I’ve always wanted to make a creamy, white/ivory soap — to remind me of the days of Ivory Soap. I loved Ivory Soap as a kid, and it will always have a special place in my . So, for my first soap of 2009, I decided to make my wish come true. Coming off a two-month no-soaping vacation, I was very eager to get back on “my soap box”.

RTCP (heat transfer), cuz I was not about to wait for lye water to cool down. I was ready to get the batter in the mold, and wait for the magic! It was, I must say, truly…magical.

My soap doesn’t “float” (and won’t be as drying as real Ivory Soap), but it’s pure soapy goodness: Coconut Oil, Palm Oil, Olive Oil, Rice Bran Oil and Castor Oil. No scent. No color. It has a fresh, clean, “soapy” smell, and I can’t wait to get it in the shower. 

NEA

I’m super busy, soapmates — but I did want to take a moment and wish everyone a VERY Merry Christmas! Remember WHO the season is about — Christ, The Anointed One.

 Enjoy your loved ones!

Sheesh! If I read one more, “Coconut oil is very drying if used above 15/20/25%!!!” statement, I’ll snap! Why do so many soapmakers speak as if that’s a given, when it clearly is not.

Yes, I’ve only been  making soap for over a year, and that’s a “truth” that’s simply not true, in all cases. I have a 70% coconut oil soap, and it’s delightful! You know why? Because it’s got 15% refined hempseed oil and 15% unrefined shea butter, and it’s superfatted at…you guessed it…15%. It works for my skin, and none of my testers reported dryness.  It’s my “luxury” soap, and I’m still waiting for the DOS (I’m saving a hunk, to see what happens over time).

So, what am I saying? High percentages of coconut oil aren’t necessarily drying to the skin. It depends on YOUR skin, and the soap formulation (including superfat percentage). I wish folks would say, “I haven’t been able to formulate a recipe with higher percentages of coconut oil that didn’t dry out MY skin”, and leave it at that.

NEA