A public soaping log with a lye calculator and version control! https://ben-holland.com/SoapLog <h2 id="recipe">Recipe</h2> <p>Dissolve silk in hot lye water. Add the sodium lactate to the cooled lye water mixture. Add the lye water to the oils and bring to a trace. Stir in fragrance oil. Split batch into two and mix in clays to each, then swirl and pour into mold. Cut the soap bars and let cure for 4 weeks before using.</p> <h2 id="batch-notes">Batch Notes</h2> <p>The scent is complex and at first seemed like too much, but give it a few weeks to mellow out and its a great man soap. The dragon’s blood has an incense smell that adds a subtle deep complexity that is enjoyable and no overpowering once it has mellowed out.</p> Sun, 05 Jan 2020 00:00:00 +0000 https://ben-holland.com/SoapLog/warrior-horn-soap/ https://ben-holland.com/SoapLog/warrior-horn-soap/ <h2 id="recipe">Recipe</h2> <p>Add the sodium lactate to the cooled lye water mixture. Add the lye water to the oils and bring to a trace. Stir in fragrance oil and colorant. Pour into mold. Cut the soap bars and let cure for 4 weeks before using.</p> <h2 id="batch-notes">Batch Notes</h2> <p>This made a hard bar with a nice calming fragrance.</p> Sun, 05 Jan 2020 00:00:00 +0000 https://ben-holland.com/SoapLog/modern-african-black-soap/ https://ben-holland.com/SoapLog/modern-african-black-soap/ <h2 id="recipe">Recipe</h2> <p>Create tea and then chill before using as a lye water base. Add the sodium lactate to the cooled lye water mixture. Add the lye water to the oils and bring to a trace. Stir in fragrance oil. Split batch and add in the colorants swirling in the bowl. Pour into mold. Cut the soap bars and let cure for 4 weeks before using.</p> <h2 id="batch-notes">Batch Notes</h2> <p>The tea (most likely the valerian root) gave a sulfur-like odor for the first few weeks which later faded and left a very pleasant smell.</p> Sun, 17 Nov 2019 00:00:00 +0000 https://ben-holland.com/SoapLog/sleepy-time/ https://ben-holland.com/SoapLog/sleepy-time/ <h2 id="recipe">Recipe</h2> <p>Add the sodium lactate to the cooled lye water mixture. Add the lye water to the oils and bring to a very light trace (stick blend for about 15 seconds. Stir in fragrance oil and lightly hand stir. Split batch and add the colorants then pour each into a condiment bottle. Pour into mold using the condidments bottles. Let molds rest for multiple days before demolding.</p> <h2 id="batch-notes">Batch Notes</h2> <p>This was a lot of fun, just make sure to use a very light trace.</p> Sun, 27 Oct 2019 00:00:00 +0000 https://ben-holland.com/SoapLog/crazy-fruit/ https://ben-holland.com/SoapLog/crazy-fruit/ <h2 id="recipe">Recipe</h2> <p>Add the sodium lactate to the cooled lye water mixture. Add the lye water to the oils and bring to a trace. Stir in the colorants and fragrance oil. Pour into mold. Cut the soap bars and let cure for 4 weeks before using.</p> <h2 id="batch-notes">Batch Notes</h2> <p>This soap has a slight earthy smell from the carrot seed oil. The batch took a long time to come to trace.</p> Sun, 10 Mar 2019 00:00:00 +0000 https://ben-holland.com/SoapLog/nuclear-carrot-soap/ https://ben-holland.com/SoapLog/nuclear-carrot-soap/ <h2 id="recipe">Recipe</h2> <p>Add the sodium lactate to the cooled lye water mixture. Dissolve silk in lye water. Add the lye water to the oils and bring to a trace. Stir in the colorants and fragrance oil. Pour into mold. Cut the soap bars and let cure for 4 weeks before using.</p> <h2 id="batch-notes">Batch Notes</h2> <p>This soap smells fresh and fragrant.</p> Sun, 10 Mar 2019 00:00:00 +0000 https://ben-holland.com/SoapLog/blushing-orchid-soap/ https://ben-holland.com/SoapLog/blushing-orchid-soap/ <h2 id="recipe">Recipe</h2> <p>Add the sodium lactate to the cooled lye water mixture. Add the lye water to the oils and bring to a trace. Stir in the colorants and fragrance oil. Pour into mold. Cut the soap bars and let cure for 4 weeks before using.</p> <h2 id="batch-notes">Batch Notes</h2> <p>The pig tallow came from saving bacon fat. The bacon fat was washed by boiling in water and filtering through coffee filters.</p> Sun, 10 Mar 2019 00:00:00 +0000 https://ben-holland.com/SoapLog/bacon-soap/ https://ben-holland.com/SoapLog/bacon-soap/ <h2 id="recipe">Recipe</h2> <p>Add the sodium lactate to the cooled lye water mixture. Add the lye water to the oils and bring to a trace. Stir in the colorants and fragrance oil. At a medium trace hand stir in the poppy seeds. Pour into mold. Cut the soap bars and let cure for 4 weeks before using.</p> <h2 id="batch-notes">Batch Notes</h2> <p>This soap smells delicious. The soap came out a bit soft, but eventually hardened up after about 2 weeks. Probably the water could have been slightly discounted or a little less superfatting to balance the large amount of fragrance oils added.</p> Sun, 27 May 2018 00:00:00 +0000 https://ben-holland.com/SoapLog/watermelon-mimosa-soap/ https://ben-holland.com/SoapLog/watermelon-mimosa-soap/ <h2 id="recipe">Recipe</h2> <p>Add the sodium lactate to the cooled lye water mixture. Add the lye water to the oils and bring to a trace. Stir in the colorants and fragrance oil. Pour into mold. Cut the soap bars and let cure for 4 weeks before using.</p> <h2 id="batch-notes">Batch Notes</h2> <p>This is a masculine smell.</p> Sat, 27 Jan 2018 00:00:00 +0000 https://ben-holland.com/SoapLog/woodsman-soap/ https://ben-holland.com/SoapLog/woodsman-soap/ <h2 id="recipe">Recipe</h2> <p>Add the sodium lactate to the cooled lye water mixture. Add the lye water to the oils and bring to a trace. Stir in the colorants and fragrance oil. Pour into mold. Cut the soap bars and let cure for 4 weeks before using.</p> <h2 id="batch-notes">Batch Notes</h2> <p>This soap came to trace very quickly.</p> Sat, 27 Jan 2018 00:00:00 +0000 https://ben-holland.com/SoapLog/valentines-passion-rose-soap/ https://ben-holland.com/SoapLog/valentines-passion-rose-soap/