I picked up a nifty book last week on making hand milled soaps and other bath goodies. I'm super excited about it, but not sure where to find some of the ingredients. The one that stumps me most is plain old soap. The book suggests finding premanufactured soap bars at the grocery/drug store, however the book doesn't name any specific brands. I was a bit overwhelmed yesterday by all the bath bars, beauty bars, deoderant bars, antibacterial bars....but nothing said just plain "soap bar." Ugh! Does anyone have any experience making hand milled soaps? Any suggestions on brands for soap bars? My best guess so far has been Ivory, but nothing on the package indicated plain old soap bar.
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Missouri
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Re: hand milled soaps
Mon, February 4, 2008 - 10:45 AMMy mind went to Ivory as well. That is what I recall using when I tried it before. I don't remember how it turned out, as I was a kid and was more interested in the process than the product, but I would assume that it would work. -
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Re: hand milled soaps
Mon, February 4, 2008 - 11:51 AMLook for "Pure Castille Soap ". I believe that is just soap, with nothing else added. There used to be a brand called "Kirk's".This was 30 years ago, though.
This sounds like a wonderful project. Keep us posted on your progress ! -
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Re: hand milled soaps
Mon, February 4, 2008 - 3:49 PMEither Ivory or Castille soap would work since they are about as plain as they get. In my experience however, they are both drying to the skin. Does your recipe include some kind of skin softener? -
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Re: hand milled soaps
Mon, February 4, 2008 - 4:18 PMThe recipes all include adding some sort of oil, usually palm oil, with a bit of almond or castor oil. The one's I'm really interested in include honey and beeswax. -
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Re: hand milled soaps
Mon, February 4, 2008 - 6:47 PMCastile would be my recommedation - it'll be a stable base for whatever you want to add. Almond oil, palm oil, honey and beeswax are all softeners (in good quantity) so that'll take care of the drying aspect of castile soap. Natural oils (rosemary, olive) are excellent too and are wonderful for the skin.
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Re: hand milled soaps
Wed, February 6, 2008 - 1:36 PMIvory has already been milled...
your best bet is going to be to make some soap yourself, or buy some from someone, without scents or additives, and mill it yourself.
Handmilling is overkill in my opinion! just make your own soaps, and add whatever to it before you pour into the mold!
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Re: hand milled soaps
Fri, February 8, 2008 - 2:02 PMAngelia is right. Your best bet is to make your own then mill it. With Ivory it has already been milled and some things taken out and some things added to it that may effect your over all product. You know how it smells, sudds up exc. And it may not react to what you want to add to it. You may end up with a messy glob. -
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Re: hand milled soaps
Tue, February 12, 2008 - 8:52 AMI may end up with a messy glob, I may not. I haven't the means, time or desire to make my own soap base. I also haven't had the time yet to actually get this done! I'll let you know how it turns out. -
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Re: hand milled soaps
Tue, February 12, 2008 - 9:18 PMI have always wanted to make my own soaps....might have to go raid my second hand book shop I think!
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Re: hand milled soaps
Sun, February 17, 2008 - 12:05 PMI understand completely about the time thing. I have not made soap in a while and it seems as if time just runs away (over) me right now. But good luck and I hope you get to do it soon.
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