I've not come across it before. You make your soap CP and then put it in the oven at 170F for 2 1/2 …

Click here to write your own.

CP soap will not melt properly 
My CP batch of soap will not melt properly for MP. It does not liquefy, but turns into a thick mass. I have tried using hardly any heat, covering the …

Soya Bean oil soap 
I live on a chicken farm and have a huge excess of soya oil... Please help as I would love to try make a cheap, nice smelling soap for the employees on …

Rebatching 
I made some soap using 10oz coconut oil,9 oz olive oil,24 oz veg. shortening, and 6 oz lye and 16 oz goat milk. I poured it into pvc tubes and after a …

Clear lines in soap 
Help! The last few batches of soap I have made have clear veins all through the soap , and around the outside off the soap. Help why is this happening. …

What are soap flakes? 
Ok I get the idea from the title but what kind do I use? I've mostly been doing melt and pour soaps but I recently got a book called "The soapmaker" …

Why would I receive a flat loofah? 
I order loofah to make soaps with, and as a filler for baskets. It came flat, are we supposed to soak it to make it rise and round? Answer: Not …

Should I throw away soap that has too much lye? 
I think I failed miserably at my first attempt at making soap. I used 16oz of ROOTO lye to 1 quart of water and 1 quart of different oils (melted …

Chocolate in hot process soap 
When do you put the chocolate in a hot process soap for color and fragrance purposes? Answer: Add the chopped chocolate to the oils after the oils …

Using Goats Milk Powder In M&P soap. 
I recently used goats milk powder in some m&p soaps, but found that my soap came with lumps in it :( . Should I be mixing the powder in a little hot …

MP Chunks in CP Soap 
Hi There, I never made a batch of soap with soap chunks before, but like to try soon. I normally make CP soaps, but have some M & P base left over …

Coconut oil allergy 
I have an allergy to coconut oil and am looking for a good natural substitue for coconut oil in my soap recipes. Any suggestions? Answer: On my …

Mildew soap smell after 3 weeks  
I have made goat milk soap using the same oil base recipe. Some batches after three weeks have the scent of the EO that I used on the bar, but once I use …

canola oil vs canola shortening 
Can canola oil be substituted for the canola shortening? How different will the soap look? Answer: Assuming that the shortening contains nothing …

Using Fruits/Veggies in Soap--Preservative Questions 
I really want to make some soap using fruits and vegetables and I'm thinking that means I need to use a preservative of some sort (right?). I keep …

Batch numbers 
How do I make a batch number please for my handmade soaps. I use melt and pour soap base and justasoap colourants. Answer: I'm not sure what …

Orris Root curiosity  
I have found your site so interesting and have learnt a lot, thank you.. I do have a question about Orris Root and that is why do you add it to many of …

Glycerin bio-diesel by-product for soap. 
I have a friend who produces bio diesel and glycerin is a by-product of the process. After the ethanol evaporates off it has a lard consistancy and lathers …

Soap recipe for baby soap and recipe for liquid goat milk soap 
Hi Cathy Thanks for your advice on the palm oil. It is much appreciated. I just want to know if you have a very gentle recipe to make baby soap. I will …

Decorating and swirling and soap box measurements 
I make soap but I can just not get the swirling and coloring right!! I read your decorating page, but would love a step by step layout of how to layer, …

White specks 
Hello, I recently made a batch of CP soap that has white spots on the top as well as air pockets on the top and within the soap. I would guess the air …

POWDER LAUNDRY DETERGENT 
Hi! I really enjoyed and appreciate your soap calculator. It helped me to create my own own bath soap recipe. Now I want to learn how to make my own …

Making wood molds. 
Hi what I'm looking for is a step by step for building a wood mold. I haven't been able to find one that is clear and decisive. Could you help me? …

Rebatched soap in prolonged gel phase 
Hi. I rebatched some soap about 4 days ago, but it still hasn't set, and appears to be in a thick gel stage. I tried freezing it, but it just melted …

Egg shaped soaps 
I've asked a question before, and found the info very useful. So now I have another question. I'm wondering if it's possible to make an egg shaped soap, …

Storage solutions 
I am new to making melt and pour soap and was wondering what is the best way to store the soaps oncce they are made? I have read that they must be wrapped-but …

Click here to write your own.

Palm oil 
Hi Cathy Hope you are well!! I need your advice on palm oil. I have noticed when using solid palm oil in my soap recipes that there appear to be very …

New to soap making 
Hi There! I am thinking of making the room temp soap. Is it true that i can add goat's milk-same amount- to replace the water in any soap recipe? thanks! …

Dog With Sensitive Skin 
Hi, I am new to soap making...as in never made it. I looked into it because my dog has very sensitive skin, itches non-stop and her hair is falling out. …

Lessons 
I was just wondering if you guys give out lessons. My friends and I were interested in doing this over the summer but we're too scared to do it by ourselves. …

Refined Shea Butter or Bleached and Deodorized Shea Butter? 
Do you recommend the use of unrefined shea butter in your recipes? What are the pros and cons of each? Thank you Answer: Unrefined shea butter …

Clarity of keeping soap clear after an embed 
I have been trying to make soap - pouring a clear layer, adding a piece of paper with writing, i.e. date and names and then adding a color layer to finish …

Recipe for soap for ezcema 
Would like a recipe that would help soothe granddaughter's ezcema and rash she gets when she comes to Gma' house. We live in the country, she loves …

Why use confectioners sugar in a soap recipe? 
I saw this in your basic soap recipe and wondered why? I searched the internet and haven't found an answer. Thanks! Answer: Linda, Sugar is …

Shortening ratio/percent? 
In my city, I can't find hard oils. So I use soft oils. The result is that soap can not be traced. I was suggested to use shortening. Can you help me to …

Is Rubbing Alcohol Neccessary? 
What an amazing site you have! There is so much information that you've shared with us, thankyou! I would like to try some of the techniques you have …

Laundry bar soap recipe 
I am looking for a recipe that makes a bar of soap specifically for laundry. Do you have or know of such a recipe? Answer: Hi Cris, I sure do!! …

Your base soap recipe.... 
Hi Cathy, I was just looking at your basic soap recipe and see that you put confectioner's sugar in it. Can you tell me why? I've never heard of that …

Soap decorated with [photo/picture]  
I have seen soaps with pictures/photos on the top surface.e.g. animals, people etc. What type of paper could they be made off and how would …

Marble and CP soap 
I have tried so many times to get my CP soap to marble. It usually just floats to the top. I have used several methods suggested and nothing works. …

What is a good label program? 
I am trying to cut costs down as much as possible so I have been trying to make my own labels. Everything I have done seems so black and white and plain. …

Cooking oil vs Carrier oil? 
In my country, cooking oil is rather cheaper than carrier oil. I read a lot but still don't understand if most of the mentioned oils in soap making are …

Cp soaps, how should they be wrapped? 
Is it ok to wrap Cold process soaps (after they're cured) in plastic like melt & pour soaps or should they be allowed to breathe? Answer: My feelings …

How do I make whipped soap (that I can put in jars) from a Melt and Pour Base? 
Hello, I was wondering if anyone has every made a whipped soap from a melt and pour base? I tried mixing it with my hand blender, and it does whip …

Shea butter substitute 
Can I use lard in place of shea butter? Answer: You certainly can use lard instead of shea butter but you will have to run the adjusted recipe …

Preventing clumps in ultramarines and oxides 
Just wondering what you do to remove the clumps in the ultramarines and oxides. Thanks Jacqueline Answer: To remove clumps in ultramarines …

Fizz balls/ bath bombs 
Which emulsifier do you use to make fizz balls/bath bombs. Apparantly there are two types available: oil into water & water into oil. Thank you Zene …

Gel Phase and a swirly appearance 
I really make an effort to gel my soaps so that the swirls or patterns on the top are not disfigured by soda ash. So I soap at about 110 degrees, put the …

Foaming Bath Butter 
I am going to try the foaming bath butter base from New Directions Aromatics. I was wondering if powdered milk could be added without causing spoilage? …

Fractionated Coconut Oil 
I made a few soap batches with fractionated coconut oil. When I cut it into bars I realised that the soap's colour is darker (in comparison with soap I …

Soap Packaging  
I wanted to first compliment your soap packaging they are breath taking ideas...and I wanted to ask how did you make the flower embellish soap wraps? …

Click here to write your own.

Colouring Soap and Lip Balms 
Which of the following are better for coloring soaps and which are better for adding just a hint of color to lip balms? Micas, Oxides or ultramarines? …

Big Batch 
My family fell in love with the Shea butter and Coconut milk soap recipe. I was wondering what would be the measurements in making a 10lbs batch for this …

Very Fast Soap Trace 
I made a small test batch of soap that firmed up very fast, even before adding the EO blend and about 20 seconds after adding the Coconut Milk and Lye …

Dead Sea Mud Soap 
Hi, I've been using your recipes for quite a while now. I love them! Almost always a perfect batch! I recently have been hearing a lot of great things …

Lasting Scents 
I was wondering what's the best way to store and preserve the scents in cold process soap until it's time to be sold? Answer: The best thing you …

Shrink wrapper for soap 
I am looking for a good shrink wrap for my soaps. I want something that give a bit of protection but allows the smell to come through - can anyone point …

Recipe for Raspberry and almond soap please?? 
Hello, My fiancé and I would like to make soap for favours at our wedding in May. We are new to soap making and have researched the cold process method. …

Does Lard Smell Bad? 
I have only made one batch of soap so far and can't wait to have another go! But this time I wondered about making it with Lard because its so inexpensive …

Sour smell of goats milk 
Hi! I'm quite new at soap making. I made my very first batch two days ago :-) I used goats milk instead of water and now, when I touch the soap bars, …

Soap Painting 
I have been using Black Iron Oxide to paint on my soaps (i.e. tiger stripes on an orange tiger). I find that, even after a day, the pigment wants …

Do small home businesses actually have all their products lab tested? 
Hi, I am starting a small business (nearly ready to open my site!) and the more that I learn the more I hear about the darn FDA! I understand about …

Natural Sunscreen 
First of all - your site is wonderful! I am new to the soap making world and am trying to start a small business. I have gotten such great advice from …

goat milk soap recipe 
Hi Cathy Thank you so much for all your information and advice. It is much appreciated. I hope you could help me. I am currently making goat milk soap …

Separating (Cold Process Method) 
This is first soap attempt, used the following recipe The five main ingredients are 900ml water, 295g caustic soda (make sure you buy pure sodium hydroxide …

Colouring soaps naturally 
I want to colour my soaps naturally. what type of clays can i use and what amount must i add to my soap batch. e.g. if the soap batch is 2 pounds, how …

M&P Swirling 
I haven't been able to get really nice swirls with melt and pour soaps. I've tried a few different methods but I find one of two things usually happen: …

Soap Swirling 
I'm not a newbie at making soap, however I don't know how to make the beautiful swirls in the soap. I've tried searching for a video but couldn't find …

Question about fixatives 
Hi, First off, AWESOME site you've got here! My question is.. how much fixative do you use? say your total EO's are 20ml, how much of that should …

how can remove the smell of shea butter or other dirty oils 
i have a small quantity of shea butter (around 10 kgm) they have a bad smell . how can i remove this smell before using them in soAP MAKING Answer: …

Peanut Oil 
Hello, I am loving the site, one of the best I have found( admittedly I've only been making soap a few months) but one of my favorites. I got one of the …

Making whipped cream soap 
Are there any other substitutes for Shea Butter and Castor oil in the whipped cream soap recipe? Shea Butter and castor oil is rather hard to find, and …

Salt Soap Bar  
Hi, I tried to do your Salt Soap Bar recipe. I've been making soap for a while now...no problems. But this recipe has me stumped. I made it exactly as …

Some of your recipe links don't work 
Hi, I found your site at random and thinks its such a neat site. Very helpful!!! I am interested in trying some of your recipes. I am writing because I …

Purchaseing EO 
Can you tell me the best place to buy good quality essential and natural oils to use in cold process soap making? Answer: Hi Rebecca, I don't …

Since you said silly questions were okay.... 
If I'm using a pre-made Melt and Pour soap base and only adding in exfoliants, fragrances and colors, do I need to worry about the Lye factor? Answer: …

Click here to write your own.

Room Temperature method 
I am new to the soap making business and have experimented with the various methods. Needless to say that the room temperature method appeals to me. I …

Soap Molds and Goat's Milk Soap 
Your soap mold formula says to "calculate the OIL" amounts. What about the other ingredients, such as lye, water, EO's, etc. The oils may total 48 oz, …

" Room temperature method" 
I have recently made a batch of "room temp soap" I followed your instructions to a tee. seemed to turned out wonderful but found when I cut the soap the …

Making B&B Quality Soap 
Is it more cost effective for me to make personalized soap for our new B&B in Mexico, or to buy it? I am very interested in making soap, but not sure …

how to make baby soap 
I would like to make a gentle soap for my son (he is almost 2) that is similar to the burt's baby bee buttermilk soap. Bar form would be best - he has …

Sodium Hydroxide can be switched to Potassium? 
Hi again. This is my question #2 for you... I'd like to make shampoo more than bar soap because I'm having a hard time finding good shampoo that also …

dehydrated lemon peel additive 
Can I add dehydrated lemon(citrus) peel to my cold process soaps? Will it raise the PH? Will it turn brown or shorten the shelf life of the bar? …

How can I make soap base? 
It says I can use soap base to make soaps, it got glycerin to moisturize your skin. My understanding is that homemade soaps minus fragrance/color is base …

Fruit Soap :) 
Hi, I'm doing a science fair project about soap and the different fruits in it. Is it alright if I just add fruit juice and fruit dices into the basic …

adding soap curls, ribbons, etc. 
If I want to add curls, ribbons, etc. to my soap, should these items be cured before they are used? Answer: Dennise, Fresh soap is better to …

using Kokum butter 
Can I switch Kokum butter for Palm oil in any recipe? This is my first time making soap and I dont want to mess it up or waste the ingredients. Thanks, …

what is a conditioning emulsifyer 
one of your recipes calls for incroquat behenyl TMS-50. What can be used in its place in lotion recipes or where can I find this ingredient. Answer: …

Stuck in pvc pipe mold 
I'm having trouble removing the soap from the 3" pvc mold. Any tricks to make the soap release? Answer: Try putting the mold in the freezer for a …

Is warming the mold necessary? If so, why? 
Hi there, Just wondering....in the tutorials for embedded soap curls and checkerboard soap you mention that the mold with the embedded objects should …

Question About Beer Soap 
Hello: I recently made a beer soap using your recipe. The soap came out beautifully - the color and texture, so far, is perfect. The soap is about …

Body Wash & Shower Gels 
I've attempted to make washes and gels using unscented shampoo or dish detergent as a base. To that, I add some type of oil; olive, sunflower, almond. …

Lavander buds and palm oil problem 
I have another two questions. First, I made cold process soap with lavander buds, but I blended them in with a hand blender by mistake, and my soap …

Hair Conditioner 
I have made a shampoo Bar, using castor, jojoba, sunflower, palm and cocanut oils plus cocoa butter. I like the shampoo, but it seems to leave my hair …

Soap Fragrance loss 
I used a Pomegranate FO from Natures Garden at .7 ounces per pound. The CP soap smelled great, but after 3 weeks of curing the scent has faded. I read …

Liquid Soap 
Hi Cathy, I know you don't work with liquid soap but I'm hoping you or someone else reading might be able to help me. This is my second time making …

Lye Crystals not dissolving 
The only lye I could find my area came as lye crystals not in the powder form, and I notice that they do not fully dissolve when mixed. Would it be hazardous …

HOW TO STORE SOAP AFTER IT'S MADE 
I am feeling slightly confused after reading this: Q. After I've made my soap (melt & pour or cold process), how should I store it? A. Storing cold …

Creating a hard soap bar 
What can I add to create a harder bar other than limiting the amt. of castor oil I use? Answer: The hardness of the soap depends on the oils that …

How to use pH meter for measuring pH of cold processed soap? 
I bought a pH meter (Senz Pal) as I felt pH strips were giving far too vague results, but now I'm wondering how exactly I'm supposed to use it for measuring …

Liquid coconut oil for cold process? 
My husband just bought me 50lbs. of Coconut oil which was really nice of him but it so happens that it is in a liquid form. On the label it states that …

Click here to write your own.

Palm Oil and Palm Oil Substitutes 
I am having a terrible time finding palm oil locally. Do you have any suggestions? What other fats or oils can I substitute? Answer: There are …

Better Lather & Moisturization in MP Soap? 
What can I add to melt and pour soap to help with the lather and/or moisturization? Answer: Not sure if there is anything you can do about increasing …

Percents in Lye 
Hello there :o) I am a first time soaper and for the life of me I cannot figure out the lye calculators. It gives me different percents of lye to …

Lilac Scented Soap 
I only started making soap to make my wife her favorite smell. Lilac! I cannot find one single recipe for that unless it is mixed with Lavender which …

Natural ingredients for the most foam/lather  
I am looking for anything natural/organic I can add to my soaps that will give them the most foaming or lathering properties possible. I make both bar …

Adding coffee beans to soap 
Hi I want to try vanilla coffee cp soap and want to know when is th best time to add the coffee? Thank you Answer: Coffee can be added in a couple …

Adding fresh ground lemon leaves to soap. 
My husband cut off a bunch of trimmings from our lemon tree, the leaves smelled so good I wanted to add them to my soap. Being so new to soap making …

Black Soap 
How do you make black colored, cold process soap? Answer: I use black oxide to create a black soap. I used 1/2 teaspoon for 900 grams of base oils …

Soap Making Pot 
Why do you have to use steel pots? I have one of those large blue and white speckled pot and was all prepared to use it when I read on and it said …

Bad smell & seeping oil 
I made a batch of goats milk soap. It went to trace and I poured into the mold. I let it set for about 36 hours. When I cut it had a bad smell and pockets …

How many tbsp lye = 1 oz? 
How many tbsp lye = 1 oz? heaping or flat? Answer: Lye should never be measured by dry measures. Unfortunately it is far to inaccurate and could …

Substitute for lard Not rated yet
In cold process soap making, what can be used to replace lard in the recipes? Answer: Visit my page on Soap Making Oils and scroll down to the …

Soap sweating  Not rated yet
How do you stop soap sweating in humid conditions? What paper can I wrap soap in to stop sweating? Answer: Handmade soap naturally contains glycerin …

Soap coloring Not rated yet
Can I use food coloring to color soap? Answer: Red and yellow food colouring will sometimes work but blue rarely does. For best results, purchase …

How can I make my homemade bar soap last longer? Not rated yet
I've made homemade bar soap only twice so far and have had wonderful and perfect success! My only issue/question is why does it seem to dissolve/use …

Pigments Not rated yet
We've been making soaps using the room temp. method and when adding titanium dioxide we get a lot of streaking/crackling. We now stay way away from that …

Texture and Scent Not rated yet
What can I add to my soap to give it texture...and is also beneficial to skin? Answer: Visit my page on Herbal Natural Soap Ingredients . Some …

soap making in damp climates Not rated yet
I live on the south coast of England, and many houses and flats here are prone to problems with damp (particularly rental properties, as there's little …

Herbal ingredients Not rated yet
I have a question concerning herbal ingredients for cold processed soaps. I would like to make my own herbal infused oils and herbal teas to make soaps …

Total Essential Oil Content  Not rated yet
Hello Cathy, My question is about how much total Essential Oils to use in the production and selling of CP Soap Bars in the European Economic Area. …

Fresh fruit Not rated yet
Hello, I'm new in this wonderful world of soap making, I have a lot of questions but I just want to make one. Can I make soap with fresh fruit like strawberries, …

Non-shea butter soap recipes Not rated yet
Are there any soap recipes that don't include Shea Butter? If there are where can I find them. Answer: You can find many recipes that do not contain …

Really Runny Soap Not rated yet
What do I do if my soap looks and feels really runny while cooking. It is trying to fold in but when i stir it its really runny. Answer: Hot …

Does heat during CP saponification affect oils negatively ?  Not rated yet
My understanding is that cold process is better/preferable to hot process as it does not destroy the properties of the oils. Is this true? Having said …

Not Enough Lye Not rated yet
I am not sure what to do. I made a batch of soap earlier this afternoon. After everything was mixed and poured into the mold I realized that I used the …

Click here to write your own.

To gel or not to gel...my soap. Not rated yet
Which has a longer shelf life? I'm doing cold process with goat milk and having trouble with soap overheating in the molds causing my soap to darken …

100% olive oil soap Not rated yet
Can I make a 100% olive oil soap? thanx Guido Answer Yes you most certainly can. 100% olive oil soap has been around for centuries and …

Too much hard oil? Not rated yet
I live in Ghana and last time I wrote to you about the lack of availability of some leading soap making oils you advised me to use the oils I can get. …

How long to unmold whipped soap? Not rated yet
This is the second time I've made whipped soap. The first one had to be re-batched because I didn't add enough lye. All I've read says to unmold after …

How to make my bar soap feel soft and smooth? Not rated yet
I had purchased a bar of soap from a company and liked the characteristics. The bar lathered quickly and felt smooth in the hands and on the face when …

our soap is greasy to the touch why? Not rated yet
I went to Michaels with the kids and bought Glyceryn soap and molds and we melted the soap, added food coloring and a few drops of scent into the soap …

How do you calculate how much milk? Not rated yet
How do you calculate how much milk you add to each cp soap batch you create? I have read you can sucessfully substitute 1/3 of your total water volume …

Laundry soap recipe Not rated yet
In your directions for laundry soap , you say "place half a bar of finely grated soap". I was wondering how many ounces that would be since our bars …

Adding a scent or a fruit Not rated yet
I am trying to basically melt a pre existing plain white soap and adding my own stuff, I would like to make it like straw berries and creme, how would …

Problems with goat milk powder Not rated yet
I can't seem to figure out what I'm doing wrong. I've made several batches of soap using powdered goat milk and they all turn out the same. They look …

Color problem Not rated yet
I added dry blue coloring especially for soap, along with some blueberry seeds. My soap turned out dark brown. The soap was made with lye, coconut …

Oil of Oregano Not rated yet
Has anyone developed a great blend yet for using this oil in CP soap? I don't want to add too many other essential oils as I'd like to have the medicinal …

When do I add Silk Aminos? Not rated yet
When do I add liquid silk aminos to my cp soap batch? At trace or to the water before mixing in the lye? Answer: I've not used the liquid form …

White powder after one week Not rated yet
I make soap but my problem is after one week there is white powder on the soap and some time there is salt look a like. I have no idea what cause them. …

Glycerin Soap turned from yellow to brown.  Not rated yet
I added yellow color to clear glycerin soap and after 2 weeks, it went from a nice yellow to a light brown. Did I put in too much fragrance? I did not …

Cinnamon and honey - bad idea or what? Not rated yet
I have just made my first batch of honey soap. I made it with olive oil, shea butter, coconut oil and palm oil. I used just one pound of oils and put 1 …

What size mold for your recipes? Not rated yet
I'd love to get started on some of these great sounding recipes but I do not know what size mold you're using..how many pounds? Thank you! Answer: …

Selling Soap-Business Question Not rated yet
My question is regarding getting into business making soap. I am at least a year away from opening an online store to sell CP process soap. However, …

What is titanium dioxide ? Not rated yet
What is titanium dioxide? Why its mostly used in soap industry? Answer: Titanium Dioxide is a naturally occuring white mineral pigment. Soap is …

Grated soap additive  Not rated yet
I'm about to try making your apricot soap and the recipe calls for 200 grams of grated soap. I have not made any soap before so what should I use …

Paper stuck on soap Not rated yet
I used the wrong paper to line my mold. How do I remove all the paper without damaging my soap? Answer: If you are unable to remove the paper from …

Lumps in Soap Not rated yet
How do you know that your soap is a flop, or that there is still some unconverted lye somewhere in your soap. After tracing and adding EO and molasses, …

Lye calculation??? Not rated yet
I would like to start by saying that I find your site very informative and fun. In doing alot of reading about begining soap making processes, each site …

Different water amounts? Which to use? Not rated yet
Ok i am new to the soap making and just figured out how to use the soap calculator...i then tried the one on bramble berry's website and each one gave …

Measuring Liquids Not rated yet
Are all the ingredients measured by weight? Water, lye, and oils to be used? Answer: Yes, almost all the measurements are by weight when it comes …

Click here to write your own.

Alternative to palm oil & lard? Not rated yet
Hi Cathy, The information on your site is fabulous and so comprehensive, thank you! I have just made my first few batches of soap (after wanting …

How can I make fast dissolving pieces of bar soap for single use?  Not rated yet
Currently I am doing a project where I need to make small pieces of bar soap that can be dissolved quickly in a single use, no larger than smarties. Wondering …

Does fragrance from coconut oil pass to final product? Not rated yet
Thank you for the generous help you provide to all of us through your wonderful site. Maybe is a stupid question but I am completely ignorant about …

chemical reaction? Not rated yet
I made a batch of soap tonite it is a basic recipe Castor oil coconut oil Palm oil I have made this before with no problem. tonite I used a ES oil …

Colorant Not rated yet
Hi! I am enjoying my adventures in soapmaking so much. I have used oxides, mixed with a bit of rubbing alcohol in my melt and pour with great success. …

Paper to wrap soap in Not rated yet
For a while, I have been making my own soaps. I don't really have any problems, except I don't know what kind of paper to wrap them in to sell. I saw …

Vegetable glycerin and castor oil Not rated yet
Why lately does my CP soaps have a sticky feeling to them after cutting and sitting on the dry racks? I have noticed this every once in awhile, could …

Coconut milk Not rated yet
Any particular coconut milk for your Shea butter coconut milk bar? Do you buy that or make it? Answer: Just regular tinned coconut milk from the …

First-timer!! Not rated yet
Hi! I'm new to this and was thinking of making bars of soap for my wedding favors in June. I am wondering how to make a soap mold, and how big they …

Calculating Soap Recipe Size Not rated yet
I am a 57 year old man and have always wanted to make homemade soap since I saw the old iron kettle out back of the farmhouse brewing the lye soap. …

Chocolate cp soap problem Not rated yet
I'm making my trial batch of chocolate soap. I dont really understand why it thickens so fast. Is it because of the chocolate powder? Am I using too …

Adding soap balls failed Not rated yet
I was looking over your decorative ideas for soap making ( I love your page, by the way. It has been the most helpful and informative by far) and because …

Measuring the oils Not rated yet
Do you measure the had oils before or after melting? Answer: Soap making oils are measured by weighing them. Since the oils weigh the same when …

Sweaty soap Not rated yet
I put the soap in the freezer so they popped out easier, but I left one batch in too long and now have sweaty soap. Is there anything I can do? Answer: …

Too much oil? Not rated yet
Hi,Cathy! Yesterday I made a new batch of soap, and was SO happy with the end result when I put the lids on the two moulds... The soap did not come …

Ripply lumps on top of the soap Not rated yet
I've been making soap for about a year and a half now, When I make it I am doing 3 or 4 batches at a time that are 3, 6, or 9 lbs. each. I have a …

Adding candlemaking fragrance oil.  Not rated yet
I have a question concerning fragrance oil that is labeled "not safe for use in making soap products" (by the vendor). I thought I checked this scent, …

Insurance Not rated yet
As a mold maker I am developing several molds based in a proprietary shape. Never work with soap, always with crafts. the idea is to go to hair dressing …

Shorten soap curing process? Not rated yet
Is there a way to speed up the soap curing process? I have a few batches and since I am new to the world of cold process soap I am excited to give them …

Building a Website? Not rated yet
I do need to set up a website and I love yours. Is there a link on this page to set mine up? I already have purchased a domain name. Will you get some …

How to ship 4000 soap??? Not rated yet
Can anyone help? We have a potential order of 4000 CP soap to be shipped over the the Netherlands by boat which will take about 2 months in a container. …

What is Lard? Not rated yet
In a previous answer you stated that Crisco is palm oil & soybean oil. What exactly is Lard? I have made some wonderful bars of soap with it. Is it a …

White Swirl in Bar and Fast Trace Not rated yet
I just added castor oil and palm oil to my soap recipe. I noticed that my batches are going to trace fast and there is a thin light layer of ash on the …

Funny smell or no smell at all ?  Not rated yet
I am new to soap making, and I've made some batches which smell wonderful and some which smell horrible or smell of nothing. Is it to do with the …

Cold Process colors Not rated yet
I am looking for some colors to color my cold processed soaps with can you suggest a good reasonably priced place to buy my colors at? I am also wondering …

Click here to write your own.

Blending essential oils to get a great fragrance for CP soaps Not rated yet
I am finding it hard to work out how much of each essential oil to blend together to make a nice fragrance. I am currently working on Rose Geranium and …

My First CP Batch Not rated yet
I think I made a mess of my first batch of CP soap using the room temperature method. It was going great until I added the fragrance oil. Wow, then …

Crystals on cp soap after freezer overnight Not rated yet
I made castile soap with honey & FO and put in freezer overnight after pour. Got it out this morning, frozen solid, unmolded and several hours later, …

Oven dilemma. Not rated yet
Can I make cp/op in my stove? It is a gas , and have a pilot at all time, the oven is little warm at all time, I'm wondering if it is o.k. Answer: …

Using tthe room tempature method of soap making .  Not rated yet
When using the room temperature method of soap making. Isn't it dangerous standing over the lye and melting the butters---isn't there a concern with the …

how to I switch oils/butters in a recipe. What do I need to know? IE replacement for sunflower oil Not rated yet
I have a recipe calling for sunflower oil and I do not have any. Can I use ANY other oil or what do I look for in replacing a oil/butter. Answer: …

Peach Carrier Oil  Not rated yet
Recipes using peach oil are rare. Can you suggest one? Answer: I'm assuming you mean peach kernel oil. You can sub it in any recipe for some …

Temperature Match, thermometre broke! Not rated yet
Hi, I recently made my first batch of olive oil soap and my thermometre broke whilst measuring the soda and oil. I mixed the two together just roughly …

Can I use well/rain water to make soap? Not rated yet
Is rainwater a good choice for soapmaking, or do you recommend buying distilled? I live in the country, and we have our own well. In water tests, our …

Making soap outside in winter Not rated yet
Can I make soap outside in below zero winter temperatures? Is there a minimum outside temperature needed to make soap? Answer: I've never done …

Eyes sting after cutting soap Not rated yet
I know getting soap in your eyes makes them sting, but my eyes are stinging just from being in proximity to my soap while I was cutting it after the insulation …

How do I reduce a soap recipe to a small batch for testing. Not rated yet
I made a avacado soap recipe and tried to reduce the amounts but still ended up with more bars than I needed. How can I make one or two bars of soap for …

Bar soap to Liquid soap? Not rated yet
Is it possible to turn my cold process bar soap into a liquid soap? if so how? Answer: Liquid soap starts off like cold process soap making but …

Coconut Milk Not rated yet
Hello, I was wondering if the coconut milk you mention in your (beautiful) recipes is a "special" coconut milk, or we can use the same coconut milk used …

Dark Centered Honey Soap Not rated yet
Hi I made two batches of honey oatmeal soap. One batch came out darker than the other and the centers where darker than the edges. Why did this happen …

Lost some of my lye mix by overflow Not rated yet
My liquid was 1200 gms of wine and I added 572 gms of lye. What I have left after overflow is 1252 gms of liquid. There was a lot of loss due to over flow …

Curing time for room temperature soap making Not rated yet
I am wondering if the soap should stay in the mold longer when using the room temperature method? I am finding that my soap takes longer to firm up and …

quantity of soap Not rated yet
How do I increase the quantity of my soap? Answer: Use an online lye calculator to change the size of your soap recipe. Visit my page on Lye …

Lard or shortening Not rated yet
Lard or vegetable shortening can be substitute for another vegetable butter? Why some recipes call for these two items? Is it good for the skin? Thank …

Brown spots in my honey soap the day after cutting Not rated yet
I am not sure if this is the dreaded orange spots or me not thinning the honey before adding. I made my soap using olive oil 17 oz, beeswax .5oz, and …

goatsmilk soap Not rated yet
Im making goatsmilk soap but still I dont know which technique is better where you can get the good benefit of goatsmilk soap... Is it 50-50 water …

Help, soaping thickening up too much Not rated yet
I'm having a bad run of it. I haven't had my soap thicken up like this before. I used to get stearic acid resolidifying in my soap causing white blobs …

Help with Lavender EO and Cold Process soap Not rated yet
I have a client who wants the smell of Lavender to last on her skin... I am trying new things but need some Help.. Nicole Answser: Soap is a wash …

Liquid Laundry Soap  Not rated yet
In your recipe for the liquid laundry soap you say to "place half a bar of finely grated soap into a pot ...". How much of your recipe is half a bar. I …

MP/CP ingredients list on label Not rated yet
First question: The swirls,circles,and curls I see in your soaps. Are they MP incorporated into your CP or are they mostly CP? Next: If you are incorporating …

Click here to write your own.

Your soap recipes - how much soap? Not rated yet
I'm new at this and don't know what mold I should use for your recipes! I have a 4 lb mold and a 5 lb mold! Love your site! It's very helpful! Barbara …

White soap with unrefined shea butter Not rated yet
Thanks for this site! I have a question about making cold process soap with unrefined shea butter (instead of palm oil). I did a test batch and it …

Microwave Rebatching Not rated yet
Any reason not to? In my case I often need to add coconut or palm kernel oil for extra suds. The mug I mix in is my form so....? Thanks Answer: …

Chill to set Not rated yet
Can homemade soap (using oils and sodium hydroxide)be chilled in the refrigerator to set more quickly? Approx how long will it take to set when in 2" x …

Soap curing rack design question Not rated yet
I really want to make this. However, there's no pic of the side view, and I'm trying to imagine what guides each tray layer back straight into the unit, …

Tips for MP soapmaking Not rated yet
Looking for melt and pour info. I want to make a whipped topping for my soap but there are no instructions on how to do that and also when adding a hardened …

White residue. Not rated yet
2 weeks into curing my soap,it was covered in white residue,what did i do wrong? Answer: You did nothing wrong. Sometimes soap will develope what …

Melt & Pour and oils Not rated yet
I am happy to find your site that is very helpful I am new on soap making, so I will start with Melt and Pour. I know that soap is ready to add color …

Doubling Recipes Not rated yet
Hello. I like a certain recipe and I had it resized for a particular mold. It is a winner! Now can I double the recipe to fit 2 of those molds? Or …

Soap Darkrning in Mold Not rated yet
My my friend and I just started making soap. We acquired some wooden molds and proceeded to make our soap. We used a recipe that we had previous success …

Is lye necessary? Not rated yet
I want to make organic natural soap. Is Lye natural and safe and do you have to use it or are there other options? Answer: In todays world, lye …

Adding color to Soap Not rated yet
Hi. I'm so happy to have found your site. The soaps you make are absolutely beautiful! It's what I want to do with mine. I've only made one batch of soap …

First time making soap Not rated yet
First, thanks for such a wonderful site and taking the time to answer my question. Your basic recipe "Vegetable Oil Soap with Castor Oil" is what I have …

Oil use Not rated yet
I am very new at soap making and I made my first batch and I didnt use enough olive oil. I read the scale wrong. Do I have to waste the batch or can it …

Sticky Reside Not rated yet
I have been making soaps for about 10 months now, pretty successfully (after the first couple of batches) and my soaps usually come out great. The last …

Soda ash dilemma Not rated yet
I have read somewhere that if I spray the top of the CP soap with 91% rubbing alcohol it will prevent white dust appearing. Is it true? I thought that …

Coconut Oil Not rated yet
Sorry to ask another question today but I've also noticed on the lye calculators they give you 3 choices with coconut oil, 76 deg, 92deg and fractionated. …

Lye Calculator & Soap with undisolved lye Not rated yet
I have two questions, I have been Using MMS soap calculator as i found it very easy when I began , but now I am able to use SoapCalc and I have found a …

Adding lye to rebatch  Not rated yet
I made a batch of soap that turned out horribly. About 1/2c or more of the oil didn't saponify. How do I rebatch, adding more lye? How do I know how …

frustrated Not rated yet
I am looking for a Goats milk soap recipe that does not use lye. I have had no luck finding a recipe via internet or books. I hope you will be able to …

Can I use a soap I made out of lye and olive oil as a soap base?  Not rated yet
I'm new to soap making and I was wondering if after I make a homemade soap can I then use it as a soap base. Answer: I'm guessing that you want …

A few bars of soap are starting to get brown spots? Not rated yet
I made a batch of Cold Process soap about 3 months ago. I noticed that some of the bars are starting to get brown spots. Does this mean the oils are going …

How to use botanicals on the top of soap Not rated yet
Just want to know how and when you would put botanicals like lavender or petals on the top of soap instead of in the soap so they will stay. Answer: …

Light brown Not rated yet
Which colours am I to blend together to give a clear light brown colour? Answer: Brown can be achieved by using many different colourants such …

SPOON SWIRL Not rated yet
MY MOLD IS (4 5/8)X(15 1/8)X(4)_ INCHES, I WANT TO MAKE YOUR SPOON SWIRL HOMEMADE SOAP HOW CAN I GET THE AMOUNTS TO FILL THIS MOLD. THANK YOU Answer: …

Click here to write your own.

Hot process not working Not rated yet
I have now made 4 batches of hot process. I have measured everything correct but when cooking it doesnt look like Vaseline and when i pour and wait till …

Moisturizing v.s cleansing cp soap Not rated yet
I’ve been researching CP soap for a while & made a few batches. My concern is that I am interested in making soap that is moisturizing, takes care of my …

How to keep oils fresh at home? Not rated yet
I am new is soap making as hobby. I have noticed that some of the oils go bad during storage. Is this possible? Thanks. Dr. M. S. Uzuner Answer: …

What constitutes an "antibacterial soap"? Not rated yet
I was at a craft show when someone asked if the handcrafted soaps were antibacterial. It dawned on me that I don't know what constitutes antibacterial. …

Packaging Not rated yet
Your site is lovely! Thank you for the packaging ideas! Where did you get your soap sleeves and who printed them? Do you have a technique or tips for making …

Hard soap bar with 5% fat Not rated yet
What would you recomend as a receipe that contains shea butter, castor oil,coconut oil, soya bean, olive oil, jojoba oil but not palm oil. preferably a …

Making simple novelty gift soaps for children Not rated yet
We make soaps for women,and men but what about simple recipes for babies and children aged 5 years and over, going into their teens? I would love to start …

Oil Seperation  Not rated yet
First, thank you for your dedication, patience, generosity and time to answer all these questions from other people, wanting to help them. I appreciate …

Clear yellow liquid at top of soap during gel phase Not rated yet
I recently started soapmaking and have made tons of batches of soap with no problems. I've always used PVC pipes or tray molds or even cardboard boxes …

Soap curls technique Not rated yet
I just made a batch of soap with some soap curls like in your decorative ideas section, but for some reason the soap didn't "stick" to the curls. I …

Can you die making soap? Not rated yet
I realize this may be an extreme questions, however, my husband is extremely concerned about using the lye. He is making me crazy! We do take the appropriate …

When to add my Shea Butter?? Not rated yet
I am new at soap making,and I have decided to use the room-temperature method. I am making All-Natural/Vegan soaps. No lard or any animals fats. I am going …

Olive and Palm Oil scarcity Not rated yet
I have recently moved to Ghana in West Africa and Olive oil is extremely expensive and difficult to obtain. The Palm oil here is only red palm which I …

flakes, powder or beads in lye Not rated yet
What is best to use as food grade lye? beads or flakes and why? Answer: Either would be just fine. Cathy

bar soap not setting up Not rated yet
I made my 1st batch of bar soap and not setting up as I think it should. Not sure what to do. Not sure to make more if 1st batch wrong. Answer: …

Cutter Not rated yet
Cathy, First of all I want to say sorry for your loss; and best wishes with your move. Second, I don't know if you want to post this or not, but I …

Soap lost it's colour. Not rated yet
I made cold process soap and removed half of it and colored it lavender, then layered it as I poured it. The next day when I removed it from wooden mold …

Didn't cover/insulate the soap right away Not rated yet
I was called away unavoidably right after I poured the soap into the molds. Consequently it was 1 and 1/2 hours before I was able to cover the molds with …

Laundry soap question Not rated yet
You mention using a half a bar for the recipe and I'm wondering how many ounces the bars should be to start with. I usually make mine about 4 ounces but …

BEESWAX IN CP SOAP Not rated yet
I am looking at different ways to harden CP soap. What would be the usage rate for beeswax? Besides hardening the soap, what other benefits would beeswax …

Whisk/stik blender Not rated yet
Condoleances! I wanted to ask if you ever tried cu mix de soap solution only with your whisk? I want to try to make soap for the first time and I wouldn't …

Storing one use soaps Not rated yet
I'm planning to make several batches of the one use leaf soaps with MP and water soluble paper and package them as wedding favors for my fall wedding. …

Soap is different colour inside Not rated yet
I made some basic goats milk soap, as I like the low PH of this soap. I used Olive oil, & Coconut oil. Upon cutting the bar in half after 4 weeks curing, …

Hot process soap Not rated yet
I dont know what i am doing wrong im following doloris boones recipies to the tee run everything through lye calculater and check ph with phenophin and …

Confused about gelling soap Not rated yet
I was just reading about gelling vs non gelling. I am going to make my first batch of goatmilk soap and pour in mold. Don't I want it to gel? Isn't that …

Click here to write your own.

Making Transparant soap Not rated yet
If a recipe for transparent soap at least 70%-140% alcohol, can I mix the alcohol - 63%(Jamaica White Rum to 43%(Ethiopian Gin/Vodka. I can not find a …

Carrier Oil? Not rated yet
I would like to attempt to make a Foaming Bath Butter at home. What is a Carrier Oil and could you give me an example of some? Answer: You can …

CP soap sticking instead of Gliding on my skin Not rated yet
How can i make the soap glide better on my skin? What makes the soap feel like it's sticking to the hairs on my arm instead of gliding overthem? Answer: …

Lavender oil Not rated yet
Where do I buy the lavender oil for the soap? Answer: Check out the suppliers page for a long list of places you can purchase all sorts of soap …

Hard soap without palm oil Not rated yet
Hi cathy...Good daay! in india palm oil is not handy..so, sujjest other oils to bland with coconut oil to make hard soaps..can we use clays...here is a …

Soap Quality Not rated yet
I am so sorry to hear about your loss and hope that things will go well for you. My question is. Is there any recipe to get the cleansing, conditioning, …

Soap Melts Quickly Not rated yet
Been doing cp soap successfully most of the time. I just want to ask why my cp soap melts easily despite added stearic acid. Answer: How quickly …

Mixing Clays Not rated yet
I seem to have a problem when mixing pink clay into my CP soap, I end up with lots of lumps, what is the best way to incorporate clay into a cp soap mix? …

Oil blending calculator Not rated yet
Hi.I hope you can point me in the right direction with my question. Is there any calculator that is similar to how lye calculators work, in regards to …

What exfoliants will turn brown in soap?  Not rated yet
I'm debating using junniper berries as an exfoliant in my cold process soap but don't want to waste the herbs or time if they will just turn brown. …

How much coconut milk? Not rated yet
I'm making the Camellia Oil Coconut Milk Soap. How do I adjust for how much coconut milk to use depending on how much I make? I'm making 300g of this soap, …

crisco and salt bars Not rated yet
Can I use crisco in my salt bar soap instead of palm oil or coconut oil? Answer: Salt when added to soap will greatly reduce the lather. The …

Goat's milk soap problem. Not rated yet
I added half my lye to 6 cups of room temp goats milk, started to turn orange, then it curdled, then it solidified!!! Can I save it? I need help with an …

Adding Essential Oils Not rated yet
If I want to experiement with my own blend of E/O how do I know how much to add to the soap recipe? Answer: Here is a quote from my page on Essential …

Advice please Not rated yet
Please explain how do you create this uneven top of your cold process soap? I want to make soap with top like this and I would like to put lavander …

Herbs and spices Not rated yet
Can I use any of my herbs or spices in the soap such as Saffron? Answer: You certainly can use herbs and spices. Saffron will produce yellows in …

Why does the scent of my soap seem to fade away? Not rated yet
Hello. I make soap through Cold processing. In some soaps I will use an essential oil like Sweet Orange and in some soaps I will use a fragrance oil. I …

Scenting soap Not rated yet
Have you ever used myrrh gum powder to scent your soaps. If you have how did you do it. Essencial oils are so expensive that I have not been scenting. …

What mold to use? Not rated yet
Hi, I am really looking forward to making some of your soap recipes! However I was wondering what size and type of mold would be big enough and good …

Preserving my liquid Castile soap Not rated yet
I am wondering how much vitamin e oil should I use in a 16 ounce bottle of liquid Castile soap? Answer: Sorry but I specialize in cold process …

Moisturizing Soap Not rated yet
I am trying to make a very moisturizing bar of soap, and so far can't figure it out. Iv'e used Grapeseed oil, cocoa butter, as well as coconut oil for …

Using grain alcohol as a preservative  Not rated yet
hello i am going to make some goats milk lotion. i have a recipe of 36oz water 36oz milk 16 oz oil then a few other additives like vit. E and steric acid. …

Color of goat milk soaps Not rated yet
This is my first time trying to make goat milk soap. I followed the instruction to keep the temp of the lye/milk mixture and the oil mixture around 100F …

Oil-based food colouring Not rated yet
I wanted to know whether i can used oil-based food colouring for CP soap...pls advise Thanks Answer: Not all food colourings work well in handmade …

Substitute and change recpie Not rated yet
Can I change recipe from palm oil to vegetable oil or another oil I already have? Answer: Visit my page about Soap Making Oils and scroll down …

Click here to write your own.

Using diluted caustic soda Not rated yet
I have a bottle of diluted caustic soda. Its 30% . What are the quantites i should use when making hp soap. Answer: I'm afraid I am not familiar …

Oily soap Not rated yet
I have used my usual recipe with a base of olive, coconut and castor oils. I used the CPOP method, which I have used successfully with a few batches now. …

Substituting Oils Not rated yet
If I do not have Shea Butter can I substitute with another oil? Answer: You certainly can use other oils in a soap making recipe. Visit my …

Essential oils and children Not rated yet
When making soap that children will be using do i need to use less essential oils? Answer: I would keep the essential oils on the lower side but …

Yellow, sweaty soap Not rated yet
I've been making soap for quite a few years now, but the last batch I made did something different. I do hot process soap and wanted to make my bars a …

Does oatmeal settle in melt and pour soap Not rated yet
I am using melt and pour soap and the oatmeal seems to be settling at the bottom of the mold. Answer: Oatmeal can settle to the bottom of the soap …

Orris Root benefits Not rated yet
I was readying your recipe for salt bars and it sounds lovely. May I ask what orris root adds to the soap and or why it is used? Thank you so much. …

Color confusion Not rated yet
Hi, I am confused about adding mineral pigments in cold process soap so I have few questions about it. How many grams of mineral pigments do you …

How do I thicken up my homemade conditioner? Not rated yet
My conditioner is too thin, can I add something to thicken it up? If so, what, and how much per 8 oz of conditioner would I add?? Answer: Sorry …

Real lemon juice in soap? Not rated yet
Hello. I barely received my first order of shea butter melt & pour soap, and i wanted to test it out, so i melted a little cube of soap and i aded 3 lemons …

Soap without coconut oil? Not rated yet
Can you use vegetable shortening and olive oil without adding coconut oil to make soap? thanks! Answer: Soap can be made from any oil or combination …

Potassium Hydroxide soap turning reddish Not rated yet
I made a batch of liquid soap paste with cocoa butter, castor oil and coconut oil - I diluted it a few times with great results, nice clear golden toned …

Are M&P FO the same as CP FO Not rated yet
I am new to Cp and was wondering, some of the craft stores carry alot of M&P supplies and they carry FO and EO but they just say soap making. Would they …

Vanilla Powder in RT method Not rated yet
I read about the Room Temperature Method and now is my favorite method!! I want to ask you if I can use Vanilla Powder in trace. Answer: I'm …

What size soap recipe will work in a 8.5 crockpot? Not rated yet
I bought a 8.5 crockpot what is the largest size recipe that will work in this? Answer: Hot process soap batter will bubble up quite a bit during …

Sulphur soap not getting hard.  Not rated yet
I'm making soap with sulphur in it using the hot process method. It is not setting up. What could I be doing wrong? Answer: Miss measuring the …

All my batches failed Not rated yet
I have attempted several batches of soap to no avail. At first I couldn't figure out what went wrong but I luckily spotted that the olive oil I'd been …

Too much essential oil  Not rated yet
I made some homemade shampoo and put in too much peppermint oil. Will it still be safe to use? Answer: Peppermint can be sensitizing to some individuals …

palm oil/coconut oil mix up Not rated yet
Some time ago I bought two large tubs one each of coconut oil and palm oil. I my recent move the lids with the names for these pails were removed. Now …

Substuite for vanilla absolute? Not rated yet
I am new to making soap and have a recipe that calls for vanilla absolute. Is there a substitute for this? Can I use FO or EO instead? Thanks Answer: …

What is free fatty acid formula? Not rated yet
How do we determine free fatty acid of a medicated soap? Answer: You may want to pose this question to a chemist as I am unable to supply you with …

Natural Colorant Darkening after cure Not rated yet
Hello, I use a soap recipe that is tried and true. I use a wooden soap mold that I insulate with a blanket for the first 24 hours. I recently started …

essential oils additives Not rated yet
If I want to add essential oils not found in a soap recipe, do I need to recalculate the liquid or just add them in addition to the amounts given? …

CPOP sank Why? Not rated yet
I followed the CPOP soap recipe from 'Lemon Coconut Cream Soap recipe'. to the 'T'. I was excited to give this new technique a try, particularly after …

Selling Soap Not rated yet
Hey there! I've been considering trying to sell my soap at a local farmers' market and had a few questions about some logistics. If any of you have …

Click here to write your own.

Low PH in liquid soap Not rated yet
I used citric acid to lower the ph in my liquid soap. I put too much in and the ph is now 6. I would like to raise it to 8 or 9. Is there a way that I …

Citrus essential oils in room temp soap Not rated yet
The smell of citrus essential oils always evaporates in cold process soap... does the room temperature method help this problem? Thanks, Ornitte …

Silica Microspheres in Whipped Body Butter recipe Not rated yet
I am wanting to add silica to my whipped body butter recipe because I heard it helps the butter absorb into the skin better. I am not sure how much …

Substitution Not rated yet
So, I own a winery and I want to make soap. Is it possible to substitute wine for the water? Or at least grape juice? I'd love to incorporate our wine …

Floating soap Not rated yet
Using say a glycerin base melt and pour soap, what can I do to make it float or is there another base I can use to make a melt and pour soap that floats? …

Dark ring in soap Not rated yet
What causes a dark ring in my goat milk soap? Answer: Most likely the soap didn't reach a full gel. What you are likely seeing is a partial gel. …

Soap lost it`s scent Not rated yet
I made a few of your recipes and two of them have lost their scent. They are still curing as it`s been 3 weeks only. Should I rebatch the soap. They …

Layering soap problems Not rated yet
I made a batch of cp soap and poured the second layer over the first like I usually do and this time the second layer popped off after it cured and cut. …

Bath Bombs Not rated yet
Can I use liquid sodium lauryl sulfate for making bath bombs? Answer: I'm afraid I do not know anything about using sodium lauryl sulfate of any …

Is the business of soap making profitable? Not rated yet
I am currently in a women's home and we are trying to find ways to involve the women in bringing income to the home. An idea was selling home-made soaps. …

No Suds Not rated yet
I just started making soap using the melt and pour methods. I have used the shea butter and some of the goats milk bases. Some of the soap doesn't …

Hand blender Not rated yet
If I use my hand blender to make soap can I still use it to cook with? Answer: No, you should not cook with your hand blender after using it to …

Strange colors of my soap Not rated yet
Last night I made my new batch of soap. I have included almond oil 3.79%, avocado oil 0.91%, coconut oil 25.99%, grape seed oil 9.05%, olive oil 36.56%, …

Emulsifying Wax Stearic Acid lye calculation Not rated yet
Can I use Emulsifying Wax and Stearic Acid in soap as a base oil and how much lye should I add? Answer: Stearic acid is listed on SoapCalc so …

Beer soap Not rated yet
I'm a newbie and just made my first batch of beer soap. I have made my beer go flat and froze it. Today, I mixed it with lye and the soap smells really …

White residue in soap and water mixture. Not rated yet
Make a mixture of melted home-made soap and water. Let it sit for a few hours. What is the white residue in the bottom? Answer: I have no idea. …

I have about 10lbs of 76 degree coconut oil Not rated yet
I haven't made soap since 2007 but want to start making it again and while gathering all the equipment together, I found a container with about 10 lbs. …

Soap making equipment Not rated yet
Is it safe to use the same dishes for food and soap making? Answer: No. It is very important to purchase seperate equipment to make your soap with. …

Coconut flakes on soap Not rated yet
If I make soap and sprinkle coconut flakes on top when its finished will it go bad or mold? How long will it last? Answer: I've never used coconut …

Almond oil Not rated yet
Can I use food grade almond oil instead of cosmetic grade almond oil in my cold process soap recipe? Answer: I don't see why not. Should be just …

Soap Flaws Not rated yet
What happens when you leave your soap in a mold for too long? Answer: It is best to take the soap out of the mold after a day or two but I can't …

Soap Scum Not rated yet
Hello. Well, I've made my first several batches of soap and noticed after using them they leave a film around the bathtub and sink area unlike the commercial …

Longest lasting fragrance oils? Not rated yet
I am new to soap making and would like to try this company's products. Bulk Apothecary Since many of them are Bath and Body like scents, I thought …

Mixing dried fruit, herbs, leaves in the CP soap? Not rated yet
I have used Ann Watson's book with great success and in her recipe for the first try which contains shea butter, olive oil and coconut oil I want to add …

Problems with Chalky edges using the Shea Butter Soap Recipe Not rated yet
I have been making large batches of your Shea butter soap recipe- and have had some wonderful successes and some not so wonderful. I have had problems …

Click here to write your own.

Bubbles in finished soap  Not rated yet
I have a question for an experienced soap maker like you. I am new to soap making and one of my problems right now is when I am making my soap, there's …

Salty top Not rated yet
How do I keep from getting that white film on top of cold processed soap? Answer: Powdery residue can be a nuisance. There are a few options …

Hard water and homemade soap Not rated yet
I have been using shampoo that I have made for about a month now on my hair and my daughter's hair. Her hair is soft and shiny once dry, but my hair …

Soap is not getting hard. Not rated yet
I made soap in a crock pot and cooked it on low heat for 1 hour. The lye test came back good. Should I have cooked the soap longer than an hour because …

Calendula Petals Not rated yet
Can I add the petals directly into the soap? or do I have to infuse the petals with oil prior to adding to the melted soap. Answer: Calendula petals …

Can I use coconut milk instead of coconut oil? Not rated yet
If i dont use on my recipe coconut oil and i replaced with coconut milk, the coconut milk have the same cleansing properties compared with the oil? …

Pigment flakes for soap? Not rated yet
Is it possible to use pigment flakes that I have for soapmaking? I have a lot of pigment flakes because I used to make a lot of candles, and I'm getting …

Difference between soap for face and for body Not rated yet
I wonder that soap recipes in your web can be used for face or for body. Anything difference between them? Can I use what kind of carrier oil for soap …

Scent Not rated yet
Hello I am very new in making soap. I dont scuseed all de time. Yesterday i made hot process soap and it looks like nothing. It was very olish and this …

Unsaponified middle leaks out Not rated yet
One of my first soaps I added an extra 2 ounces of grapeseed oil to the recipe and I already had it superfatted. The next day the outside is hard but …

Too much additive... I think Not rated yet
Hello. My soap is doing the opposite of gelling. It is getting hard on the outside and staying soft on the inside. I didn't superfat or lye discount …

Why immediate trace?  Not rated yet
My soap went to trace then into thick pudding stage immediately after the lye water was poured in. Both the oils and the lye water were room temperature …

100% olive oil liquid castile soap recipe Not rated yet
I am desperately looking for a recipe for 100% olive oil liquid castile soap recipe. I am only finding ones that have coconut and other oils mixed with …

Combine oils and herbs for soap for hair Not rated yet
What combination of oils and herbs makes a shampoo bar that will make the hair soft and healthy? Is there a different combination for every hair type and …

Salt Soap Not rated yet
Cathy I wanted to make your salt bar, but I didn't have that much grapeseed oil and all I had was sulfated castor oil (more on that later) so I used another …

Aloe vera shampoo bar Not rated yet
I just made a batch of shampoo bars and used aloe vera juice instead of distilled water. It smells funny. Will the smell go away as the bars cure? …

Tropical Traditions Coconut oil Not rated yet
I have some Tropical Traditions Coconut Oil that just expired. I was planning on using it to make soap. Would that affect my soap at all? Answer: …

Soap hardening Not rated yet
When I set my melt & pour soap into a mold it doesn't harden enough. How can I increase the hardness? Answer: Melt and pour soap should harden …

How Can I achieve pure white color on my soap? Not rated yet
I really tried to achieve pure white color on my soap, but I tried it really hard and my soap still goes into something yellowish colored soap. What can …

Gel phase worries... Not rated yet
I am new to soap making and I have watched lots of videos and read a few books... But I always end up asking the same question. How do I prevent my …

palm oil Not rated yet
Hi Cathy I normally use a very good quality solid palm oil in my soapmaking . Another supplier of palm olein oil contacted me recently to ask if i want …

LONGER LASTING SOAP Not rated yet
I have made numerous CP soaps and I have been please with their appearance , lathering qualities etc. However, they don't seem to last very long. …

GREEN TEA FRAGRANCE  Not rated yet
Can't keep away from this awesome site! It answers so many of my queries that many others don't! Love it! I have recently purchased a 5ml sample of …

Use sour milk Not rated yet
Can you use sour milk in cold process soap making? or Can you use expired milk in making soap? If yes will the sourness be there after the soap cures? …

Recipe for room temperature CP Not rated yet
I would like to try room temperature CP. I currently soap at 120f to avoid stearic spots as when I have soaped below 120f I get stearic spots. …

Click here to write your own.

Soap Making Oils Commonly used in India.  Not rated yet
I want to know which are the commonly used essential oils for soap making in India? Which can be easily available and also not very expensive? Can anyone …

Lavender Buds in cold process soap making Not rated yet
Is there a technique to use that will prevent lavender buds from discoloring in cold process soap making? I've had them turn brown both mixed into the …

Colors turning wrong color. Not rated yet
I have the oxide minerals to color my soaps. I use the CP and RT methods but when I add the colors (already mixed with a little oil for incorporating) …

How to harden soft foaming bath butter Not rated yet
I bought a foaming bath butter but it is too soft to make a shaving bar. How do I harden it with no chemicals. Answer: Foaming bath butter is a …

Oil percentage Not rated yet
What will be the result of the soap if I only use 90% oils instead of 100%. Answer: If I understand your question correctly, you are asking if …

Real Chocolate Cold Process Soap with zero synthetics Not rated yet
What is the highest amount of cocoa butter can I use in a CP recipe before it becomes too soft? I would love to make a Chocolate soap with zero synthetics. …

Throw away plastic pitcher used to mix lye Not rated yet
If I use a plastic pitcher like the one you show on your site, do i have to throw it out and buy a new one every time i make soap? Thank you, from a newbee …

how much soap do these recipes make? Not rated yet
I would like to know how much soap these recipes make. Answer: Each soap recipe produces approximately 10 - 110 gram to 150 gram bars. That's …

Palm oil mixed Not rated yet
I want make a batch of soap so i am thinking to mix palm canel with water and other ingrdints My question is what is the best oil to be mixed with …

Subtitute for optiphen Not rated yet
Making body scrub and out of optiphen is there a natural subtitute? Answer: I am unaware of one...sorry. Cathy

Bad smelling soap Not rated yet
I am very new to soapmaking. I took one class and can not find the woman who taught it anymore so I was wondering if you could answer a question for me. …

What can I use instead of Apricot Kernel Oil  Not rated yet
I'm making Disappearing Bubbling Bath Oil and I don't have enough apricot kernel oil. Answer: I'm not familiar with the disappearing bubbling bath …

Camellia Oil Coconut Milk Lye Calculations Not rated yet
Am a little bit puzzled....just ran the Camellia Oil Coconut Milk Soap Recipe through the SoapCalc calculator - twice - and both times it advised "142g" …

Liquid Soap Scenting Not rated yet
Do I need to scent my liquid soap right away, or can I scent it after it is sperated into smaller containers? Answer: I'm afraid I don't make liquid …

Help! Not rated yet
Hello, my name is Emily. :) I am a newlywed(ish) I've been married for about 7 & 1/2 months. For some reason..I all of a sudden started caring about all …

Room temperature soap making process Not rated yet
I love your website so much. It is very helpful for amateur soapmaker like me. I am interseted in room temp process to make soap. Can I use this method …

Does adding coffee to soap make the soap smell like coffee? Not rated yet
What a pleasure to find this fabulous site - I am learning so much and am pleased at this chance to be able to ask you a specific question. I have been …

Chemical smell to new batch of soap Not rated yet
I just made my first batch of goats milk, honey and oatmeal, let it sit for 24 hours, unwrapped it to slice and the outside of the soap is brittle and …

Patchouli Lavender soap recipe Not rated yet
Hi! I want to use your Patchouli Lavender soap recipe omitting the coloring and grated soap bits (just want a simple soap with these scents). Is it ok …

Salt Bar disaster! Not rated yet
I attempted to make the salt bar, and it was very thick. After I added the EO, even thicker. I think I accidentally added less water. 10 hours later, …

Cold process soap Not rated yet
I am about to start making cp soaps. I need to know if I can use frosting on my cp soaps and when can it be done? Would it be just after making it …

LYE HEAVY? Not rated yet
I made Liquid soap and used a lye calculator. When I finished the soap-dropped in water was clear as instructed so it should be neautrilized. I …

Does Rebatched soap shrink? Not rated yet
I have re-batched the same amount of soap 3 times now in an effort to get it to the size that I like but I'm convinced that it shrank somewhere in the …

Goat soap cracked Not rated yet
I just made two pounds of goat milk soap and it has cracked in the middle and is only two hours into the curing. I did not insulate and left the fan on …

Crackling after curing Not rated yet
I made your Seagrass recipe for the first time and after curing for 4 weeks it looks like it is "crackeled". Is this from too much lye? Did I cure it incorrectly? …

Click here to write your own.

Cider in place of water Not rated yet
I have a request for a cider soap. My question is have you ever made a cider soap and should I mix the cider with the lye? Thank you. Answer: …

Nut-Free Body Butter Recipe??? Not rated yet
A friend of mine is allergic to nuts. Has anyone coma across any nut-free recipes for a body butter? Could any of the waxes work instead? Just a thought. …

Tiny holes or divots in melt and pour soap Not rated yet
I made some melt and pour soap, and after it set there are tiny holes or divots in the soap. is this caused by heating the soap base too hot? Answer: …

Cost of Making Handmade Soap Not rated yet
I would like to make small honey comb soaps for a volunteer appreciation... (I'm a volunteer coordinator) . Could you tell me how much it would cost to …

Red palm butter  Not rated yet
Hello, I wanted to ask is red palm butter the same as unrefined palm oil? Thank you Answer: Palm oil is naturally an orange/yellow colour. In …

Fruit Juice in Hot process Not rated yet
I want to ask you some questions about the fruit juice in hot process. When the fruit juice can be added in the hot process and how? Can I use fruit …

USP or 100% pure castor oil? Not rated yet
Hi, I am new to soapmaking and am so grateful to you for your help. I want to try castor oil in my soap and I was in an Indian supermarket and saw …

Curing time and Summer Not rated yet
I would like to ask you if the high temperatures affect the curring time of soap especially in summer. I don't have cool room in summer and puzzles me …

Soapmaking Book Not rated yet
Do you sell a book that I can buy or can you recommend any book in particular on how to make soap. Answer: I don't sell any books since my website …

Where to buy olive oil. Not rated yet
Enquiring minds want to know if the olive oil that is bought in the stores would work. I did read what you have on your site but still have some queries. …

Newbie help please - white blobs in soap Not rated yet
Hi, I normally make lotions, lip balms, scrubs, surfactants etc and wanted to branch out into CP. Here's a photo of the first 3 batches of soap I've ever …

White crustiness appearing on Castile bar soaps Not rated yet
This is only my second batch of soap and after the third day I notice a thin "white" crust appearing on some of the the otherwise great-looking (all olive …

Laundry Bar Soap Not rated yet
What makes a bar soap a 'laundry' bar soap? I am looking for a recipe. I had purchased a bar that could be used as a stain stick or grated for use to make …

Making Soap Look Good Not rated yet
After soap is made and cured how do you go about making it presentable enough to sell? In other words taking all the rough edges off and making the surfaces …

Shipping options for online soap sales Not rated yet
I have been selling soap at craft shows for about a year now. I am considering adding an online store and am wondering about the best shipping options …

Liquid soap not sudising at all Not rated yet
I recently made liquid body soap with 4 ozs. of a unscented glycerin bar soap, 1/2 tbsp. glycerin, 2 capsules of vitamin E oil and 5 cups of gently boiling …

How do you know which soap making method to use? Not rated yet
I looked at your soap recipes, and I was wondering how to know which processing method to use with the different recipes. It just says to go the the processing …

Trouble with oxide colorants Not rated yet
I have always used iron oxides to color my soaps, but every now and then, the colors separate in my soap. Now, I know it isn't my recipe because I often …

Powdered extracts? Not rated yet
I am new to soap making and I was wondering how and when to add a powdered extract into my soap. Just for reference I am wanting to use white willow bark …

How many hours does it take for the soap to become hard Not rated yet
Today I made a homemade soap. And I don't know when it will become harder. So I can take it out of the molds? Answer: It mainly depends on what …

Super fatting soap.  Not rated yet
I was watching a video the other day & the video stated that I needed Super Fatting soap. What is Super fatting Soap & how is it different from regular …

Use almond extract? Not rated yet
Can I use almond extract in my liquid bath soap recipe? Answer: I will assume you are referring to almond extract of the food variety. To be honest, …

About palm oil Not rated yet
Thank you for always being there to answer our questions. I wanted to ask if the palm used for soap making is red in colour. Because here in Ghana …

Small oil ring in middle of soap Not rated yet
I just made my first batch of soap and put it in pvc pipe as a mold. Near the top upper half of the 12 in tube as cutting I noticed a ring of oil or something …

Shea Butter graininess Not rated yet
I tried a whipped body cream recipe that contained shea butter and coconut oil but the shea butter grains never whipped out. The recipe said to whip for …

Click here to write your own.

Challenge testing Not rated yet
I was just reading your information about using preservatives and I was wondering if you have your products challenge tested to see if the right preservatives …

Bath Creamers Not rated yet
I would love to make bath creamers. I have noticed that many recipes call for 'sodium lauryl sulphate' and 'linalool'. I know these ingredients may create …

Lumpy porridge that won't set! Not rated yet
I've tried rebatching this soap but it still won't set. The recipe was; 3.2 oz coconut oil 7.2 oz olive oil 3.2 oz palm oil 2.4 oz shea butter …

additives /extracts Not rated yet
In case i will use liquid extracts or additives in my soap, should i adjust the amount of oils or my water/lye solution? which part can i make and adjustment? …

Goatsmilk Not rated yet
What is the best goatsmilk soap result which really get the full benefit, is it using pure fresh unprocessed milk in place of water with lye(milk/lye …

CP newbie - some questions Not rated yet
Hi, I am a newbie and have a few questions. 1. I'm used to making lotions where everything is calculated as a % of the whole. But it seems with CP …

Lavender flowers Not rated yet
I'm new to this soap making and have just made a batch of lavender melt and pour soap. I stirred in some lavender flowers as the soap was cooling, but …

Gel embeds and melt & pour soap Not rated yet
I make candles so I have gel/wax embeds, and I would like to use them for decorations in my melt & pour soap projects. Is that an possibility. Can I really …

How to determine how many bars of soap will a recipe yield? Not rated yet
I am BRAND NEW to the idea of soap making. I have been doing LOTS of research and reading and want to start making my first batch of soap. I have found …

I bought some coconut oil soap Not rated yet
I bought some saphonated coconut oil bar soap from tropical traditions and I had an immediate and long lasting stinging sensation and redness. 4 hrs …

Room temp soap making Not rated yet
I love the sound of room temp. soap making. I tried it the other day but I dont know what happened. I followed the directions but the water and lye …

What do you think about these? Not rated yet
I am considering buying some travel soap on ebay from hong kong.there are 20 or 30 individual sheets in a plastic container. The ingredients are. …

Liquid soap won't go to translucent stage - help! Not rated yet
I have hard white opaque soap on the stove using C Failor's recipe for Castile shampoo. Now 'cooked' for over 4 hrs. Measured everything correctly. …

Mixing in essential oil with hot process soap Not rated yet
Hello, I have done a small amount of cold process soap but I want to try hot process so scent doesn't get walloped by the heat when it goes through gel. …

Oil on the surface Not rated yet
I have made my first Bunch using the hot process and i left my soaps to cure in a dry place. The first days i notice Oil on the surface of my bars. Is …

TIPS AND TRICKS FOR FANCY SOAP TOPPINGS Not rated yet
I would really appreciate if anyone could help with sharing any tips on how to design the top of soaps!!! I see so many different finishes but have no …

HOW AND WHEN TO STORE SOAP AFTER IT'S MADE Not rated yet
I worry about the scent fading from my soaps. Am I correct in saying that after making CP soap, and un-moulding after 24-48 hrs, soap can be cut, air dried …

Goat milk soap, slab or bar mold? Not rated yet
When making goat milk soap is it better to use a bar mold or a slab mold. I have done both and the bar mold appears to heat more and the soap darkens. …

Using a plastic container with the room temp method Not rated yet
I was wondering if it would be OK to use a plastic container instead of a pot when using the room temperature method, since there is no pre-heating of …

Milk in hot process Not rated yet
Congrats about your site you have very useful info. When making hot process milk soaps, when do you add the milk? Before you cook the soap or when you …

Essential Oils and pregnant women Not rated yet
I am starting my own home based soap business, and while looking at the essential oils I want to incorporate into my soaps, I keep seeing warnings that …

Colour of soap Not rated yet
My soap that I poured into moulds went white, ( as it did in a previous batch) and then went a dark honey color, I used a stick whizz to mix, but I did …

Soap mixture fluffy Not rated yet
While making my castile soap mixture it has turned all fluffy. Why is this so? Answer: Could you provide me with some more information such as …

My soap is a light natural tan, but has a darker brown crust... Not rated yet
What could have caused this? It seems to have fully saponified, and gelled. Its not a hard crust, its more like a rind. Answer: This neat yet …

Extending The Shelf Life of Oils Not rated yet
I have read that when oils are purchased, their shelf life can be extended by adding Vit E, which will help slow down the oxidation process. What is the …

Click here to write your own.

Weight and calculations Not rated yet
I love your shea butter calendula soap recipe with coconut milk. I am a new soap maker. How many pounds of soap does it make and how can I bring it …

No lather soap. Not rated yet
I don't like the way that my soap lathers. Can I rebatch it & put coconut oil in there? Answer: Unfortunately, at this point, adding in the coconut …

Oily residue on my hands after washing Not rated yet
This was my first attempt at soap making and I used the room temp process with your basic recipe. It seemed to work well but after 4 weeks of curing …

Making white soap base Not rated yet
I keep using the castle recipe for soap but it turns out light tan color. How do I get a really good white soap base without buying it. I want to make …

Curdled lavender goats milk soap Not rated yet
I have made, or attempted to make, lavender goats milk soap twice now with the same result.. Everything goes great until I add the lavender essential …

Mud and salts added to cold pressed soap Not rated yet
I am interested in adding mud and salts to soap formulas. When and how would they be added in the process. Does this type of soap require certain types …

Any Tips On How to Get Eco Melt & Pour To Look Really Clear? Not rated yet
I prefer not to use any products that contain MPG (mono-propylene glycol)and would like to know if anyone can give me any tips on how to make the MPG-free …

Need help with laundry soap. Not rated yet
My soap is not gelling up over night. It's still watery the next day. I'm following recipe. I'm using 1-1/2 cups borax same amount of washing soda. Instead …

Goat's Milk didn't trace fully Not rated yet
I made a batch of goats milk soap, I think it had a false trace. AFter two days in the mold it is mushy. I am sure the lye mixture was right. Can I chop …

Glycerin Substitute Not rated yet
What can be a substitute for glycerin? Answer: Sorry but you will have to give me more details on what you are trying to do in order for me to …

Olive Pomace Oil vs Olive Oil Not rated yet
I've been using Olive Pomace Oil instead of Olive Oil in my soap recipes, because I read that Pomace Oil has a higher concentration of unsaponifiables. …

Wave soap packaging Not rated yet
It's Katrina again from France. I wrote to you about some packaging ideas and like some of the things you proposed. I have attached a picture of the …

Packaging ideas Not rated yet
Hi, I've contacted you before and you were very helpful, so thank you for that. Now I have another question about some packaging. We do a lovely …

Food coloring instead of the soap color? Not rated yet
I went to to local craft stores. The first one, they were sold out. Second one did not carry soap making supplies. Please Help Answer: Food colouring …

How to get started? Not rated yet
I am interested in making soap....I don't have a clue as to how to get started....I recently bought some from a craft show and realized it helps with dry …

Creamy body mousse Not rated yet
I just wanted to ask, how much of body mousse do I get from the written amount for ingredients for Creamy body mousse recipe which is in this site? …

Lemon turning bright red in olive oil soap mix Not rated yet
I have added lemon zest to my soap base made from caustic soda, water and olive oil. The mixture has now turned bright red. Is this an indication that …

Homemade soap Not rated yet
I used baking soda instead of washing soda will it still work effectively? Answer: I'm guessing that you are talking about the laundry soap recipe. …

Mexico melt and pour companies Not rated yet
Am looking for wholesale melt and pour companies in Mexico/Belize. I am wanting to make my own, and it would sure save me if I did not have to order from …

Soybean shortening Not rated yet
I was wondering if anyone out there makes soap with soybean shortening instead of coconut and palm oil. If so, what is the difference between soybean shortening …

Temperature control Not rated yet
I read about problems associated with soap overheating in a warm room but have the opposite problem. I am moving my soap making out to our unheated …

Sodium Carbonate Not rated yet
Hi, I live in New Zealand. I would like to make my own soap to sell and so I am looking to buy the ingridients as cheaply as possible. I have trouble …

Discoloration in Goats Milk Soap? Not rated yet
I am new to soapmaking and have tried making goats milk soap. As suggested, I froze the goats milk to a slushy consistency before adding the lye. I add …

Goats milk soap Not rated yet
Im starting to make cold process soap and I really love to make soap using fresh goats milk. I have read a lot of info regarding soap making but I just …

Overwhelmed Not rated yet
Your site is wonderful, but now I have become more overwhelmed and nervous about making my own soap than ever. I was going to make a basic lye/lard soap. …

Click here to write your own.

HP Soap Smells like Pickles! Not rated yet
I just made my first batch of HP soap. I added Eucalyptis and lavender PEO at trace. It was looking beautiful and like custard and did the anticipated …

How do I know if Palm oil is still good and if it is pure? Not rated yet
I was given a plastic tub of Palm Oil (hand written on plastic). When I opened it, I notice brown spots or stains. I scraped them off then smelled. …

Soft tallow, soft soap Not rated yet
This is the second time I rendered tallow and it turned out much softer and more yellow than the first time (the fat was obviously different. Not from …

Licensing??? Not rated yet
Is it necessary to get a license to sell soap from the home? Answer: Laws relating the the sale of soap vary from country to country and even from …

Soap cracked down middle Not rated yet
Before I went to bed my soap was heating up as usual looking good. I was assuming it would gel as usual, so I kept the towels wrapped aroung the wood soap …

Does beeswax not need to be figured with the lye? Not rated yet
In your recipe for Sweet Citrus Honey soap, you list the beeswax as an optional additive, but then you combine it with the hard oils before the lye. I'm …

What is GSE Not rated yet
You refer to GSE. What is this. Great Site by the way. Byron Answer: Sorry about that Byron! GSE refers to Grapefruit Seed Extract. Here is a …

Joining 2 m and p bars of soap Not rated yet
I am new to soap making. I recently made several thin 3/4 of an inch soaps. They look a little skimpy and I wonder if it is too late to join 2 of them …

Is it possible to substitute palm kernel oil for coconut oil? Not rated yet
I have one basic soap recipe I've used for years - palm oil, coconut oil, olive oil & a few tsp of castor & apricot or sweet almond. I had a very large …

Soap Making materials and supply  Not rated yet
Hello, I am very interested in making my own soaps however, I dont know where I can find a store here in the philippines that sell the soap-making materials …

How do i make loafs i think its called cake slice? Not rated yet
What are they using to make the top look wavey? Answer: In order to make the soap have a "whipped topping" look you need to bring the soap to a …

Using Overrendered Lard  Not rated yet
I am very new at soapmaking and rendered my own lard to use in my soap. I overrendered it letting the temperature reach 300 degrees F (it is only supposed …

Confusing yellowish Not rated yet
Amazed by your beautiful work. I've been making CP soap for some years now but in the past few months I'm facing a really puzzling problem. My soap …

Sweating M&P soap Not rated yet
Hello, I have a question regarding melt and pour soap. We are a little company based in France and we started making all natural soap. The soap base …

Rebatching-fixing Not rated yet
Hi, I am a complete newbie. My first batch did not trace completely-it is hard on top and soft everywhere else. It has been a week and painfully …

Tops split Not rated yet
When I pour my soap into the box and cover to go through the gel phase, the tops of my soap develope a crack in them? Answer: Your soap is heating …

Soaps that have undergone gel phase and the one's that didn't Not rated yet
What's the difference between both finished soap? Looks, feel, quality, texture? Which soap lasts longer and smells better? I want to try the non …

How do you keep the fragrance Not rated yet
I make cpop soap. So far I love this method, having made dozens of batches that have turned out very nice. My only problem is keeping the scent. I have …

Nice hard soap, gets "soggy" at end of bar when in use Not rated yet
I have this great recipe for soap, it makes wonderful hard soap that lathers beautifully. The main oils are coconut, olive and castor oil. But when I am …

Two Questions: Why is my soap not "moisturizing" and water substitution Not rated yet
Hi, I recently started making hot-process soap and every batch I've made has been very successful. Initially I tried just a regular soap recipe of: …

Cheating!! Not rated yet
Just made cream soap by cutting a soap in little peaces and adding water (I didn't know anything about cream soaps) after blending for few minutes I had …

Smelly Soap Question Not rated yet
Can you put smelly soap in the oven? Answer: I'm not sure why you would want to put smelly soap in the oven. I have a couple of questions before …

Where to buy lye? Not rated yet
I have been looking for lye everywhere and still can't find it!! Do you know of any online company that sells lye? Thanks. Amy Answer: …

CP soap set up to fast Not rated yet
Made a batch of CP soap that got stiff almost as soon as I added NaOH to the oils. Both were at room temp. The batch got too stiff to pour smooth before …

Wax melts then gets solid again Not rated yet
I have made a foot cream before with shea butter, beeswax, oils, and water that has turned out fairly nice but I'm trying to modify my recipe. It …

Click here to write your own.

Towels Not rated yet
Is it necessary to wrap your CP soap in a towel after pouring into a mold? Answer: The idea behind insulating your soap is to make sure it reaches …

Palm oil Not rated yet
I want to make my own soap but hear palm oil is bad for the rainforest. What can I use instead of palm oil? Answer: Visit my Fats and Oils page …

Milk soap Not rated yet
I tried substituting the water with whole milk and it curdled the whole batch of soap..what's the best way to make a successful milk soap using ordinary …

Component gotten frøm cocoa pod Not rated yet
Component gotten from cocoa pod? Answer: I'm sorry but I do not understand what you are asking me. I will need more information in order to try …

Do I Need license for handmade soap? Not rated yet
First of all I want to appreciate your great cooperation for replying my emails. Can you please let me know what kind of license do I need for selling …

Foaming Bath Whip Not rated yet
About how long can I mix the foaming bath whip. I am scared to mix it to long. Thank You Michelle Answer: I believe the Foaming Bath …

Forgot to check if lye was dissolved Not rated yet
I was mixing the lye in the water (water temp was hot as my oils were not heated enough) and forgot to check if the lye was mixed enough. The hot water …

Skipping Gel Phase Not rated yet
I have a question about Gel phase. I have concluded that I prefer the appearance of 'ungeled' cold processed soap vs gelled. I have read that it is …

Pool of oil on top of saponified soap Not rated yet
Thank you for sharing your recipes and information with us. I, too, am new in Soapmaking and I am making a few batches of your basic (and not so basic) …

Colorant Not rated yet
I added too much red mica to my CP soap and now I have pink bubbles. How can I save my soap? Answer: Your question has been answered here - "Too …

Making soap with 100 % coconut oil Not rated yet
I plan on making a batch of soap using only coconut oil with goat milk and lye. Is there some reason I should not use only coconut oil? Answer: …

Can I replace same ounces of water with milk? Not rated yet
When using milk in recipe for example, would I just replace the 7 ounces of water with 7 ounces of milk? Thank you so much, I love this site.. Answer: …

Sticking soaps Not rated yet
One of the soap molds I use is a silicon cookie mold (for 6 cookies) which is very suitable for the hand in terms of its radius. However it has a shape …

High pH Not rated yet
I have made about 10 batches of CP soap. The pH is 10-13. I have done everything (double measuring, double lye cal etc). I wonder if the room tempature …

Too much colorant in my soap Not rated yet
How can I save my cp soap I add too much mica and now I have red bubbles. Answer: You have a couple of options. 1. Grate the soap into shredded …

Whipped Creme Soap...not right for the 2nd time. Not rated yet
Attempted to make a batch of W.C. Soap last nite and it has a thick water(sorta)like layer under the foam after it sits awhile. To back up a little: Batch …

Cracked Soap Not rated yet
I have had a few batches of soap split/crack on top in center of my mold shortly after I pour it into my mold. (about 30 min after) Is this normal? It …

Would you consider selling your soap curls, ribbons, or balls? Not rated yet
I find more and more I am so busy I don't always have time to make up the pretty filler parts. Would you consider selling just those? Basic recipe no …

Goat Milk in Lotion and Lotion bars Not rated yet
Has anyone tried to find a good recipe for lotion or lotion bars, I now have a natural conponet to preserve the milk but need a recipe to try anyone? …

Using Baby Oil Not rated yet
Hi....is there a way to add this recipe to the lye calculator, to adjust to 1 lb. or just double check the numbers, maybe add some caster oil for bubbles....I …

lye and Oils temperature  Not rated yet
For saving vitamins do you recommend to mix oils and lye water at really low temperature like... in room temperature? Answer: I'm not sure that …

Sodium Hydroxide or Potassium Hydroxide for soapmaking Not rated yet
Are sodium hydroxide and potassium hydroxide interchangeable in soap making? Answer: No, I'm afraid they are not interchangeable. Potassium …

Black Oxide line? Not rated yet
Hi Cathy, As always I just love your site and all your help! you truly have a kind heart! I make my soap using the room temp method. I am wanting to …

Handmade Soap benefits !? Not rated yet
Is there any difference if I use expensive oils like coconut oil or other liquid oils like Walnut, Avocado, Olive and Almonds in compare to normal store …

Additives in melt and pour soap.. Not rated yet
I am planning on having a go at making melt and pour soap, but can't find the answers I'm looking for in regards to what I can and can't add to the mix. …

Click here to write your own.

Amount of orris root powder in E.O for fixative? Not rated yet
I just read your article about Essential Oils for Soap Making . I Wonder how much orris root powder should I use in essential oil for fixative results? …

Preservatives Not rated yet
Please could you tell me where I can buy the preservatives you mentioned, such as grapefruit seed extract, rosemary extract and vitamin E, or where do …

My 1st attempt at Cold Pressed Soap making - where did I go wrong? Not rated yet
Im new to this site so hello and l look forward to discussing soap making with you all. So, I bought a soap making kit and I have to admit the instruction …

Sea salt Not rated yet
What properties does sea salt give to the skin? Answer: Sea salts contain minerals and trace elements and are used to relax muscles, soothe irritated …

Vanilla essence in soap making. Not rated yet
Are you able to flavour soap by using ordinary vanilla essence or does it have to be an essential oil? Answer: Vanilla extract or essence is not …

Can I remelt a soap I made? Not rated yet
I made this hot process soap about 5 months ago and I don't really like it. It doesn't smell. So my question is, can I remelt a lye base soap and add …

Creamy body mousse Not rated yet
Hi, I made your creamy body mousse.... I did not use the herbal infused grapseed oil but I did every thing else and the next day my lotion seperated... …

100% Shea Butter Soap Not rated yet
I want to make a soap with 100% Shea butter. Will it lather and have nice bubbles? Answer: I've not attempted to make a soap that contained 100% …

How much is enough . . . Essential Oil Not rated yet
I am still very new to soap making, and am looking to make my soap as natural as possible so I have been adding essential oils to my soap in an effort …

Doubling a recipe and how to use SoapCalc Not rated yet
I am a newby at this and want to try your Shea butter/Coconut Milk recipe using Goat's Milk at trace...how do I adjust the recipe for making a double …

Optiphen Not rated yet
Is Optiphen good to use when making lotions? I have been reading that when using Ewax the Optiphen breaks down the lotion. Should I use more Ewax …

Substitute for Palm Oil? Not rated yet
We want to make soap using coconut oil and olive oil but we don't want to use palm oil. What would be a good substitution for palm oil? Answer: …

CLAY BLEACHED TALLOW Not rated yet
What are the chemical properties of Clay bleached Tallow? What are the specifications of the processing parameters? Answer: Sorry but I have …

Preservatives Not rated yet
What preservative is used when addind raw ingredients to soap. I'm using green saffron in the soap at trace. Answer: Is green saffron similar to …

Soap not lathering Not rated yet
I made some soap I used olive and canola oil it looks good but when wet it's not lathering I am getting a gel what can I do? Answer: Both olive …

Teflon molds. Not rated yet
I am just starting to read up on soap making. would there be a problem using teflon molds? Answer: Teflon molds could probably be used but you …

Palm or no palm? Not rated yet
Please can you tell me the difference between soap with or without palm. I have been making soap for maybe 9 months with good successes & some not so …

Can I re-melt my basic soap block? Not rated yet
I made a basic soap, Olive oil, Coconut oil, Vegtable Shortening, Castor oil & of course Lye & bottled (drinking) water. I inted(ed) to re-mill this …

Soap additives Not rated yet
I want to make soap using kaolin. What additive should I use to keep the soap intact and not fall apart? How much do I use? thank you, Jeff Answer: …

How many pounds of soap does your recipes make Not rated yet
I am looking at all of the wonderful recipes that you have on your site. Just wondering how I can tell how many pounds each one makes. Answer: …

Adding glycerin to hp soap Not rated yet
First...thank you for the wonderful site. I started making cp soap. I hated the 5 week wait. I switched to hp soap making with the same recipe. …

Preserved fruit Not rated yet
Can cold process or rebatching soap be made to include preserved or dried out fruit? Answer: I don't really know how you would use dried fruits …

Safety Not rated yet
How will I know if the soap I made can be tested on human skin? and If it will not make allergic reactions. Answer: As long as the recipe you used …

Cocoa Butter in Soap Making Not rated yet
Hi Cathy, When I use cocoa butter in my recipes and if I'm working in small batches - e.g. 1 pd - I notice that the soap gets trace very fast. I normally …

Spices in melt & pour soap Not rated yet
If you use spices in melt and pour soap is it going to smell like the spice or should I still use a fragrance? Answer: Spices will add colour and …

Click here to write your own.

Raw herbs and fruit in soap? Not rated yet
I was wondering if I could put, fresh fruit juice, fruit zest or fresh mint leaves that kind of thing into a soap? Answer: Visit my page on Herbal …

Could it be the High Altitude? Not rated yet
I have been making soap for a couple of years now and have never run into the problem I am having. The only change I have made is the house at which i …

Avocado oil Not rated yet
Can avocado oil be used in melt and pour soap? Thanx, Tracy Answer: Melt and pour soap is made so that it can withstand having a small amount …

Why prevent cp soap from going through to gel? Not rated yet
I keep reading recipes where they tell you to freeze your milk or other liquid to keep the temperature below a certain number. And in other places they …

Trouble: Soap Batter Going Pink Not rated yet
I've been making soap for about three years and until recently did not have any problems. The recipe I have is as follows: 32 oz Olive oil - 24 oz vegetable …

Hot Process Soap Too Soft Not rated yet
Hi there! I have made 2 batches of hot process soap with an oven and the soap went through all the stages correctly, but after pouring it into molds and …

Where to buy your soap? Not rated yet
I would love to try your soap - where can I buy it? Answer: Sorry but I do not make my soaps to sell anymore. I only make soaps for my own use …

Deodorized oils for soap making Not rated yet
I recently bought a goat milk soap that smells like baby powder. I have read the listing of ingredients, but they don't mention any fragrance has been …

Lye concentration Not rated yet
All your recipes show lye in grams, ounces, etc. But does not mention status of the lye. Is the lye solid (100%)? 50% solution? or anything different? …

New to soap making... Not rated yet
Hello, I would like to try soap making for the first time. I love the idae of making soap for Christmas. What are the essential items I need to buy/have …

Sweet Almond Oil Not rated yet
In your Bath & Body products recipes you have a recipe on how to make solid perfume. Do you have a specific carrier oil recommendation (e.g. apricot kernel, …

Goat Milk Soap Not rated yet
I made soap with goat milk for the first time and found I had way too much fat coming to the surface of my molds. I followed the directions for how …

Freezing soap to preserve Not rated yet
Can you Freeze or refrigerate your soap to extend the self life? Answer: Good question! I don't know if freezing or refrigerating will extend the …

Storing Soap Making Oils in Florida Not rated yet
I live in FL and would like to purchase soap making oils in bulk to save money. My worry about this is the fact that the heat makes oils go rancid …

The colour of basic soap recipe Not rated yet
I have just followed your Basic Soap Recipe exactly (without additives - I want to get the technique down pat first before I spend my money on essential …

My soap smells bad Not rated yet
I have just unwrapped a batch of cold process soap - the first batch I have used a stick blender to make and they smell horrible. I havent had this problem …

Superfatting Not rated yet
What is superfating, is it an ingrident or what, does it have any difference if i set it to 0% or 5%, please explain to me Answer: Superfatting …

Soy wax in cp soap Not rated yet
I use ecosoy for my candles and wondered how good it is for soap making and the ratio to use?? Answer: I did a quick search and Ecosoya is made …

Tablespoon or ounces Not rated yet
i need to know if i can use tablespoon instead of ounces in making my soap since i do not have aa a digiotal scale Answer: Soap making requires …

Oil formula Not rated yet
I am making a batch of soap. Using 30% coconut, 30% palm, and 40% Olive. I now also want to add castor and hemp or castor and sweet almond. The last …

Humidity Problem Not rated yet
I am desperate for an idea to beat the humidity. So I live in Brazil and I really want to start a natural soap store here. I have made many batches …

North London's Biggest Creative Arts & Culture Festival 2011 Not rated yet
Are you aware of the above festival on October 22nd in Bruce Grove N17. This event has a pavilion of creative arts and another of holistic therapy …

Thin vs thick trace Not rated yet
I like to pour my soap when the trace is thin rather than thick. Does pouring the soap thin or thick have an effect on soap quality? thx Answer: …

Remelting Melt and Pour soap Not rated yet
I made a loaf of Melt and Pour, but didn't like the way it turned out. Can I remelt it and pour into molds? I did add coloring and scents. Thanx! Tracy …

Refined or Unrefined Soap Making Oils? Not rated yet
Is it better to use organic oils with their natural color and scent. Or use oils that have been refined, bleached and deodorized? Answer: It's …

Click here to write your own.

Using Extracts Not rated yet
Can I add food extracts like vanilla extract to my soap cold process? Because it has alcohol in it? Answer: Alcohol can react unusually in the …

Droplets on un-molded soap Not rated yet
I infused oil with calendula and made a strong calendula tea for my soap. Then I proceeded to make room-temp soap, however, when I went ahead to de-mold, …

How much essential oil do I use? Not rated yet
Is there a set guide line as to how many ounces of essential oil to use per ounces of other ingredients? How do you know if you have to much or not enough? …

Colour first or fragnance first Not rated yet
Transparent soap pulp I want to make my own soap but instructions in foreign language there are three different bottles. 1 says duftolie apple 2 …

Room Temp Method Not rated yet
I am ready to make my first batch and wanted to know if you recommend using the room temp method for a beginner. It sounds incredibly easy, as far as I …

Free fatty acid (as oleic acid) content in Soap. Not rated yet
Please tell me Free fatty acid (as oleic acid) content range in Soap. Answer: The amount of free fatty acids in the form of oleic acid in a soap …

FDA Approval? Not rated yet
Do you need FDA permission to sell soap with lye? Answer: The answer to that can be found on the USA Food and Drug Administrations website. Their …

Small Dimples on top of Soap Not rated yet
What could be the source of the small dimples that form on the surface of my cold process soap? I've not had them in the past. Answer: I'm not …

Understanding the different yet similar oils is really getting confusing Not rated yet
If a recipe calls for vegetable shortening AND soybean oil, can I just add the two measurements together and use the shortening or do I need to find another …

Soap designs for hot process soap making? Not rated yet
I make hot process soap and have been looking for tutorials on how to do different types of designs with my soap like swirling, polka dots, layering, etc. …

Why does melt and pour soap...? Not rated yet
Why does melt and pour soap base actually melt and pour when our rebatching soap goes like mashed potatoes? What is in the melt and pour base to make it …

High Weight in Soaps Not rated yet
I am a soap maker, I am supposed to pack 75g and 200g of soaps but i consistently get 76-78g and 202-204g....this is a lot of give away, can you please …

Column soap swirling Not rated yet
When doing soap swirling using the column method, do I cover the soap after and allow to gel? No one ever shows that part of their tutorials. Answer: …

Food Colorants Not rated yet
Can food coloring be used as a colorant in hot process soaps? Answer: People have used food colouring in soap making but it doesn't alway provide …

Help with Molds Not rated yet
I have several flexible molds that are not silicon and I am having a really hard time getting the soap out of these molds. I've read thru all of your …

Using Coriander Oil as Soap Base Not rated yet
I am new to soap making but wondered if it would be possible to make soap from a coriander oil base? Answer: Coriander oil is an essential oil …

Dreaded Orange Spots Not rated yet
I have made 9 small (2.2-3 lb) batches of soap over the last 2 1/2 months. I stopped using GSE and have only had DOS in soap bars several yrs old. Now …

Procedure of butter from kokum Not rated yet
Please tell me the detail procedure and how to design about making of butter from kokum or kokum seed. Answer: Sorry but I don't know how to make …

Weather a major factor when insulating soap Not rated yet
I tried making your Patchouli & Lavender soap recipe on 2 occasions. 1st time - the soap set beautifully 2nd time - the soap overheat I was wondering …

Liquid on top Not rated yet
Thanks Cathy and Vinitha for some very very useful advice; my latest batch has turned out great (not seeing any soda ash and no funny liquids on top). …

Crystalized lye? Not rated yet
I've been making the same recipe for a number of years, pouring into a 12" bar and cutting individual bars. Recently I tried pouring into moulds. As …

Do all the soaps contain lard?  Not rated yet
I have read all of your recipes, and i am very new to the soap making fun, i know this is just a crazy question but some of them do not say lard. So i …

No tree nut oils Not rated yet
I am looking for recipes to make soap for my wife. She is allergic to all tree nuts, i.e. coconut, pecan, macadamia, etc. She is also allergic to avocado, …

Moisturizers Not rated yet
Will adding lotion or moisturizers to soap decrease its cleaning effectiveness? Answer: I will assume you are refering to melt and pour soap making. …

Essential Oils? Not rated yet
I am absolute begginer in soap making, and I found lots of great ideas and advices on your page. I have question. Since I live in Country where is …

Click here to write your own.

CP Soap won't Set! HELP!!! Not rated yet
Hi! I copied a recipe off the internet changing the oils and now my soap won't set. I made 3 pounds with coconut oil, avocado oil, and sweet almond …

Soap hard but then went soft Not rated yet
I made a batch of soap. For the first week it looked fine and then it started to soften. What went wrong? Answer: You will need to provide me with …

My soap not hardening.  Not rated yet
I made some soap and did it a different way. I combined my oils, fragrance together let cool and then added cooled lye, water and sodium lactate. …

Soap went Lumpy Not rated yet
Hi, Thanks for your wonderful website I tried to make soap "Basic Vegetable Oil soap" with Olive Oil and vegetable fat. I followed the recipe and but …

Mold Size Not rated yet
When using a recipe out of a book or internet how do you know what size mold to use? How do you know if the recipe is 2.5 pounds, five pounds or something …

Color on fresh cut soap Not rated yet
I just cut my soap after it sat for 24 hours and the inside is a redish color. I think it looks like a piece of medium rare meat. I added turmeric to …

Base Oils - Pure (?) Not rated yet
Nice site - I am semi-green to the cold soap process and started out using a pre-made soap kit to see if I liked soap making. k - LOVE IT My only question …

Adding Milk Powders Not rated yet
I have made three batches of CPOP soaps and all went bad,,,,the only difference I have made to my favorite recipes is the addition of powdered milk...I …

Goats milk soap to carrier oils Not rated yet
What is the ratio of goats milk soap base to carrier oils? Answer: I'm going to guess that you are using a melt and pour soap base and want to …

Air bubbles in cold process soap Not rated yet
I just recently went to using a stick blender to make my cps. I have tried to follow the stick blender instructions to a T. However I continue to get …

Baby Me! Not rated yet
I was strolling my local supermarket, trying to think of creative soap ideas and I stopped to look at baby oil. I can't find it on any lye calculator. …

Will the smell change? Not rated yet
Hi I'm new to soaping and I was wondering if the heavy smell goes away. Its a kind of smell that lingers around the essential oils as though they are trying …

Soap sticking to small molds Not rated yet
I have tried using some small clam shells for molds but the soap is next to impossible to remove without damaging the design. I tried placing the soap/mold …

Essential oils Not rated yet
I have made my batch of scented soaps using essential oils particularly Lavender oil. I am satisfied with its physical appearance and qualities especially …

Homemade soap disapeared after short time Not rated yet
How can I increase the usage time? Why after a few minutes it becomes very liquid? Does hardness mean how the stamina will be? thanx Asher Answer: …

Olive oil soap Not rated yet
What else do I need to make olive oil soap if I already have the soap base? Answer: By "soap base" do you mean melt and pour soap? Melt and pour …

Bubbles Not rated yet
What will be the bubbles agent of the soap to have bubbles when you use it? Answer: I'm sorry but I don't understand what you are asking. Are …

Ingredients for making soap Not rated yet
I have a list of ingredients for making soap but I don't know the amounts to use for each ingredient. Could some one suggest the proper amount for each …

Palm oil Not rated yet
I am trying to avoid all palm oil use(even giving up my favorite chocolate) because it has been associated with rainforest destruction; threatened extinctions …

Bacteria  Not rated yet
Do I need to worry about anything on the soap from previous people using it? Or will the melting it down take care of that? Thank You, MLS Answer: …

Decoration Top of Melt and Pour Not rated yet
Hello All, I have just a quick question I am making a range of Melt and Pour for a local florist and they want a soap that is not completely square. They …

Making soap with different oils and fats Not rated yet
My name is Ermina, I am fascinated with your web site. I would love to start making soaps, but in my country it's not possible to get majority of oils …

Do you have any melt and pour recipes Not rated yet
hi, I was wandering if you have any melt & pour soap recipes because lye is dangerous. Answer: I don't but you can find plenty of wonderful ones …

Bad smell with powdered goats milk soap Not rated yet
I made a 4 lb. batch of soap, using olive oil, palm oil, coconut oil, neem oil & castor oil. I set aside a mixture of oil and powdered goats milk. I …

Using a PVC Pipe Mold for CPOP Not rated yet
Hi.... I have been making soap in wood molds using the CPOP. I was wondering if there is any rating on using PVC Pipe mold in the oven? Would like to …

Click here to write your own.

Fragrance Not rated yet
Although I read your article about essential oils, I'm still a bit confused when it comes to fixatives. I undersand that for approx 500g of soap we …

How to incorporate titanium dioxide? Not rated yet
Hello, obviously I'm relatively new to soap making... but addicted. I've tried using TD a couple times now with not much success. This last time I added …

RTCP steps and safety problems Not rated yet
Hi I am trying to find more details on the Room Temperature process. I have never made soap before but I have been studying it for a few months now and …

Measurement Conversion Not rated yet
Hi,I would like to try some of your lovely recipes in the body section (body butter etc), and wondered whether you could give me an indication of how to …

Camelina oil in soap Not rated yet
Need a recipe for using camelina oil in soap to make a shampoo bar. Thanks! Answer: Sorry but I don't currently have one. Perhaps a reader will …

100% pure essence oil Not rated yet
Can I just use in m&p, without diluting it, and how much per pd. Answer: Yes you can use essential oil undiluted in melt and pour soap. I'm …

Texas soaper update Not rated yet
I was looking at your supplier page and thought you might want to know that Taylor Concepts in Texas has recently closed. Answer: Thanks for the …

Red palm oil vs palm oil Not rated yet
I have a recipe that calls for 'palm oil'. I found Red Palm oil (liquid) and Palm oil that is semi solid in a long neck plastic bottle (odd to me). Both …

About essential Oils Not rated yet
Hello! I am new in adding essential oils. As I have read, when making natural perfumes, it is necessary to dilute the essential oils in a carrier oil such …

Soap Liner Not rated yet
Just wondering if there was something hard that you can line the soap box with instead of the butchers paper. Like a hard plastic that can with stand …

Super fat % Not rated yet
Hi, I was just wondering how do you decide what % you put your super fat into the lye calculator?? I've noticed that most of your recipes are 8%. Is there …

Caustic Soda (Sodium Hydroxide 98% w/w) Not rated yet
Hi, I have made a batch of soap with Caustic Soda (Sodium Hydroxide 98% w/w). Is this safe to use or must it be at 100%? Thanks, Sarah Answer: …

Preserving herbs in soap. Not rated yet
I made melt and pour soap and used spearmint dried herbs. After a few days using the soap I noticed some brown spots in the soap around the herbs, I assume …

Confectioner's Sugar Not rated yet
I noticed many of your soap recipes call for confectioner's sugar. I was wondering why you add this to your soap? What are the benefits? Thanks so …

Calendula oil Not rated yet
Can you use dried calendula petals to infuse into oil or should they be fresh? Answer: Dried Calendula petals are fine. Cathy

Coconut oil Not rated yet
I can see that there are three kinds of coconut oils available, but in a tropical country like the Philippines, Im afraid that we only have one kind of …

Anonymous from South Africa wanting GM Soap Not rated yet
Hi, where can i contact the lady wanting goat's milk soap for her quadriplegic daughter? I make goat's milk soap and i would be more than happy to send …

Room Temp Soap, How long does it need to cure?  Not rated yet
I read your room temp soap instructions and it DOES sound Great!! so much easier than all the other fuss....I am new to soap making and haven't actually …

Sensitive Nana Not rated yet
Hey there, I was just wondering what soap recipes are good for those with sensitivity to perfumes and so on? My Nana has a hard time with soaps as she …

Yellow soap Not rated yet
Some of the bars of a batch of lye soap have turned yellow. Why? Answer: It's hard to say...there are a few reasons why soap may turn yellow. …

Two coloured round soaps Not rated yet
Hi, I make round soaps in PVC piping, I can swirl the colours OK, but would like to know how to colour the soap with two (2) colours - say brown on one …

Adding dried flowers and herbs to your cold process soap. Not rated yet
What can l add to my cold process soap recipes to keep dried flowers and herbs from turning brown? Thank you very much! Answer: Too the best of …

Any no lye recipies? Not rated yet
I just don't love the whole lye idea. Do you have any recipies without it? I have seen a few out there, but is there any way to make a soap bar without …

Gentle Baby Soap Not rated yet
Do you have a tearless gentle baby soap recipe? Thank you Cuqui Answer: Sorry but I don't know of a soap recipe that is tearless. Cathy

Caramine or other natural colorant Not rated yet
I am trying to find an all natural colorant for lip balm and have heard about caramine but can not find a supplier. I am also interested in grape skin …

Click here to write your own.

Tracing too quickly Not rated yet
I have been mixing my oils and lye at about 110-120 degrees. Will either mixing it at a higher temp (or lower temp) cause it to trace slower? I add my …

Rebatching Soap Not rated yet
I made a 5lb soap batch that was supposed to be a pale yellow lemon poppy seed. I put in a yellow colorant that turned it an ugly mustard color! …

How to make a cleansing bar without lye. Not rated yet
Do you have a formula for a bar soap without lye? I know it can be done. I have made it a few years back but lost my recipe. Pleas help me. Answer: …

Preservative for goat milk lotion? Not rated yet
I want to make a goat milk lotion bar, what can I use for a preservative for the milk? All lotions say to refridgerate and i want something different. …

Crumbling and oily soap Not rated yet
I made (or tried to make) a hot process tallow soap with olive oil and coconut oil. I began to notice it was taking a very long time. It was just not …

What makes your white camelia soap white? Not rated yet
All my soaps are coming out a light tan color - the only thing I can see I've used that is not in your recipes is lard instead of palm oil. Is this …

How do I add extra ingredients? Not rated yet
I have a soap recipe that uses honey....friend has given it to me and I made it once. It worked great and now I'm on my second batch. I would like …

Lye Water Ratio's Not rated yet
Hi Cathy, I've tried ever so hard to understand the SoapCalc calculator and the more I try the more confused I get. I have several recipes that I want …

Yellow and Red Soap Colorants Not rated yet
What is the best way to get a bright red bar (cp) of soap using a natural colorant? What about a pale yellow? Answer: For a list of natual ingredients …

Soap Packaging Not rated yet
We use coffee filters for packaging our soaps. We use both the reclycled brown paper and white. Both are bio-degradable and look very stylish when wrapped …

Ideal conditions for curing soap Not rated yet
First of all I love your blog! I was wondering if you could tell me the ideal condition for curing soap? I am going to be making my first batch soon, …

Java Jumpstart Recipe Not rated yet
Hi! My name is Deb & I'm curious about the Java Jumpstart Recipe on the recipe page. The link is inactive & I was wondering if you're going to reactivate …

Caustic soda burns Not rated yet
Love the idea of making soap but isnt sodium hydroxide corrosive? Further, are there lists of acceptable additives? I dont want to create a toxic …

Using tea tree oil Not rated yet
I used almost a tablespoon of tea tree oil in my melt and pour soap, which was about 25 oz. Is this too much? Thanx! Tracy Answer: Tea Tree …

Recipe for a white bar of soap without lard or tallow? Not rated yet
I would like a recipe for a white bar of soap that doesn't contain lard or tallow. Is there such a recipe. I would also like to add a bit caster or Shea …

Allergies Not rated yet
How do you make a soap that is best suited to people with allergies? And how do you make a soap for people that have really bad skin? Answer: …

Adding e/o Not rated yet
Because the eo's cause the soap batter to trace too soon, do you add your different colorants, mix, and then add a portion of your eo's to each different …

Loofah soap Not rated yet
Where can we purchase 12 inch loofahs for making soap? Love your site! Answer: Various places...try soap making suppliers, dollar stores, craft …

Recipe for laundry soap. Not rated yet
I Love this laundry soap! I found this one on line. Since my first batch I will not use anything else! I have been using this recipe for about 2-3yrs …

Refined/Unrefined Oils & deoderized oils Not rated yet
I was considering using coconut oil purchased at my local grocery store. I prefer to use organic, unrefined oils and don't want to cut corners, but would …

Changing of colour of made soap Not rated yet
I have made a soap a while back and they started turning yellow. Could you please tell me why this has happened. The soap and all the ingredients are …

Pvc pipe mold Not rated yet
Can a pvc pipe mold be used with hot process soap making? Answer: I don't see why not. It may be a bit difficult to pour the soap into the …

Can I add just one of suggested additives? Not rated yet
I am new to soap making. I want to make a plain (basic) soap recipe and add just 1 or 2 EO's. Can I? Answer: You certainly can...the suggested …

Vanilla Not rated yet
How do you incorporate vanilla into the soap as a scent. Do you use basic vanilla extract or is there a special essential oil? Answer: You cannot …

Soap Curls/Marbling Not rated yet
1. I used soap curls in a soap recipe but the soap didn't get inside the curls and left gaps of air inside. How do I prevent this in the future? …

Click here to write your own.

Mistake with Lye Not rated yet
I accidentally read the scale wrong when looking at the amount needed for water. The recipe has less water added for the lye amount needed. Is the soap …

Lye flakes in distilled water not dissolving Not rated yet
I think my topic says it all....what's happening here? Anwer: Sometimes you will get little hard white flakes that seem to resist dissolving. …

Weight of 1/2 bar liquid laundry soap Not rated yet
The recipe for liquid laudry soap calls for half a bar of laundry soap. What is the weight of this half bar? The instructions do not indicate the amount …

Cold process soap recipe for a dog shampoo bar Not rated yet
Do you have a recipe for making a dog shampoo bar? I would like a recipe that would help get rid of doggy odor and help control fleas. Any suggestions …

Larger batches of soap Not rated yet
I am looking at recipes on your soap recipe section and noticed that they are all for 3lb. batches. I only have 5lb soap molds. Where can I find larger …

Room Temp Method Not rated yet
I am very interested in trying the room temperature process. Can I use this process with any soap recipe or do I have to use specific recipes with it? …

Soap Curls Not rated yet
I saw your soap recipe that uses soap curls. Do the soap curls have to be made a day ahead so that it is soft enough to cut and curl and put into the soap …

Coloring soap Not rated yet
Why is it that when I add color to my soap it turns out in specks and not an even color? For example I put chocolate in one soap and it came out in …

When and how to use water soluble titamium dioxide Not rated yet
I am successfully making lye soap with olive oil, sweet almond, coconut 76 degree... The soaps lather beautifully but are very dark. I know if I use …

Soap Scents Not rated yet
When using scents in cold process soap, can you mix fragrance oils with essential oils? Answer: Most definitely!!! I do it all the time with wonderful …

Blotchy soap Not rated yet
Made my firt batch of Hot process soap today. It came to trace quickly then to a mash potato phase. I left it in the crock pot on low and it became …

Looking for recipe for basic white soap. Not rated yet
I would like to make a base recipe to which I can add eo, fragrance and color. Everything I have tried is not as white as I want. Answer: The …

Whipped cream soap Not rated yet
Is there any preservative other preservatives containing parabans I can use for whipped cream soap? Thank you, Abby Answer: Unfortunately I don't …

High ph level on goat milk soap Not rated yet
Just made my first batch of goat milk soap using cool technique (Anne L Watson). After 24 hours the ph is very high. What did I do wrong? Should I …

Printer- friendly instructions? Not rated yet
I am still in the research phase (a.k.a. read every piece of anything I can find on the topic), and as far as online sources go, I like this site the best …

What type of soap mold should I buy? Not rated yet
I want to start making block soaps. I've done melt and pour. I love the process of soap making, but can anyone suggest good molds? How are breakaway molds? …

Adding unsweetened baking chocolate to cold process soap Not rated yet
How much unsweetened baking chocolate can I add to cold process soap? Thanks. Answer: I've added up to 1 oz of melted baking chocolate to a recipe …

Is it possible to make a soap base without lye? Not rated yet
I would like to make a soap base without the use of lye so I can make my own soap at home. Answer: Sorry but you can't make cold process or hot …

CP soap batch won't get hard in mold Not rated yet
I've been making soap for about a year with no problems. I made a batch 3 days ago and it gelled, but there is a pool of clear liquid material on the top …

Sodium Lactate Not rated yet
I have been reading about adding sodium lactate to the hot process (crock pot) method. They say to add sodium lactate at amounts of 1-3%. It will …

Dries My Hands Not rated yet
I have made several batches of soap that have turned out pretty good but I am still in the learning process. The last two batches I made felt good …

Cold process/hot process recipes. Not rated yet
Could I use the same recipe for Cold Process on Hot Process? Thank you Rose Answer: Here is a quote from my Homemade Soap Recipes page …

Fragrance Oils Not rated yet
Can you use fragrance oils the same way you use essential oils? Thanks! Answer: You sure can. Just be sure that the fragrance oils you use are …

MARSHMALLOW ROOT POWDER Not rated yet
CAN I USE MARSHMALLOW ROOT POWDER TO HOLD THE SCENT TO MY SOAPS? IF, THE ANSWER IS YES, CAN I USE IN HP, CP ? Thank you so much! Answer: …

Hot Process X Cold Process Not rated yet
What's your advice on this matter? Im very confused about that! Thanks, Rose Answer: Are you asking me which to use? As you can probably …

Click here to write your own.

Shea Butter, Coconut Milk Soap Not rated yet
I made this recipe and I changed something and added : I put 10.7 oz olive oil instead 12.7oz and added 2 oz calendula oil. The look was so great. …

Adding more ingredients Not rated yet
I like the basic recipe, White Camellia Soap, as a start but do not know how much essential oil I can add or ground oatmeal, flower pedals, etc... is there …

Cracks in tallow soap Not rated yet
Can you tell me why all tallow soap has a tendancy to crack over time. I understand it is part of a wetting and drying process, but not sure why. …

soap shops Not rated yet
I would like to have my shop featured as well. It is handcrafted soaps for normal and sensitive skin types and I am over in USA. Thanks Sharon …

Optional Additives Not rated yet
When I read the Optional Additives in your recipes, does it mean I can choose just one or can I use 2 or more? Like essencial oils? Thanks Answer: …

Soy bean oil and Canola Oil Not rated yet
Is it possible make soaps with soy bean and canola oil? I would like to make soaps and I would like to try to find a subsitiute for pure olive oil, …

Using essential oils Not rated yet
If you find a recipe with the oils you want, yet want to change the essential oil it calls for, will the recipe still work? Answer: You most certainly …

Melt and pour in cold process Not rated yet
I'm totally new to cold process. I have some curls I made from goat's milk and glycerin M&P. Can I use those in my CP soap? Answer: Most definitely. …

Beginner Not rated yet
Is an 8lb recipe too much for a beginner? I am noticing most molds only hold 2-6lbs. Answer: Yes, I would think 8 lbs is quite a bit for a beginner. …

Coloring cold process soaps Not rated yet
I love some of the vivid colors of some of the soaps I see on line. I've never been able to achieve this in my soaps though. I've tried micas of all …

Powder residue on soap Not rated yet
My soap is made of lye, water and olive oil, but has a powder residue...is this normal? Answer: Don't worry...this can occur and is only an esthetic …

Shea butter substitute Not rated yet
Is there any oils/ butters that can be substituted for shea butter in cold process soaps? Answer: Visit my page on Soap Making Oils and scroll …

Sensitive Skin / Moisturising Soap Not rated yet
Hi there, I was wondering if you have a recipe (or which of your recipes listed on your site) would you recommend for sensitive skin. I get a blotchy …

Soap came too hard Not rated yet
After 24 hours had passed, I went to cut soap into bars and the soap was too hard. It cracked and crumbled...what did I do wrong? Answer: Without …

Sugar Not rated yet
Why do you put sugar in your soap recipes? Answer: Sugar is often added to soap recipes, though usually in a syrup form, to increase the lather. …

Real Rose Petals in glyceran soap Not rated yet
I have never made soap, but want to do the melt and pour glyceran soap. Would it work if I ground fresh real rose petals mixed them in the soap would they …

a crunchy soap Not rated yet
I put some oils such as: (olive oil, palm oil, grape seed oil, soy oil)mixed with Lye. For your info my Lye content : (distilled water and frozen goat …

Organizing My Curing Soaps. Not rated yet
Hi, I love, love your site! I am new at making soap. I have made several successful batches. My problem is I love making soap and I want to make it …

Botched Batch - with embedded soap Not rated yet
I tried to make a CP batch with embedded soap chunks; I made a 100g tester first which came out perfect. However, when I made the 900g batch (mixed at …

No questions yet Not rated yet
I'm brand new at this and just wanted to say you have the prettiest soaps I have seen! I love your site and am trying to make sure I read everything you …

Using a Food Dehydrator for Soap... Not rated yet
Can I use a food dryer to keep the soap warm for the 24 hours? I have access to an Excalibur (box style)... just an idea because it keeps the same …

Lining wooden soap molds Not rated yet
A friend has made an ingenious soap mold for me, I think... It is a wooden "box" with plastic inserts for exact soap cuts. The bottom and top come …

No smell soaps Not rated yet
Why does the soap I just made have no smell at all? Why didn't the orange juice and the pineapple juice smell in the soap? Answer: Ingredients …

Shea Butter Question Not rated yet
If my soap recipe calls for shea butter - do I use refined or unrefined? Please advise. Answer: You can use either...it's up to you. I think the …

Half Recipe Not rated yet
Can I divide the basic soap recipe into two? Because I'll be using 2 fruit juices, mango and pineapple. So I am planning for example, your 270 grams of …

Click here to write your own.

Replacing Olive Oil Not rated yet
Is there an alternative for olive oil? Can I not use that, just be using palm and coconut, or not really, should use? I'll be using your basic soap recipe. …

How to add sugar(s) and oil to a recipe Not rated yet
I am new to making soap, I have always used a book recipe and have never added anything extra (colors, oils to super fat at the end, etc). I now want …

Cooking Oils Not rated yet
Can I use the oils available at the local grocery that says it's a "cooking oil"? Is it alright to use those even though it says that its pure coconut, …

Questions about soap colors. Not rated yet
I just finished making my first batch of soap ever. I used the room temp method and I actually think it may have turned out. The only problem I had …

Alternative ingredient for lye Not rated yet
What are/is the alternative ingredient if lye is not available? Answer: Sorry but there is no replacement for lye when it comes to soap. There …

Substitutes for Mango Butter Not rated yet
What can I substitute for mango butter in a shampoo bar? Answer: You could probably try any butter but shea butter seems to be the closest match …

Airbourne Curing Dangers Not rated yet
I have two young children and wanted to make soap from home. Once soap has traced and is poured are there any airbourne dangers I should be aware of while …

Lightening up a base soap Not rated yet
I need help trying to get a lighter color to base soap. Your base soap recipe is a lot lighter than mine, mine is kind of a tan/golden color which is fine, …

Wanted To Say THANK YOU For The Recipe Not rated yet
Hi Cathy: I just wanted to say THANK YOU for the Salt Soap Bar recipe. A recent post (and link to the recipe) inspired me to try the Salt Soap bar. …

Whipped Cream Soap Not rated yet
I just read your process for making whipped cream soap. I have all the ingredients you list and am ready to try a batch. I notice that you think you may …

Peru Balsam Not rated yet
Hello! I would like to make a soap that smells like chocolate and another that smells like vanilla. For the vanilla, I've already tried 20-fold vanilla …

Creamy Body Mousse - Percentages  Not rated yet
Is there any way to get the Creamy Body Mousse Recipe in percentages? Answer: Sorry but I haven't converted the recipe to percentages. Good …

Chocolate  Not rated yet
Chocolate outside white inside? Answer: Terribly sorry but I do not understand the question....could you be more specific as to what you are asking? …

Room Temperature Method  Not rated yet
Can I use the room temperature process for that basic handmade soap made with coconut, olive and palm oils? Thanks very much! Answer: You …

Alternative supply Not rated yet
Is there an alternative for stick blender? Is olive oil a liquid oil? Thanks so much. Answer: If you are unable to get a stick blender then …

cocoa butter soap recipe Not rated yet
I have all the ingredients for your cocoa butter soap recipe except the castor oil. Can I bump up the amount of one of the other oils instead? Answer: …

Reducing PH level Not rated yet
I find that after the curing period of 8 weeks when I use my natural soap it burns on certain parts of the body. I had the same problem with natural soap …

Soap Cutter Not rated yet
I certainly would be interested in seeing a detailed picture of your wire soap cutter. It would be helpful to have dimensions of it as well. I would …

Warming soap curls Not rated yet
When you say "warm soap curls and mold" while mixing soap, what temp and how long? Also, how do you cut long, thin, flat soap curls? Why doesn't …

Lard Substitute Not rated yet
I don't like to use lard in my soapmaking but I've seen some really neat soap on your recipe page and would like to try them. What can I substitute for …

Soap liner question Not rated yet
I am wondering if I have to grease my freezer paper after I make it fit in the mold?? Answer: No, you do not need to grease the freezer paper. …

Oily By-product Not rated yet
My batch of soap produced a lot of oily stuff as it cured. Is this glycerin or oil that did not saponify? Answer: Without more details, it is hard …

Lye not dissolving Not rated yet
I used softened water - will that effect my lye water mix? It does not look dissolved, there are chunks in my water. Answer: Sometimes there are …

CAMELLIA OIL SOAP MAKING Not rated yet
Is it possible to substitute camellia oil for vegetable oil when soap making and do you have a recipe for goat soap and camellia oil, Thanks, Lawana …

Ingredients Not rated yet
How come there is no list of the amount of each ingredient used. Being a total novice I just can't just guess. Answer: I'm sorry but I'm not really …

Click here to write your own.

Super fatting soap Not rated yet
I am new to soap-making and am wondering if your cold process soap recipes are already superfatted? Answer: Yes, my recipes are superfatted. …

Making Mango Butter Not rated yet
I would like to make homemade Mango Butter for soap, do you have a recipe for making mango butter? Answer: I'm afraid not....mango butter is extracted …

How much preservative? Not rated yet
How do I know how much preservative to use in soaps and lotions? Is the percentage in relationship to the total volume or weight of the rest of the …

Unrefined Shea Butter Scent Not rated yet
Does the scent of unrefined shea butter stick in cold process soap? Answer: Everything you put in a batch of cold process soap will affect the …

Citrus honey soap Not rated yet
What oil and how much is needed to replace the lard in the citrus honey soap recipe? Also will that change the amount of lye needed? Answer: …

Liquid Soap-Lye Not rated yet
Do you use Sodium hydroxide for making liquid soap and Potassium Hydroxide for making hard soap bars? Answer: No, the opposite in fact! Sodium …

Soap Packaging Idea Not rated yet
Packaging soap is challenging to say the least. I wanted my packaging to meet a few criteria; to be minimal, to allow the scent and the soap to shine,to …

Mold sizing - soap mold volume Not rated yet
Is there a formula that works out the size of a soap mold to the batch size of soap that one wants to make? Answer: If you scroll down to the bottom …

Sodium Hydroxide Not rated yet
I'm a newbee to soaping and an a little confused. What is the difference between food grade and tech grade and which one should we be using for soaping? …

Melt and Pour Soap Mold Not rated yet
I have been thinking about making soap- I have a 4 yro daughter and we did a soap program at the library and made some melt and pour glycerin soap. …

INS value for macadamia oil Not rated yet
Hi, would anyone know the INS value for macadamia oil? Thanks for any help. cheers Natascha. Answer: SoapCalc gives Macadamia Nut oil an INS …

Sambuca Rose Soap Not rated yet
Did you use charcoal for the black colorant in your Sambuca Rose Soap? If so, how much and how much "bleeding" do you get (like on a washcloth or hand …

Lye bubbles? Not rated yet
I just made my very first batch of soap and took it out of the mold. There is a little bit of greasy oil on the surface, and the soap itself has very …

Soap volcanoes during cooking stage Not rated yet
I would like to know why my soap always volcanos during the cooking stage? I sit in front of it to watch it but it happens suddenly. My oven is …

Foaming Bath Butter Additives Not rated yet
Not sure if I posted this right the first time, so figured I should start from scratch. I'd like to add some things to the Foaming Bath Butter base from …

LOOFAH exfoliating soap with oatmeal and honey Not rated yet
I hope you can help me to create soap : Loofah exfoliating soap with oatmeal and honey as seen on "Earth Therapeutics" company website. Im new to CP …

Cheap Soap? Not rated yet
I'm trying to make my own soap out of cheap white bars of soap I found in Tesco. Can I just melt it down or what? So far my attempts have been a …

Can I substitute butter for some fat Not rated yet
This is my first time. I have a recipe which is simple but (naturally) I didn't get enough rendered animal fat. I need another 500gm & only have …

Making essential oil from berries Not rated yet
How do I make Juniper Berry Essential Oil, from the berries I pick from our Juniper Trees? Answer: I'm afraid I've never made essential oils before …

Soap beveller Not rated yet
Hi, I came across a blog about a homemade soap beveller where you asked the maker, Inodoro Pereyra, if you could post his creation on your website. …

Milky Way Soap Molds Not rated yet
What recipe of yours would be the best for pouring into the pre-made Milky Way Molds? Answer: Any of the recipes would be fine to use though I …

Soap Recipe - Sweet Citrus Honey Not rated yet
What can I replace the lard with in your recipe Sweet Citrus Honey ? Do I have to ever use lard? Thanks Jay Answer: You don't ever have to use …

Rebatched soap preservative Not rated yet
Can I preserve my rebatched butter milk soap with orris root powder or is it ok to use tea tree oil? Answer: Neither orris root powder or tea tree …

How much vitamin e is enough? Not rated yet
Hi, I'm wondering how much vitamin e to put in cp soap, lip balm, and body balm? Thanks. Answer: Apparently Vitamin E oil isn't very effective …

Milk and Sugar Not rated yet
I noticed that you have confectioners sugar in a lot of your recipes. Why do you use sugar & why confectioners sugar verses cane sugar? I have a …

Click here to write your own.

Rebatch 3rd time? Not rated yet
I have made about 5 batches of soap all of which turned out satisfactory. The next bacth, I made with base ingredients but wanted to split the batch in …

Why let lye and oil cool? Not rated yet
I have been following the advice in your Cold Process Soap Tutorial with good success after experiencing the odd failure beforehand. But there is one …

Soap Cutters Not rated yet
How does one get a custom soap cutter as you spoke of in reference to your own wooden mold? Where can one be obtained or how can one make one? …

Bubble gum scented soap Not rated yet
I am considering "bubble gum" scented soap for the little people in my life, but don't have a clue what "fragrance" that is! Would it be okay to use the …

Cure Time for CPOP Not rated yet
Does the CPOP method really shorten the time it takes for CP soap to cure? If so, how soon is it before you can safely use the CPOP soap? Answer: …

Room temp method Not rated yet
How long does a batch of soap, using the room temp method, take to cure? Answer: It takes the same amount of time for a batch of soap made using …

inci names Not rated yet
I can't find a inci name list so I could put it on my labels, I used to have one and I don't know what happened to the list. Answer: Here is a …

Do I need Insurances Not rated yet
I am selling my soap at Craft Shows. Do I need to have insurances and if I do what kind would I need and where would one get it in Canada? Answer: …

What fragrance ratio for your Creamy Body Mousse do you suggest? Not rated yet
I LOVE this recipe! I have used it many times but find I always get the fragrance ratio wrong. It's either too light or too much and it thins out my cream. …

Cape Aloe Ferox Powder Not rated yet
At what stage do I add the dry aloe powder to my cold processed mix? Answer: I've not used dry aloe but I would add it when the soap reaches a …

Why does my soap turn into a gloppy mess? Not rated yet
I have made several batches of soap with great success. So easy I was thinking of starting a business, until this past weekend. I had been using baking …

Making Soap in Honduras Not rated yet
I am just wondering as I look into the idea of making soap, can I do this in a very hot country like Honduras? I don't know the whole process yet …

Dedicated equipment??? Not rated yet
A friend said that I should have dedicated crockpot, stirring and measuring vessels that I use only for soap making. Is that necessary or can crock pot, …

Using Pine Needles in Soap Not rated yet
I have a request for Pine scented soap and was asked if using pine needles (ground) would make the scent last longer. Have you ever used pine needles …

Which kind of lye? Not rated yet
We are making a soap for our investigatory project. We are second year students. We made soap that failed. We lacked information regarding the procedure. …

Quantity of Cream Soap Not rated yet
Hi! Great tutorial! I hope to get brave enough to attempt this, soon so I can have it for the Holidays! My question is, with this recipe, how much does …

Doggy Shampoo Not rated yet
Hello I have been trying to look into making a bar of soap for dogs. Have you got any tips to share with us for this? I'm not sure about whether my ordinary …

Fabric Softeners  Not rated yet
Do you have a recipe for both, liquid fabric softener and dryer sheets? I've been searching for 2 days for a recipe for this that is actually home made. …

Soap still soft Not rated yet
After the soap reaches a light trace, is it normal that it's soft? I made soap, for the first time (a new comer) Is it normal for it to be soft. Will …

Immediate trace..!! Not rated yet
I am a soap newbie.. I tried making my first batch of your 'Basic Homemade Soap Recipe' with a tbsp of beeswax and without any of the mentioned optional …

Foaming Butter Not rated yet
I am wondering about your foaming butter recipe. You indicated using one pound of foaming butter but when I ordered the ingredient it had a warning "DO …

Baking chocolate Not rated yet
how much baking chocolate would you use for a batch of CP soap. Thanks, Letrah Answer: I have used up to one half ounce of baking chocolate …

amount of fresh goat milk in soap making recipe Not rated yet
Hi Cathy I want to find out what is the highest percentage of fresh goat milk that can be use in a soap making recipe. I am using the soap calc and …

PERMISSION TO PRINT Not rated yet
Your site is fantastic! I have just started soapmaking classes and will definitely pay it forward by adding your site to my links section on my website. …

Liquid goat milk lotion Not rated yet
Hi Cathy I just want to find out if you perhaps know where I can find a book about making goat milk lotion or other lotions. I have searched the …

Click here to write your own.

Lye Eats My Color! Not rated yet
Cathy, I have two questions. Hope you can help? 1. What can I use to color my CP soap that the lye won't affect the color? In a recent recipe, I …

Colorant Not rated yet
How does one achieve a white and hard soap? Answer: To make a soap white use the whitest oils you can...these include coconut oil, lard, tallow, …

Soap recipe Not rated yet
What can be the best soap making recipe for palm oil and peanut oil combination? Answer: I'm afraid I haven't used peanut oil in a soap recipe …

Colour and Scents Choices Not rated yet
I'm making my first batch of soap so it will be ready for Christmas prezzies. What would you suggest as basic popular scents and what colour would the …

My soaps melt quickly Not rated yet
Hi, I make soap using the cold process method. My soaps are very moisturizing, leave the skin smooth, but they melt too quickly (5-6 uses of a 120gr …

stereatic acid  Not rated yet
can you tell when and how much quantity of this product(stereatic acid) is going to be added in the soap process. I have intention to add this product …

Forgot to grease PVC piping - CP Soap Not rated yet
Hello, I forgot to line my PVC piping with oil today. Will my soap still come out of the mold? I know I can put it in the freezer but will it work. …

100% Sodium Hydroxide Not rated yet
Do I have to use 100% Sodium Hydroxide for the lye mixture. I found a product that contains 95 to 98% Sodium Hydroxide. Would this be ok to use? Answer: …

Used equipment? Not rated yet
Hi, I'm new to soap making and was wondering if buying equipment used is fine for soap making. For example, stick blenders or a knife to cut the soap; …

Selling soap Not rated yet
Do you have to have a license or tax number to sell soap? Do you need to list all ingredients and their amounts? Provide a disclaimer? Answer: …

Hot Process soap soggy after use? Not rated yet
I have no problems cooking hot process soap it comes out just the way I want it, my problem is when I use it afterwards it looks and gets real soggy. Is …

Sending soap through the mail Not rated yet
I am new to soap making but would like to send some soaps out. How do you wrap it? How long should it cure before you can send it? Can it be too hot …

Goats milk soap Not rated yet
Can you use powdered milk replacer (non-medicated) or powdered colostrum, instead of powdered goats or just powdered milk? Answer: Sorry Jodi but …

Scenting soap Not rated yet
The soap I make loses its scent almost immediately. What do you recommend mixing it with? Should I use essential oil or fragrance oil? Can you recommend …

What can you say about the ratio of our soap here in the Phil. Not rated yet
hi again, its me tj again and again. i was kinda wondering what can you say about our soap ingredients here in the philippines. i was taught in a tech. …

Working with Jojoba beads Not rated yet
I'm trying Jojoba beads in my M & P soaps, but they suspend to the top of the soap, bottom after they are released from the molds. What can I do …

Scales Not rated yet
Just learning but want to get the right things so I don't have to get another kind later. Been looking at tinita ditital scales KD-200-570 cap. 11 lbs. …

Can I use the room temperature method for making soap of liquid oils only? Not rated yet
Hello Thank you for your wonderful site. I just started making cold process soaps and I only have one thermometer that I keep moving from lye to oils …

Soap mold size Not rated yet
I have found some great recipes except they are for 40 bars at 4.5oz and I have two molds that have space for 18. Is it possible to divide the saponified …

Polishing Soap Not rated yet
Some of my homemade soaps are very rough looking. I've noticed other peoples soaps are very smooth...and one company claims to hand polish their soap. …

Soap boxes Not rated yet
Love the little soap boxes on your site , was wondering if the maker would be kind enough to share how they are made? They are unique and very beautiful, …

Soap Lables Not rated yet
I so need a hand about soap lables....how to go about doing it? Thanks, Sharon Answer: Sharon...It can be quite confusing but if you take it …

Red palm oil Not rated yet
Is it possible to substitute red palm oil for palm oil? I am unsure if the red would dye the soap- or should I give it a try-trial and error?? Answer: …

Replacing water with milks/teas/coffee Not rated yet
I was curious about mixing lye with a water substitute. Would one use part water and part milk/tea/coffee? Or could you use all milk/tea/coffee and no …

Swirling  Not rated yet
How do I add swirling in my melt & pour soaps? Thank you, Josette Sparks Answer: Try this link on MP Swirling ...hopefully it will stear you …

Click here to write your own.

Build Your Own Website  Not rated yet
Hi Cathy, I'm looking for a good program or company to go with that I can design a website with and I wanted to know what you went with. Do you know …

Melt and Pour Additives Not rated yet
I make mp soap but would like to use natural colours. Could you please tell me if the following would be O.K to use in my soaps? Tumeric Rose hip …

Working with Lye Not rated yet
Hi...I am a new soapmaker. The last few times I worked with my lye, it jumps up out of the container when I open the lid. When I pour it out to measure, …

Working Out BBE Dates Not rated yet
Hi Cathy I was wondering how to work out my Best Before End Dates. I've tried to find the answer, and some sites say a CP bar of soap should be dated …

When to add shredded soap pieces Not rated yet
Good morning, Beautiful sight that has helped me, thank you. I am wondering after I shred my fresh soap, do I need to let it cure before adding …

To Much Coconut Milk Powder? Not rated yet
Can you have to much coconut milk powder? I made a batch of soap using CMP and used more than I should have. I used 8 oz when I only should have used …

How to use micas? Not rated yet
I was wondering how do you use micas in cp soap. I heard you can mix with carrier oils but is the carrier oils that you have melted to use for that …

Residue? Not rated yet
I've been trying out various recipes for CP shampoo bars and though my hair looks great (most of the time!), there is always a grey residue left on my …

Dum and Dirty in Alaska Not rated yet
I have been wanting to make soap with real home-made lye, but it requires burning HARDWOOD. That's tough to find in Alaska. Why can't pine wood be used, …

Essential oils and color effect Not rated yet
Am trying to keep my white bar of soap to stay white. Choosing E.O's blends has been difficult because am getting either yellow to off white bars. Can …

Melt and pour with lye? Not rated yet
I WANT TO START EXPERIMENTING WITH GLYCERINE MELT AND POUR SOAPMAKING. QUESTION- DO I NEED LYE FOR THE GLYCERINE MIX AND MELT PROCESS? …

What Is This From? Not rated yet
I have been PLAGUED with this white stuff on my soap for the last year! I have attached a picture of the "white stuff" that is plaguing me. For awhile, …

Oil specifics list Not rated yet
I am looking for a book or printable list that has all the propeties of oils (i.e. SAP, specific gravity, iodine, fatty acids and INCI name and properties …

Where do you go in to view all entries of soap blog? Not rated yet
Where do i go in to view all entries of the soap blog since it came on board. I looked and tried everywhere, but nothing seems to work. I have realised …

Fixative for Deodorant Not rated yet
What I should use....essential oil or fragrance oil as a fixative in order to extend life. best regards Alex Answer: Hi Alex, A fixative …

Loofah Soap Not rated yet
I have made a few batches of loofah soap and have found that most of the loofahs are just a bit too big to fit in the round PVC pipe I use. Loofah …

Goats Milk Soap Not rated yet
I made a goats milk soap recipe using olive, palm, grapeseed, sweet almond and castor oils. The soap feels great and is very conditioning when you wash …

Cure Soap Not rated yet
Why does it take so long to cure soap? Answer: Hi Grace, The cure time for cold process soap making is usually around 4 - 6 weeks. This is because …

Colouring Soap Not rated yet
I just want to find out the following about colouring soap: 1. At which stage do you add the colour, e.g. infuse in oil or add at trace. 2. Has …

Preservatives Not rated yet
I am looking for a preservative for use in solid lotion bars. I currently use Vitamin E in my soaps and lip balms and lotion bars but it doesn't seem …

Giving your soap a whipped top Not rated yet
Hi Cathy, I have been making soap for a while now but can't seem to get the whipped topping look to my soaps. I've used a plastic bag filled with soap …

White soap bars Not rated yet
Am trying to get my bars of soap to come out white. I don't know if using titanium dioxide would work or maybe using either goat's milk,coconut milk pretty …

Olive oil Not rated yet
I am a new soap maker. I have made two batches of soap and I don't really like the way they look. They have a brown discolor to them. Is this because …

Colorants Not rated yet
Hello, I am just starting to make cold processed soap (room temp my favorite too). I am wondering how you get your soaps such awesome colors. I am experimenting …

Camellia Oil Not rated yet
Hello, I love your website. Your recipes sound great! I want to try the Camellia Oil Coconut Milk Soap, but I am having a hard time finding Camellia …

Click here to write your own.

different lye calculators give indicate differant amount of fluids Not rated yet
Hi Cathy Thanks very much for helping me with structuring my recipes. I have already made the soap and I am waiting for it to cure and to test. I …

I got mold growing on top of my soap! Not rated yet
Hi There, I just made a batch of soap with ground calendula petals inside the bars and whole calendula petals sprinkled on top. Well, it has been …

Trying to locate bulk Camellia oil Not rated yet
Cathy, I've been mostly everywhere I can think of on the web to find bulk camellia oil. I've found Camelina oil..but looking for Camellia. Do you have …

Switching Oils in a recipe Not rated yet
Hello I'm wanting to make my FIRST EVER BATCH of soap and I'm sooo excited! Your website has really inspired me! I've read so much without actually …

E.O. Percentages Not rated yet
Cathy, I recently noted in one of your answers that you made soap using 20% Patchouli, 10% Cinnamon, 20% Rosewood, and 50% orange to make a scent blend. …

How to get Blue Not rated yet
I have been asked to make soap favors for my nieces wedding, would love if you would share with me how to get the blue you achieved in the Eucalyptus Tea …

Soap for Teeth...? Not rated yet
Hello, I hope it's okay to post this question here, as it isn't a question relating to soap making. I recently came across some American businesses …

Dry skin vs Oily skin recipes Not rated yet
I see lots of bar soap recipes on the Internet, but I haven't found recipes that are designed specifically for dry skin, normal skin and oily skin. My …

Aluminum near mold Not rated yet
Hi, I love your site, and I was wondering if you can help me with a concern? I recently did a studpid thing with my cold-process soap, and I was wondering …

Vanilla Infusion Not rated yet
I want to use Vanilla in one of my soaps, but don't want to use fragrance oils. How do I make a vanilla infusion? Answer: Hi Susan, Using …

Problem with Cocoa Butter Not rated yet
Hi Cathy, I am wondering if you can help me. I have been making soap for a few years and only now have I created a recipe that I Love! Needless …

decorating hot process soap Not rated yet
Is it possible to get that whipped cream look on top of a hot process loaf like they do on cold processed soap, and HOW? Can you mix the hot process method …

Teaching Not rated yet
I've been asked to teach a M & P class (my first one). There will be 10-12 adult students. I plan to factor into the class fee the cost of supplies, …

Where do you get your mica colors from? Not rated yet
Hello, First I would like to thank you for putting up the recipe for your seagrass soap I was eager to try! I can't wait to make it! It sounds lovely. …

Soap is too greasy Not rated yet
Tried a new receipt using my home rendered beef tallow and canola oil. Calculated the weights with a chart. But my scale is not digital. My small batch …

Powdered Sugar in Soap Recipe Not rated yet
I've seen recipes with like 1 t. powdered sugar in it. What is the purpose of using the powdered sugar? Answer: Generally sugar is used to increase …

How to use Titanium Dioxide Not rated yet
When I use olive oil in my soap recipe, my soap ends up tan in color. This happens even when I use colorants. I haven't used Titanium Dioxide (TD) yet, …

Using fresh herbs or flowers in soaps Not rated yet
I have the most lovely roses as well as fresh herbs and such in my garden. How can I take advantage of these things rather than buy essential oils? or …

Olive Oil Substitute Not rated yet
If a recipe calls for olive oil and I need to substitute which oil would we use. Answer: Many oils can easily be substituted for Olive Oil in a …

Coloring Not rated yet
I'm having a little trouble getting my colors to look the way they want. Sometimes it seems like my soap is totally eating the colors I put in -- it turns …

Click here to write your own.