Blog
9 soap making tips to help you succeed!
Soap making isn’t hard and should definitely not be stressful. Here are some handy hints to turn your soap making journey into a fun and successful one! […]
Tips & Tricks
Blog
Where to get a hanger swirl tool in New Zealand?
If you don’t live in the US, the great soap making nation, it can be difficult to get hold of soap making tools and equipment. Here’s how I found the perfect hanger swirl tool in New Zealand! […]
Blog
Testing Fragrances Part 2
Fragrances can be made up of hundreds different components and it isn’t just vanillin that causes discolouration. Any of the essential oils, resins, natural and synthetic aroma chemicals can have an effect on the final colour of the soap. […]
Blog
Testing Fragrances Part 1
Fragrances are one of the most difficult ingredient to predict how they will affect the soap and the soap making process. This is the first part in a three-part series, and will be looking at the component vanillin, which gives vanilla essence it’s unique scent and flavour. Unfortunately in soap making, it it is one of the main culprits that causes the soap to turn brown. […]
Blog
How to add fresh ingredients to soap
Using fresh ingredients in soap making has become very popular in the last years, largely due to the demand for more natural products. However, fresh ingredients will add extra water, sugar and/or fat to your soap, which alters the formulation and affects the outcome of your soap. In this post, I will explain what is needed and how to avoid common pitfalls. […]
Blog
How to use clays in soap
There are many benefits of adding clays to soaps, and not only as natural colourants. In this post I explain what clays are, how they work and the properties and uses in soaps. […]
Blog
The results from the colour tests
The past two months, I’ve been busy testing micas, pigments and lakes in cold process soaps and bath bombs. I’ve blogged about it, but to make it easier for you to find these posts, I’ve created some colour guides for you to use and download. […]
Blog
Testing purple micas
The last in the mica colour test series, purple is particular important for the ever popular lavender soap. However, it has always been a difficult colour to achieve in cold process soap, one reason many soap makers turn to micas for this colour. […]