http://www.soap-making-essentials.com/soap-making-blog.html The Soap Blog is a great way to keep up-to-date with what's happening at soap-making-essentials.com. Subscribe here. en-us soap making Mon, 06 May 2013 03:37:14 GMT Mon, 06 May 2013 03:37:14 GMT soap-making-essentials.com 815a9f3d74c3af6ca08084f6da084447 http://www.soap-making-essentials.com/crumble-free-sea-salt-soap.html 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 Mon, 06 May 2013 03:37:09 GMT bdf2e6250e73ae82f3b044735f983f14 http://www.soap-making-essentials.com/powdered-coffee-creamer.html 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. Mon, 06 May 2013 03:23:59 GMT 5309502c7ccde624d86ca51e9fd8d13e http://www.soap-making-essentials.com/fresh-fruit.html 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, Mon, 06 May 2013 03:09:44 GMT b901281ce376f6e70e609de15297963b http://www.soap-making-essentials.com/total-essential-oil-content.html 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. Mon, 06 May 2013 03:03:11 GMT e121e2c971618cb6c03cf97f31cea18c http://www.soap-making-essentials.com/herbal-ingredients.html 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 Mon, 06 May 2013 02:38:33 GMT 94ca7e7c10c4292854dbc28521a53373 http://www.soap-making-essentials.com/soap-making-in-damp-climates.html 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 Mon, 06 May 2013 02:29:20 GMT 2df4d4e7974261df96d51cee09fe0a19 http://www.soap-making-essentials.com/texture-and-scent.html 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 of the Mon, 06 May 2013 02:17:38 GMT 3c90aad44c1125def16a5d10f95e273b http://www.soap-making-essentials.com/pigments.html 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 Mon, 06 May 2013 02:12:08 GMT 7b6329c82e2224a464e4dae7ae3c5bd8 http://www.soap-making-essentials.com/how-can-i-make-my-homemade-bar-soap-last-longer.html 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 Mon, 06 May 2013 02:01:46 GMT 0eb7bc4e755611d73c0ae86f73ba7a07 http://www.soap-making-essentials.com/soap-coloring.html 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 soap Mon, 06 May 2013 01:40:34 GMT e7838df5a72113fd8a7ab3816ac0fffe http://www.soap-making-essentials.com/color-change-in-goats-milk-soap.html 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. Sun, 21 Apr 2013 17:41:27 GMT f8d842a87c6159d98ae94446236de8db http://www.soap-making-essentials.com/not-enough-lye.html 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 Sun, 21 Apr 2013 17:31:57 GMT b1e40deef6da988b7d8cc0e04ee413d5 http://www.soap-making-essentials.com/does-heat-during-cp-saponification-affect-oils-negatively-.html 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 Sun, 21 Apr 2013 16:55:05 GMT 616f31711a00fb6b33f5240fb91d1ca4 http://www.soap-making-essentials.com/really-runny-soap.html 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 process Sun, 21 Apr 2013 16:43:34 GMT 7ae53bee57d42d5a9759f52a81aea5ae http://www.soap-making-essentials.com/nonshea-butter-soap-recipes.html 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 Sun, 21 Apr 2013 16:29:56 GMT 02c0788ec12da6269fc12705628a8bf0 http://www.soap-making-essentials.com/how-do-you-calculate-how-much-milk.html 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 Sat, 06 Apr 2013 18:09:34 GMT b7dad13039a1e218d6551421c75b9ed1 http://www.soap-making-essentials.com/soap-swirling1.html 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 is at Sat, 06 Apr 2013 17:47:09 GMT e7b622aeb68b06e3a717c3d3d52f0809 http://www.soap-making-essentials.com/our-soap-is-greasy-to-the-touch-why.html 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 Sat, 06 Apr 2013 17:26:49 GMT b41b46cd8605e00edfbff0043b8e9522 http://www.soap-making-essentials.com/how-to-make-my-bar-soap-feel-soft-and-smooth.html 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 Sat, 06 Apr 2013 17:10:03 GMT 2533a1fa3350d382ee43c2da7a1e6f9f http://www.soap-making-essentials.com/how-long-to-unmold-whipped-soap.html 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 Sat, 06 Apr 2013 16:43:08 GMT 76f864999c5f89e277a5d40d0c838ac7 http://www.soap-making-essentials.com/too-much-hard-oil.html 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. Sat, 06 Apr 2013 16:11:01 GMT 4cf8c2b8a16865f2e1c6cb34efaa0942 http://www.soap-making-essentials.com/100-olive-oil-soap.html 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 is often referred Sat, 06 Apr 2013 15:24:15 GMT af796f3604606b8b0d77305e06966523 http://www.soap-making-essentials.com/soybean-oil-alternative.html 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 Sat, 06 Apr 2013 15:10:53 GMT 299add2e7088f3c8ca6d2843b8f8803e http://www.soap-making-essentials.com/when-do-i-add-silk-aminos.html 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 of silk Sun, 24 Mar 2013 16:19:58 GMT b7258c946fc9791e654a9b711fe250e6 http://www.soap-making-essentials.com/oil-of-oregano.html 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 Sun, 24 Mar 2013 16:06:55 GMT c511a571b93d7a39e35d12611dfb2f16 http://www.soap-making-essentials.com/color-problem.html 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, Sun, 24 Mar 2013 15:53:43 GMT 730f33a20eae31ea06950ea7e994a104 http://www.soap-making-essentials.com/problems-with-goat-milk-powder.html 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 Sun, 24 Mar 2013 15:45:12 GMT 5f6f2b47df22ec2ddb0d5e86e2178f26 http://www.soap-making-essentials.com/oil-pool-in-hot-process-soap.html 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 Sun, 17 Mar 2013 17:05:50 GMT 206776f153fb3d2c7c8664be0f71e302 http://www.soap-making-essentials.com/cinnamon-and-honey-bad-idea-or-what.html 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 Sun, 17 Mar 2013 16:55:29 GMT 8915fb5b8c9c9c4a14fb5a67baa3570c http://www.soap-making-essentials.com/cupcake-scented-soap.html 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 Sun, 17 Mar 2013 16:36:18 GMT 325c91ccecb4052b0903ed197c61f12f http://www.soap-making-essentials.com/selling-soapbusiness-question.html 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, Sun, 17 Mar 2013 16:31:37 GMT 06933e7e4eb19e4f081b5e56a62dce7f http://www.soap-making-essentials.com/what-is-titanium-dioxide-.html What is titanium dioxide? Why its mostly used in soap industry? Answer: Titanium Dioxide is a naturally occuring white mineral pigment. Soap is not it's Sun, 17 Mar 2013 16:15:01 GMT 0001e4537dd7854a1533d7ddde3ed840 http://www.soap-making-essentials.com/what-size-mold-for-your-recipes.html 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: My Thu, 14 Mar 2013 03:08:12 GMT 1342e88af14d600d863b61f6905e535d http://www.soap-making-essentials.com/goats-milk-shampoo-and-preservatives.html 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. Sun, 10 Mar 2013 05:24:05 GMT 10e2e81c6fadc17053a3010713834684 http://www.soap-making-essentials.com/grated-soap-additive.html 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 for Sat, 09 Mar 2013 15:58:44 GMT 9fc18c5ea36ed0362ed41a6ae4ee6d48 http://www.soap-making-essentials.com/paper-stuck-on-soap.html 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 your Sat, 09 Mar 2013 15:44:32 GMT 4c944f16ffcb8a7a7c90528388f57ad4 http://www.soap-making-essentials.com/lumps-in-soap.html 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, Wed, 06 Mar 2013 01:05:53 GMT 9f99c52bace6bc99e964a37275fffa38 http://www.soap-making-essentials.com/essentional-oil-recommendation.html 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 you Tue, 05 Mar 2013 01:04:48 GMT 9c20f549ca7273d0ae5380e1dad651bf http://www.soap-making-essentials.com/has-this-ever-happened-to-you-before-colourless-crackles-in-soap.html 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 everything Mon, 04 Mar 2013 00:54:41 GMT ef1e4ac804f8288884f8d1b0744f1e2e http://www.soap-making-essentials.com/lye-calculation.html 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 Mon, 04 Mar 2013 00:01:09 GMT 073c13e8ca680e2bd3b40c470c30f5eb http://www.soap-making-essentials.com/chocolate-cp-soap-problem.html 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 Sun, 03 Mar 2013 06:14:06 GMT 9698e09faa93d30ae28e1099e0f4db42 http://www.soap-making-essentials.com/calculating-soap-recipe-size.html 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. Sun, 03 Mar 2013 06:01:21 GMT 659ccda43757cfdcf23fa86904325b7c http://www.soap-making-essentials.com/firsttimer.html 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 typically Sun, 03 Mar 2013 05:48:40 GMT a09b174e3201424a255bf826fb5fc24e http://www.soap-making-essentials.com/coconut-milk1.html 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 grocery Sun, 03 Mar 2013 05:31:47 GMT adf998dfa3871cdecaed2d35e59a2167 http://www.soap-making-essentials.com/thank-you.html 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 Sun, 03 Mar 2013 05:27:02 GMT 64017907ef4df914ec965d22f0739c1d http://www.soap-making-essentials.com/different-water-amounts-which-to-use.html 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 Sun, 03 Mar 2013 05:24:32 GMT e16b2b55d968f93dc537ee13813d0dc4 http://www.soap-making-essentials.com/vegetable-glycerin-and-castor-oil.html 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 Fri, 01 Mar 2013 05:40:01 GMT ad9fa4dc8767860d5dfb1f895db3726c http://www.soap-making-essentials.com/may-cooking-methods-be-interchanged-in-a-recipe-.html 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 cooker Fri, 01 Mar 2013 05:31:57 GMT 47568938dfb74ef69de57b0aa4886a05 http://www.soap-making-essentials.com/liquid-glycerin.html 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 searched Fri, 01 Mar 2013 05:26:42 GMT b9b3a00eb93067a53d44082c87101566 http://www.soap-making-essentials.com/paper-to-wrap-soap-in.html 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 Fri, 01 Mar 2013 05:13:13 GMT