Rather than my hog up the veggie forum, lets talk soap here. (and candles, and wax melts to if you like). @Deeby since you like bars of soap, please join in and tell us about your favorite soap!

For those of you who don't know yet let me explain the pics. These are shea butter based, homemade vanilla oatmeal soaps from a kit I recently acquired. (Except for the white bars; they are orange scented because I experimented! Ha ha!) I found it easy and fun to do to the point where I'd love to get into soap making. (MUCH easier after Weedwacker helped me figure out how to pop the chilled bars from the molds! )

@Weedwhacker you mentioned beeswax for candle making. In your opinion, what's the difference between beeswax and soywax? Is the beeswax harder or softer? (Idk anything about the details of wax)

Idk about the differences between the two either, I'm afraid; I'm not sure I've ever used a candle made of soy wax, but beeswax definitely makes beautiful, naturally scented and essentially dripless candles.

Weedwhacker said: Idk about the differences between the two either, I'm afraid; I'm not sure I've ever used a candle made of soy wax, but beeswax definitely makes beautiful, naturally scented and essentially dripless candles.

If ever you decide to get back into beekeeping please send me some beeswax! It might make good wax tarts to!

Thanks Anne!
I like soaps that lather really well and aren't slimy. Remember Lava? I liked the squeaky clean feel of Lava.
Today I bought a bar of Yardley limited edition cranberry soap.
My absolute favorite soap is goat's milk soap but it's expensive. I order occasionally. I don't know if it's allowed to mention the company name here.

From what I understand soy holds scents better is usually mixed with paraffin so produce more soot. Also since most soy beans are grown with pesticides in can be in the wax. Beeswax is much better for unscented candles as it is denser wax so burns longer and is supposed to clean the air.
I use a natural Pine Tar soap with Oatmeal, Sand, Activated Charcoal, Clay and Sea Salt. I know sand sounds weird but feels great.

That does sound a bit harsh, Bob - are we talking hand soap here, or ??

Deeby said: Thanks Anne!
I like soaps that lather really well and aren't slimy. Remember Lava? I liked the squeaky clean feel of Lava.
Today I bought a bar of Yardley limited edition cranberry soap.
My absolute favorite soap is goat's milk soap but it's expensive. I order occasionally. I don't know if it's allowed to mention the company name here.

The only thing I know of Lava soap is on the commercial on the Car 54 show. Yardley I know of because don't they make lotion to?

I may have some goats milk bars of soap in my bag. I'm not a fan because they're too hard. What are your thoughts on Shea Butter?

NJBob said: From what I understand soy holds scents better is usually mixed with paraffin so produce more soot. Also since most soy beans are grown with pesticides in can be in the wax. Beeswax is much better for unscented candles as it is denser wax so burns longer and is supposed to clean the air.
I use a natural Pine Tar soap with Oatmeal, Sand, Activated Charcoal, Clay and Sea Salt. I know sand sounds weird but feels great.

Paraffins aren't healthy for you for some reason. But sand and clay in soap??? I've got lots of red clay and sand I could make soap out of I guess.

Anne, I don't know anything about shea butter other than it's an ingredient in soaps, lotions and creams.
The goat's milk soap I'm referring to isn't hard milled, in fact keeping it dry between uses is best.

Oh; I just wondered if you were a fan of shea butter because that's what my homemade are made from. I haven't even gotten to use one of my own bars yet, I feel like I shouldn't until I use up all my storebought.

Treat yourself, it's Christmas!

I get my soaps from Dr. Squatch Handmade Soap , they use sand in a few of them. I think they feel good as long as you do not press to hard

Deeby said: Treat yourself, it's Christmas!

Ha ha, I might just do that! Especially since I may not get a shower if the power goes off during the arctic blast. (Our generator won't run our water heater). The only soap I can use for myself is my experimental sweet orange bar, I've already been passing out my vanilla oatmeal ones and I may have to make another one. After the holiday season has quieted I am going to invest in more soap supplies. I have my eye on a beautiful mold that is square but has the design of many small roses on top. Later if I get the chance I'll post a screenshot of it.

NJBob said: I get my soaps from Dr. Squatch Handmade Soap , they use sand in a few of them. I think they feel good as long as you do not press to hard

Sand in soap is making me curious! What kind of sand? How do they cleanse it enough for people to bathe with it?

There is actually a soap mold that makes massaging like bars. Its got rounded knobs on them.

Here are the two molds I was talking about; isn't the rose one pretty?

Deeby, I used that itty bitty piece of orange soap I made today. While in the shower it smelled good and lathered pretty good. But after I got out I couldn't smell the orangeness on myself. That's really one reason I prefer gel to bars because gel stays with you longer. Maybe the Shea Butter base isn't appropriate for helping scents stick to your skin.

How pretty! I'll buy some!
Hopefully I won't get in trouble for mentioning the goat's milk soap I love.
It's from a nice, family owned company called Goat Milk Stuff. If you don't see me anymore it's because I got kicked off the forum! Or my stalker got me...

You mean you'll buy the molds? It's real easy to make your own soap, and I think you can buy goats milk base. Some bases might take longer to melt however, this Shea butter melts really fast in the microwave. Chills fast to, I have to work as quick as possible to stir the ingredients in the melted soap and get it poured before it chills in the measuring cup, ha ha! But if you meant that you'd buy some I made I would definitely sell some. The profit would help me buy more supplies and new scents. I wonder what peanut butter cookie soap would be like? Or chocolate?

I can't see how you'd get kicked off for talking about goats milk soap; especially since this section is for non-gardening talk.

I'm always on the lookout for STRONGLY scented lemon, rosemary, mint and gardenia soaps. Lemon especially is never lemony enough. It's like the smell inside a lemon rather than the peel. I want peel!

Ha ha, lemon scent is one of the choices on my list. But I don't want to get too many scents right off since essential oils aren't cheap depending on the brand. I already have vanilla, orange and tea tree on hand and I was considering Rose scent since I was thinking of purchasing the roses mold.

What would happen if you add ground lemon peel?