Comments on: Tea Tree Soap

By: Soap Making Photos | Journey to Simplicity

Soap Making Photos | Journey to Simplicity — Wed, 03 Jun 2009 02:34:45 +0000

[...] As promised I’m posting my soap making photos below. This is not meant to be a lesson in soap making, rather just illustrating the process I use when making cold process soap. I’ve interspersed a few comments that will provide some helpful tips, or at least explain the step shown. [...]

By: cindy

cindy — Mon, 01 Jun 2009 12:56:38 +0000

I usually let the bars cure for at least 3 weeks before giving/selling.

I’m working on getting those soap pictures up today!

By: Emily

Emily — Sun, 31 May 2009 14:21:47 +0000

I have a lot to learn! Thanks for the additional information. Another question. I know you can basically use the soap just a few days after it is made (but it is softer and will not last as long). When you are giving it to friends and selling it – typically how long are you waiting for it to cure? The last batch I made has been curing 6 weeks and I like the hardness of the bar and I know it will last longer. but I know at 4 weeks it was nice and hard and probably would have lasted nicely. Emily

By: cindy

cindy — Fri, 29 May 2009 19:34:28 +0000

Emily,
Superfat is when you add additional oil near the end of the mixing process (I usually wait until I reach a thin trace). I add about an ounce of additional oil – usually sweet almond or avocado. The addition of the oil at the end allows more of the benefits of the oil to come through. I find it helps the bars be even more moisturizing.

Rosemary and Peppermint EO are stronger than citrus oils, so you might not need as much for a two pound batch. 2 – 2 1/2 tablespoons total would probably suffice. Don’t forget to line your loaf pan

The combination of your base oils is important. Different oils contribute different attributes to the soap. Some are great for lather, others for bar hardness, others for moisturizing, etc. I find that the percentage mix I use gives me a good, hard bar, with great lather and moisturizing.

Let me know how your soap turns out!

By: Emily

Emily — Fri, 29 May 2009 17:41:53 +0000

OH MY GOSH – I am So excited. I need to order more Tea Tree oil. But I want to try your recipe with Rosemary and Mint first. (need to order that too!) The recipes I have tried are Olive Oil, Coconut and palm. the other one Olive, Rice Bran and Coconut. I have been reading everything I can on line and looking at recipes on line too. I don’t understand what “superfat” means. I have used the soap calc to give me water and lye amounts, but I don’t understand the relationship between the oil quantities – like you mentioned 50-30-20% – does that mean something when choosing and combining oil? I am going to use your recipe as is and add my Rosemary EO and mint EO and run with it. I will use the loaf pan I have and Wait for my husband to be home long enough to help me make a wood mold like yours too (or tackle it myself)……Thank you SO much for the info. I look forward to photos. (I think my comment is turning out to be as long as your blog – ha) Emily