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wellington womble

Joined: 08 Nov 2004
Posts: 15051
Location: East Midlands

Posted: Wed Nov 24, 04 10:22 pm Post subject:

I'd reccommend 'the handmade soap book' by melinda cross. Having browsed through it, I am dying to have a go. It has so many delicious sounding recipes in it.

Do you have suppliers details? I can't see me finding palm oil in boots! Also where does one get sodium hydroxide? Some of the soaps are made from household ingrdients, although I'd love to try castille soap, I'll start with one of the olive oil and creamed coconut ones!

cab

Joined: 01 Nov 2004
Posts: 32429

Posted: Thu Nov 25, 04 8:50 am Post subject:

A better book, also by Melinda Coss, is Gourmet Soaps Made Easy. It's the one I use as a standard reference.

I found various suggestions for liquid soaps and other concoctions, but none of the ones I have are made from scratch. A quick web search (making liquid soap) out into google brought up various possibiities; eitherusing a different formula so that the cured soap is liquid, or liquifying a solid soap, both look do-able.

cab

Joined: 01 Nov 2004
Posts: 32429

Posted: Thu Nov 25, 04 8:59 am Post subject:

wellington womble wrote:

Do you have suppliers details? I can't see me finding palm oil in boots! Also where does one get sodium hydroxide? Some of the soaps are made from household ingrdients, although I'd love to try castille soap, I'll start with one of the olive oil and creamed coconut ones!

You can get sodium hydroxide in any of the big home-improvement shops. It's used as a drain cleaner. Careful though, it's genuinely unpleasant stuff, don't forget goggles and gloves.

Palm oil, coconut oil and all manner of other cool stuff can be found in Chinese supermarkets. Shea butter, beeswax and the like are best bought online from craft/soap making suppliers.

Guest

Posted: Wed Dec 01, 04 10:22 pm Post subject:
Hee hee Cab and you said it was a doddle!!!! Have you tried filling a hanky with oatmeal and ground almonds and the contents of a herbal teabag and tying it up to make a little bag?? Loooovely alternative to soap! Otherwise, Tom's of Maine is pretty free from nasties. Nettie

Sarah D

Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 2584

Posted: Thu Dec 02, 04 8:17 am Post subject:
It is, however, and American company, so not very local What do we do? I do like their toothpaste, though.

Bugs

Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 10744

Posted: Thu Dec 02, 04 8:52 am Post subject:

Anonymous wrote:

Have you tried filling a hanky with oatmeal and ground almonds and the contents of a herbal teabag and tying it up to make a little bag?? Loooovely alternative to soap!

Soap?

I'd be adding some butter and baking it for 20 minutes to serve with jam and custard!

Sarah D

Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 2584

Posted: Thu Dec 02, 04 8:54 am Post subject:
I use this sort of thing sometimes, but not as an alternative to soap; the oatmeal softens the water and the herbs scent it. I imagine the ground almonds might work as a skin softener.

wellington womble

Joined: 08 Nov 2004
Posts: 15051
Location: East Midlands

Posted: Thu Dec 02, 04 11:06 am Post subject:
says in the book they do - and hazlenuts. That's the trouble with the soaps in the book - they sound really tempting. It's as bad as reading a recipe book!

*Fluffykitten*

Joined: 03 Dec 2004
Posts: 74
Location: Merthyr Tydfil

Posted: Sat Dec 04, 04 7:09 pm Post subject:
www.baldwins.co.uk They do a range of oils base and essential/ perfume and have numerous soap making ingredients inc shea butter cocoabutter, beeswax etc. I havnt tried their soap making stuff but regularly use the site for aromatherapy supplies. They also do bottles an jars for homemade creams etc. clair XXX

wellington womble

Joined: 08 Nov 2004
Posts: 15051
Location: East Midlands

Posted: Sun Dec 05, 04 4:16 pm Post subject:
Thanks, fluffy kitten, I'll be spending some money there!

nettie

Joined: 02 Dec 2004
Posts: 5888
Location: Suffolk

Posted: Sun Dec 05, 04 7:09 pm Post subject:
Fluffykitten you have made my day! I have been looking for somewhere for aaaaages that I can buy just a few jars for my home made skin creams, I am giving them as Christmas presents. Thank you!!!!!!

quilter1

Joined: 30 Dec 2004
Posts: 6
Location: Connecticut, USA

Posted: Fri Dec 31, 04 12:11 pm Post subject: The Natural Soap Book
Hi, I'm new to this site but I can tell I will love it. I also made soap yesterday Dec 30, 2004. The book I use as my reference is The Natural Soap Book by Susan Miller Cavitch. The basic soap recipe I use: 6oz lye 18oz water at room temp 19oz olive oil NOT extra vergin 12oz coconut oil 12oz shorting 6oz plam oil this makes a very firm long lasting bar. I cut 15-18 3.5oz bars. Terri

Bugs

Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 10744

Posted: Fri Dec 31, 04 12:18 pm Post subject:
Hello and welcome Terri - glad you like the site. Do you add any "flavourings" to your basic soaps or just use it plain?

quilter1

Joined: 30 Dec 2004
Posts: 6
Location: Connecticut, USA

Posted: Fri Dec 31, 04 12:37 pm Post subject: Soap
Thank you, I added oatmeal and tangerine essential oil. The lye I use is Red Devil drain cleanner. It is easy to use and can be found in most hardware stores. Let me know if you make a batch. Terri

jema
Downsizer Moderator

Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 28112
Location: escaped from Swindon

Posted: Fri Dec 31, 04 1:05 pm Post subject:
Welcome to the site, seems like you missed your own welcome thread https://forum.downsizer.net/about993.html I wonder if UK drain cleaners are lye? I think it is great to have US members on board, as it adds a different perspective to things. jema

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