Shalebrook Handcrafted Soap - Oatmeal Goat Milk & Honey by Valerie Mosher

This formula is done Hot Process using a lower temp HP method, but you can do it high temperature HP or CP if you like. This formula was a 3lb (48oz oils) batch and lye liquid was at 38%. Super Fat was 5% up front and 3% (of oil weight) xtra SF after the cook. Always put a formula through a Soap Calculator before using for your own consideration. (when you put my formula into a soap calculator with my percentages for the oils/butters etc. you can choose whatever weight system you use in your country and it will give you the amounts you need to use to make the soap)
Almond Oil -- 7%
Canola Oil - 3%
Castor Oil - 14%
Cocoa Butter - 3%
Coconut Oil, 76 deg - 11%
Kokum Butter -- 3%
Olive Oil -- 19%
PalmKernelFlakes -- 3%
Palm Oil -- 15%
Shea Butter -- 7%
Tallow Beef -- 15%
I divided up the liquid amount in this soap as follows (38% liquid for 3lb batch).
The total liquid was 18.25oz and the lye amount was 6.5oz. I used a tea blend of 7oz to mix my lye with. In that tea I added some angora fibre and dissolved along with my lye.
2oz -- Aloe Vera Juice was added in with my tea mixture, to which the lye was added.
4.25oz -- cooked/strained oatmeal was put into the oils and stick blended along with 2 tbsp of oatmeal powder (1 tbsp = 15 ml volume not weight) (I don’t weigh the oatmeal, I use different cooking spoons to measure) and 1tsp (= 5ml volume not weight) kaolin clay.
1oz - egg yolk (tempered with oils before adding to oils and SB along with oatmeal before the lye liquid is added)
1oz - water used to mix my 1.5Tbsp GM powder with and added right after the lye liquid was added and Stick Blend.
3oz -- coconut milk was added to the mixture right after the lye liquid and stick blend.
Xtra 3% super fat added heated up after cook (1.45oz)(for a total of 8% SF)
3Tbsp (1 tbsp = 15ml volume not weight) sugar mixed with 2tbsp of Apple cider vinegar, dissolved, heated to warm and added after the cook (not discounted)
3Tbsp plain greek yogurt added room temp or cool after the cook. (not discounted)
5% (of oil weight) Sodium Lactate Lukewarm/room temp added after cook.(not discounted)
3tbsp Honey mixed with 2 tbsp of Aloe Vera Juice, heated until warm added after the batter was 175F or under (not discounted)
*** Enjoy, but please do not sell the formula as your own or mine - please feel free to tweak as you like, but I cannot guarantee the same outcome. shalebrooksoap.com

[@JenSpice]

Hi Valerie! I'm so glad you are using the little suprise I tucked into the mail. Your soap looks lovely of course. I'm also getting ready to make an egg soap (my quail have been laying, yea!). As they say, like minds think alike, LOL. If anyone else out there wants to try the angora fiber in their soap I've got a few extra samples I can share.

[@shalebrookhandcraftedsoap7907]

dear Jen, that is so incredibly wonderful of you, and quail eggs!!! how awesome is that. Much love to you dear friend!

[@nanomc3174]

Oh my heavens Valerie, that was so enjoyable watching and learning from you...you are a great teacher and so kind and sharing with all your viewers..I have learnt so much from you and I am truly grateful !

[@shalebrookhandcraftedsoap7907]

Dear Nancy, thank you so very very kindly and humbly...it makes me so very happy if these can help or encourage...big warm hugs to you across the mils and you are ever so welcome, my pleasure for sure!

[@barbararitchie5146]

Hello Valerie, I want to thank you for producing such great hot process soap videos, your technique is wonderful and I have learned a lot from you.

[@shalebrookhandcraftedsoap7907]

Hello Barbara! and truly, i'm so sorry i missed this post....1 year late, but thank you ever so kindly, i'm truly blessed to know these videos of mine can be of any help or encouragement, big hugs to you

[@kellyw.1779]

Hey Valerie! What a great shout out to Jen for the angora fibre! That is so cool! I really feel the love you put into your soap! Just starting to watch your wonderful and informative video's. Yay! Hope your having a great Sunday! Hugs from Texas!

[@shalebrookhandcraftedsoap7907]

Dear Kelly thank you so much for watching and for those very supportive and encouraging words, I truly appreciate them. Hoping that I can help others and as well tell others who watch about the lovely people who help me...I have a couple of those shout outs in a couple of my videos! Thank you again Kelly and big hugs from Moser River!

[@nayaangelicag-diamond6774]

Hello Valerie !! Is always a nice treat when I see You’re posting a new video, you inspired me to do so many new recipes and I can say now I am a fan of making my soaps quicker !! No more CP Soaps for me , thank you love ! Sending you some good energy and blessings from Grosse Pointe,Michigan sweetheart. 🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼😘

[@shalebrookhandcraftedsoap7907]

Hello Nayadhe! and thank you ever so much for those kind and very thoughtful words of encouragement! I appreciate them very much. How wonderful to know that these have helped encourage you and that they've been an inspiration. Big hugs to you across the miles.

[@cryingbroken8824]

Truth be told, I've been a soaper for almost 10 years...I started out doing hp, using the recipe on the can of Chrystals I got from the grocery store, and some lard, same place...a few years passed, went to go back to it...no Chrystals!😒😪🤷‍♀️

[@tamaraluck3055]

Dear Valerie! I was looking for interesting soap recipes and accidentally saw your channel.. He is so interesting that I watch your videos more than the rest and try to prepare my soap for your performances. Thank you very much for your recipes, ideas and interesting tips.. I was very glad to meet you in the KZbin. I wish you health and prosperity. Please us, the audience, in the future with your new achievements. All good things to you!! Good wishes from Germany :D

[@shalebrookhandcraftedsoap7907]

hello dear Tamara Luck, thank you for stopping by and thank you ever so humbly for those very kind supportive words! Truly i appreciate "you"! and it is also a blessing to me to know that anything i've learned and shared can be of help/ encouragement and/or value in your soaping adventure... may you be uplifted in making great soap for the skin, big hugs from Nova Scotia!

[@hilaallnaturalsoaps9628]

Valerie your videos are very interesting and very professional one of the most interesting soap making channels there is. You deserve lots!!! more subscribers !!!!

[@shalebrookhandcraftedsoap7907]

Hello there dear Hila All Natural Soaps! thank you ever so kindly for those very dear and encouraging words! big hugs

[@jacklaws8767]

As always, you are the Master. Totally awesome! I too always learn something as I watch you and your craft. Thank you for doing these videos and please don’t stop.

[@shalebrookhandcraftedsoap7907]

Hey! thank you ever so much Jack, you are very kind. I truly appreciate your words of encouragement!

[@lisak5720]

Thank you so much for sharing all your tips! I made one last night (not your recipe (completely different oils)) with similar techniques. The batter was so workable. I'm so excited to keep growing in this method of soap making. The only issue I had is my crock pot didn’t have a warm setting. Some of my goat milk scorched but did mix back in and the smell from that is gone this morning. I will see when I cut if there's any in there. Also having issues un molding but I'll just be patient. ❤️ Thank you so much for all the tips. God Bless!

[@shalebrookhandcraftedsoap7907]

dear Lisa, that is just super fabulous, how blessed to know that you are able to formulate and get this to work for you! Way to go! ...yes, I've had milk get solid on me, and it was coconut milk, where I didn't get it stirred in good enough and the bottom of the crock was still hot, and I ended up picking out pieces of the coconut milk :-)...I do most of the time, put my soaps in the freezer for a couple of hours depending on the size of the batch, then in the fridge and cut really nice, but sometimes i'm not in a hurry I will just let it set out and sometimes I can cut within 5-7 hours and sometimes overnight! big hugs

[@mad45678]

Hi Valerie! I've used 2-3 of your recipes for hot process, and they've turned out with gorgeous skin properties. So, I know you have wise reasons to add things at the intervals you choose, both before and after the cook. I do wonder, though: why don't we add all additives after the cook so lye can't afffect them? I know you have a chemical reason, but I'm just curious. Thanks, and Merry Christmas!!

[@shalebrookhandcraftedsoap7907]

Hello Madeline and thank you ever so much for those very kind positive words, I do appreciate it and i'm so very happy you enjoyed the formulas you tried. Great question ---- sooooo the additives i add after the cook normally, are the sugar/honey/maple syrup, super fat (you can add ALL of it after the cook and a lot do, i just choose to add some up front and some after the cook, but indeed you can add it all after the cook), sodium lactate, yogurt, coconut milk/milks ( some milks depending on the formula i will add through the cook as well, especially GM, but thats just me), EO/FO and so on.... i'm not sure what else i would add after the cook... but truly a good discussion, thank you again.

[@arlenegilmore3928]

I just love watching you make soap! You explain things so clearly. I'm always amazed watching you work and all the goodness you add to your soap. Thanks so much for sharing your talent!

[@shalebrookhandcraftedsoap7907]

Dear Arlene, how very kind of you indeed, and I'm so appreciative! that is wonderful that these videos can help, makes me so happy, but sometimes after I upload I will notice things I said wrong, and sometimes foolish things, oh well, I learn to chuckle about it and go on. Big hugs

[@rebeccamorris7671]

Hello Valerie ! Once again you have created a MASTERPIECE ! I look forward to seeing You and your Camera Man LOL! He is so sweet to help you ! The soap looks so beautiful ! They look like little slabs of Marble ! And I learned something about the Cleansing. I am grateful. Thank You so so much. --- Big Hugs

[@shalebrookhandcraftedsoap7907]

Hello Rebecca! thank you so much for those huge compliments, so humbling to me and I truly appreciate your kindness. Yes, my hubby is a big help indeed and I do appreciate him. It's wonderful to me that these can help in any way at all, thank you again Rebecca, and big hugs your way

[@GodzHarleyGirlStudio]

Your soaps always sound/look so luxurious, Valerie! They're beautiful and anyone is blessed who are able to buy and use your soap! Thanks so kindly for your explanations, video's, specific product info, etc., etc.! Someday I *will* master your type of HP!! God bless y'all and hugz, Tree

[@shalebrookhandcraftedsoap7907]

Hello dear Tree -- pray that all is well with you and thank you ever so much for such kindness and support. much love in Christ to you and big hugs

[@GodzHarleyGirlStudio]

Shalebrook Handcrafted Soap Hiya! You're always welcome! Hugz, Tree

[@HanaLoose]

I live watching your videos, and I've learned much from you! Thank you for sharing! Almost forgot to say hi to your husband, so cool that he's helping you make these videos!

[@shalebrookhandcraftedsoap7907]

Dear Selma! i'm so very glad that these videos have helped or encouraged and thank you for your very kind and thoughtful words, they are much appreciated. My husband says "thank you Selma and hi to you too", he sure is a big help indeed.

[@susanasue6951]

It’s a beautiful soap and you are a wonderful theater 🥰

[@shalebrookhandcraftedsoap7907]

Hello Susana and thank you ever so humbly for those very kind words, i truly appreciate them, thank you so much!

[@rhondam883]

I just love watching you and listening to you and seeing your beautiful soaps!!! You are so inspiring. Thank you for sharing your talent. God Bless.

[@shalebrookhandcraftedsoap7907]

Hello dear Rhonda, thank you for those lovely kind words and you are so very welcome for any help or encouragement these videos give, I truly appreciate your encouragement, big warm hugs to you across the miles.

[@roslynhita6149]

Loverly Soaps ..Thanx for sharing

[@shalebrookhandcraftedsoap7907]

Hello Roslyn and thank you so very kindly!

[@cryingbroken8824]

Thank you for introducing a few more ways to "spice up" hot process soap making! Just cutting slices of boring old logs was getting, well, boring. 🤷‍♀️But knowing how to alter a few cp techniques for hp, now THAT makes a difference!😁😎😍you may feel that you only gave one or two, but you actually gave launching points to figure out a whole *slew* of alternatives! *Thank you!*

[@shalebrookhandcraftedsoap7907]

Hello and thank "you" for your supportive words, it is wonderful to know that i can share and be of some help in your soaping adventure! You are ever so welcome indeed!

[@evehsv5556]

You’re so lovely Valerie I love your videos. Gorgeous soaps. Thank you. 💐💐💐💐

[@shalebrookhandcraftedsoap7907]

dear Evehsv! you are so very kind, thank you ever so much, i really appreciate your thoughtfulness and big warm hugs your way

[@evehsv5556]

Shalebrook Handcrafted Soap Thank You hugs sent your way also. 💐💐

[@elizabethrobbins8580]

The soap looks wonderful and it should be very gentle on the skin. My question is how do you keep the milk from burning? I've not had much luck with that.

[@shalebrookhandcraftedsoap7907]

hello Elizabeth and thank you so much for the kind words and your question -- I've not had too much problem with scorched milk , but once I had it give off an odor for a little while and that was when I used the GM powder and I believe it did scorch it, I was cooking at high temps and I don't think I got it stirred in correctly --- but I do not use GM powder any more, and GM is the milk I like the very least of all, lol, and I only make it for a couple of my customers who say they prefer it, I find GM does not give lather like coconut or rice or other milks, but I will use it on occasion and then I only purchase the liquid that has no sugar in it -- I use to have my own goats and used my own milk, but it was a lot of work indeed and now they are all gone ---- but cooking at low temps, and adding the milk hot and stick blending while cooking all help that, and with no problems --- but you can also save some of that milk and add hot after the cook, when your crock is turned off and the soap has reache dvaseline stage --- I hope this will be of some help.

[@robinpeters4788]

Wow. Thanks for sharing your amazing tips. You are an awesome soap maker and teacher. I love watching your videos. 👍👍👍

[@shalebrookhandcraftedsoap7907]

Hello dear Robin and wow, how very very kind of you indeed, thank you ever so much. How wonderful to know that these videos can help in even a small way. big hugs

[@stephaniebravo7773]

Thank you for answering my question! I will definitely watch more of your videos! ❤️

[@shalebrookhandcraftedsoap7907]

you are so welcome, and thank you Stephanie

[@thoma2939]

Valerie, totally fascinating! I have yet to hot process but someday...lol. Love that your active in many soaping posts. I learn from you which is always nice.

[@shalebrookhandcraftedsoap7907]

Hello Thoma White and thank you ever so much for those very kind and encouraging words; I truly appreciate the time you have taken to write me! I do hope you try some day; even though I do CP , HP is definitely my favorite, everything about it, the cooking , the way it smells, managing it/designing it; I love how you can add sooooo many more things to it and then of course have that super fat after the cook! I'm still learning too, and I make mistakes and "OOPSIES", and I learn from experience soapers and new soapers, and experimenting and I sure do not know everything by any means, lol, and who could ? I hope that these videos can be of even a small help or to encourage others along the way. big hugs

[@sarah-jayne23]

Hi Valery, another amazing video. You explain everything so clearly and share your recipes and I thank you for that. You have given me inspiration to try out different additives to soap. Many thanks Sarah x

[@shalebrookhandcraftedsoap7907]

Dear Sarah, you are so very generous, thank you ever so much; and i'm just happy if these can help any one in any way! big hugs and you are ever so welcome!

[@kathleenanderson33]

Have to get angora rabbit 🐇 now Lol 😂 great video xx from UK

[@shalebrookhandcraftedsoap7907]

Hey Kathleen Anderson, thank you for stopping by, and yes, lol, I guess I should get one too! thank you so kindly!

[@cryingbroken8824]

Excellent breakdown! thank you..

[@shalebrookhandcraftedsoap7907]

Good morning and thank you ever so much for your kind words, i appreciate it! AND i'm blessed to know this video could be of help and encouragement.

[@MildredGlutz]

Lovely soap! Thanks, Valerie!

[@shalebrookhandcraftedsoap7907]

thank you very much MildredGlutz!

[@MildredGlutz]

It's fun watching you work! I like what you said about not all handcrafted soaps being alike. So many are full of oils and additives that people with skin sensitivities skin can't tolerate well. I envy those whose skin can benefit from a wide range of oils, etc. that are available. I am searching for a recipe for my own skin which like you said should be lower on the cleansing number and higher on conditioning. My thin, aging, sensitive, still blemish prone skin is a tough one to design soap for but I'm trying and tweaking recipes.

[@shalebrookhandcraftedsoap7907]

Hey Mildred! if i can help you, just let me know and you can email me if you like or FB message me as well. Big hugs

[@MildredGlutz]

Ok, thank you!

[@rosemread]

Awesome, thank you for explaining everything!

[@shalebrookhandcraftedsoap7907]

Hello rosemread, thank you for watching, for the kind words too and you are very welcome!

[@ellenblack5376]

Beautiful ! and lovely ingredients ! Thank you !!!

[@shalebrookhandcraftedsoap7907]

Hey Ellen! thank you ever so much! big hugs

[@angelascott4845]

Another great video, thank you so much!

[@shalebrookhandcraftedsoap7907]

Hello Angela and thank you so much for watching, big hugs to you

[@marisaelskamp4497]

Brilliant

[@shalebrookhandcraftedsoap7907]

Hello Marisa and thank you very much!

[@pattikemp-gettmann9646]

I bet your soaps are Devine.

[@shalebrookhandcraftedsoap7907]

Hey Patti -- I use to purchase homemade soaps all my life wherever we traveled, and unfortunately non of them ever helped my dry skin so I stayed with my Oil of Olay, then over 4 years ago we took a trip to Georgia and a lady there gave me some of her homemade soap and Wow! it was awesome, and is said to my hubby "WOW, now this is what homemade soap should be!!!", and I said I don't want to use my Oil of olay anymore what should I do, aso we discussed it and decided we would do some research, and reading and watching - then we started making our own, just for us and family -- and it was like "2 people told 2 people etc." and our Lord just incredibly blessed us and started a small "mom and pop" type of business, it was never meant to be a business and now we ship all over the world (nothing huge by any means) and I get a lot of great feed back on how it's helped their skin and it certainly has helped mine! and I won't always be selling, but God willing, I hope to always make soap for us --- I sure learned that not "all homemade soap" is created equal and that the formula plays the biggest part in a great for the skin soap -- and I love using different things, and finding new things, "new things to me" , lol, that can help and improve and relieve symptoms of skin discomfort or issues...as soap is not a cure, but a help indeed! Thank you Patti!

[@aishanad0494]

Good evening madam , you are my favourite favourite soaper; I love you sooooo much could you please show us some cold process soap recipes,,, I’m really really looking forward to see them xxxxxx.

[@shalebrookhandcraftedsoap7907]

Hello Bilal Nadeem and thank you ever so much, I really appreciate your kind words. I have a few CP videos on here, one is a shampoo, one is a lavender gradient and then there is this one called "Remember Titanic" here is the link kzbin.info/www/bejne/e2XOZaSkjbWIfac

[@Misssha123]

lovely

[@shalebrookhandcraftedsoap7907]

thank you kindly!

[@susanorban3059]

Hi Valerie! So great to see this video from you. You make the nicest hp soap!! Your ingreidents are so so nice! Can I ask how you cook and strain your oatmeal? When I cook it it's thick and would not strain. Thanks so much and hope all is well for you! Hugs from Az❤❤❤

[@shalebrookhandcraftedsoap7907]

Hello dear Susan and thank you for watching and for those super lovely thoughtful kind words, I appreciate them very much. When I cook my oatmeal I usually use about a scant 1/4 cup of oatmeal and mix it with 2 cups of water, then cook in the microwave until it is soft and cooked, then I put it through a little plastic strainer I have and stir with a spoon to get that gel/mucous out -- if you find it too thick (that has happened to me before for sure), just add some hot water to it and stir it up before you strain it, and keep adding until you can get it to go through the strainer, usually i'll do a bit at a time, and dump the thick cooked oatmeal in another bowl (i give mine to my chickens), so yes, it can be thick and i just add enough hot water to get that good mucous out of it. big hugs to you dear Susan!

[@heatheroberry9218]

What a great video thank you for sharing

[@shalebrookhandcraftedsoap7907]

Hello Heather, sorry I'm late replying, but your comment had gone into spam and I just noticed it.... thank you for watching and your kind comment and you are so very welcome!

[@craftyladydi]

Your soap turned out beautiful, thank you for sharing your recipe. I made lye water for making soap, didn't get around to it, it sat over night until the next day. I went to make soap in the crock pot , I heated the lye in a double boiler, poured it into the hot oils. The soap batter did rise ,did not volcano , I stirred it up it had gone through vaseline stage, I cooked it another hour. according to a recipe, turned out good. But the same recipe before that I used the pheonthyline ..not spelt right, after two hours of cooking and testing it stayed pink, the soap was over cooked .I added superfats to it. So this time as described above I didn't use the chemical that turns it pink, I washed my hands with it, it seemed fine. Anyway I thought it was interesting. It's funny well not really but how soap can come out different all the time.

[@shalebrookhandcraftedsoap7907]

Thank you so much , I appreciate your kind words and you are very welcome for the formula for sure! When you are cooking your soap and it does go to Vaseline stage, there truly isn't any reason at all to continue to cook for another hour, all that will do is dry it out...Your PH can depend on if you are super fatting up front, or you don't super fat up front at all, or you super fat up front a bit, then add some after the cook, by multiplying your oils by the Xtra % you plan to SF at....I have P drops as well, and I've used them and it's worked out well...I usually SF up front some (because for me and I do encourage others as well, it makes a safety factor for the soap)...and soaps can cook different from one time to the next (for me the temperature in my kitchen can play a part)...and FO's and EO's can change a batters texture too...and it truly is always interesting! big hugs

[@craftyladydi]

I agree, I said I would not make this soap again the ingredients were from Walmart, my first soap, got it from a KZbin soap maker.My son said he liked it, so I made more, I did superfat it at the en. , Not sure how it turned out haven't used it yet. I love soap making I haven't bought soap in 3 years, I'm no pro nor will I do a youtube, I'm still learning all the time. Thanks Valerie (:

[@conniecoffey5494]

Hello Valerie. Thanks for the new video. Glad to see you back. Please correct me if i'm wrong but you are using the gel/ mucous of the oatmeal and not the oatmeal itself. Also, thanks for the tempered egg demonstration. Have a great day! If you are ever in Ohio, I would love to meet you.

[@shalebrookhandcraftedsoap7907]

Dear Connie thank you so very much for all those kind words and the encouragement and support. If I ever get to Ohio, for sure I would look you up indeed! :-) Yes, you are correct, it is not the cooked oatmeal, although you could use that , it is the gel/mucous from it, and it makes the soap incredibly smooth as well as a lovely feel to it and good for your skin as well. Sometimes after you cook it , it might get thicker, in that case just add some hot water to it and put it through a sieve, I use a little plastic one from the dollar store, and use a spoon to stir it around, then dump out the oatmeal part and give that to my chickens! Glad the egg tempering helped too, big hugs

[@stephaniebravo7773]

Hi, love your video, thank you for sharing; was wondering how long do you cook your soaps? Just recently started making hot process soap, but my batter is not so liquid!

[@shalebrookhandcraftedsoap7907]

Hello Stephanie and thank you for stopping by, your kind words and your question --- I've been soaping over 6 years now and the time has changed how long I cook from when I first started, but, whether I cook high temperatures or low temperatures I always cook my soaps until they are Vaseline stage, so basically I cook until there is no lye left in them when I test...that could be anywhere from 7 minutes until about 25 minutes, but normally the range is around 15 minutes, give or take a few minutes depending on formula, temperature etc. If you get the chance check out some other of my videos whre I give tips on how to work with it and get it more manageable!

[@helenv1347]

Hello Valerie- and what means GM? How do you test if all the lye jas been absorbed? I am thinking maybe that is vouple of my soaps are kinda " slimy" but they set up ok? Do i need to let them cure oast 2 weeks even when rgey are consideret HP?

[@shalebrookhandcraftedsoap7907]

Hello Helen - GM stands for Goat Milk --- When you make soap and mix the lye and oils/butters together, they saponify and make soap , basically a salt product, but it can still have lye in it "IF" you weighed your oils/lye wrong OR "IF" you made a mistake, so yes, when you mix your lye with your liquid and you stir until it is completely dissolved, then you add it to your heated oils, that is all good, but after the cook that is when you check to make sure it is all good to go, you don't have to, I just do as I 've seen it soooooooo many times where soapers on the groups have lye heavyt soap, from different reasons, soooo it's always good to check --- but that is what I do, you don't have to if you don't want to. Yes, even when it's HP, although the lye is all gone, it is better to let them set for 2-3 weeks (and that will depend on the formula and how much liquid and other variables), but that lets them dry out, harden up and the soap is better as it goes through this process. If your soaps are slimy is that because of your formula? I would have to know more about that before I could comment on the sliminess of it.

[@helenv1347]

@@shalebrookhandcraftedsoap7907 oh Goatsmilk....😝 i should have known that. I ordered a bunch of new toys fir soapmaking. You just hit a point. So when i mix my lye i tak about 12.16 oz lukewarm water, put it in my lye pan. Bring it outside. Weigh 4.8 oz foodgrade lye. Put it in a ziplock bag. Go outside on porch, gloves, glasses, and try not to inhale the godawefull stench it gives of stearing. Stirr. I think maybe i am too lazy 😳by not stirring the lye enough????? I always wait and keep stirring till i think the lye is all dissolved. Maybe i need to keep stirring more? In meantime i heat my fats ( basefats, recipe calls for 2 cups of coconut fat and 2 cups of olive oil), but of course i modified that. I usually use 1 and 3/4 cups of coconut fat and then add about 1/4 cup of either olive oil or safflower or org canola whatever oil i have at home. Cook up oils on temp betw 120 to 130 deg. Then add lye water mix. Blend. Then let it vulcano over. After vulcan over i add my superfats: usually about 2 Tablesp cocao butter, 2 T shea butter,2 T shea butter, about 2 T castor oil, 2T almond oil.let basefats cool off a little bit, stirr in superfats stirr till they dissolve. Then i add usually 1-2 T greek joghurt and about 2 T manukka honey. Stirr well. Let it cool down. In separate jarrs i mix my mica ( i got new colors today: excited!!!🤪👻😜) With a little oil and prep for what scents or spices i will add. Then when oil mix is about 130 deg F i portion it on batches, with colorants and scents. Off they go in the forms. Tapp them down to release air bubbles, swirl it w chopstick. Cover it to rest. Say a lil prayer and put it to sleep. If all goes well it hardens nicely and is not slimy. But i really think its my laziness of not stearing enough. I ordered some ph strips today i made soap for a friend of mine and i wanna make sure the soap is safe and good for her. Therefor i have to double check it. She has super sensitive skin. Thank you so much, let me know your thoughts!!!❤🤪🥴😘

[@shalebrookhandcraftedsoap7907]

@@helenv1347 hello Helen, soap making is always a learning experience or so I have found. One of the main things to learn is how to use a Soap Calculator, as "every" oil and butter and fat has a different "saponification" value and when you use a soap calculator and enter that information into it, the soap calculator figures it all out for you.... when you take a formula from someone else that only tells you a cup of this and a cup of that etc., then you change it, well, that changes everything, you may need more lye OR you may need less lye as they all have different values --- I have found that "Soap Calc" is the easiest one to use and you can put it in grams, ounces, pounds, etc, and pick your size batch and the type of fats you are going to use and how much liquid you want and how much super fat etc. --- Yes, indeed, you need to completely dissolve your lye, that is very important, because if it is not dissolved before you add it, once it is in the soap the lye crystals "will not" dissolve, I usually constantly stir mine for at least 1 minute to make sure... so happy for you in getting your new supplies that can be a joy for sure!

[@helenv1347]

@@shalebrookhandcraftedsoap7907 hello Valerie!!!! Thank you for taking time to answer me. Yes! Ok saponification numbers is the answer!!!❤❤❤❤❤❤👻❤❤❤ So brambleberry has a soap calc on their website. I will try to fig out a nice recipe to the ingredients i have....will double check with you....thank you so much❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤👻❤❤❤

[@shalebrookhandcraftedsoap7907]

@@helenv1347 yes, for sure, try that one and here is the one i'm using : www.soapcalc.net/calc/soapcalcwp.asp

[@AutumnSunflower]

I love your video's and I am learning so much from you :). I have a question if that's okay..When adding your coconut milk after the lye liquid does the coconut burn from the heat??

[@shalebrookhandcraftedsoap7907]

Hello Sarah Urbino, thank you ever so much for those very kind words, I truly appreciate them! and thank you so much for your question, don't ever worry about asking me a question, I may not always have the answer, but i'll try! I usually use coconut milk that has no sugar in it, or I make my own....I do put some through the cook at times, but add a percentage after the cook and sometimes i'll add it all after the cook, "depending" on how much im planning on using in the entire formula --- I heat my coconut milk up until it is hot (not boiling but hot) and my crock will have been turned off by that time as you do have to watch that the milk doesn't go to the bottom of the crock and cook there, then I add it slowly and I will whisk it if it is a big batch or stir really well as i'm adding if it is a small batch --- I've "never" had my coconut milk scorch on me, but when I add it after the cook the temp will be around 185F but it will never be over 200F, and mine does sometimes go through the cook which will be over those temps and it still has never scorched.... I hope this has helpe dyou some if not, let me know, maybe I will have misunderstood!

[@AutumnSunflower]

@@shalebrookhandcraftedsoap7907 oh my goodness, thank you for responding! You are very kind and I appreciate it. Ohh okay I understand thank you for answering my question and responding 😊

[@NYtalk60]

Valerie you're the first person I saw who cooked the oatmeal! How/why did you decide on that?

[@shalebrookhandcraftedsoap7907]

Hello NYtalk60, thank you kindly for watching and for your question --- I do use ground oatmeal sometimes in a couple of formulas, but I started using the cooked/strained oatmeal as I have found it leaves the soap more silkier feeling and you still get the benefits of the oatmeal, maybe even more so, except of course for the exfoliation of the rough oatmeal.

[@beatrizcasas41]

You are (((amaizing))) thank you for sharing the fórmula and all your tips... You manage the Battle so well...the Battle is very good there...all that ingredients...very good for the skin...my mouth is still open by how you mix the egg... Nice tip.... I have a question that silk is for angora rabbits? I understand well...i didnt know i can use hair from rabbits like silk? I understand well this?

[@beatrizcasas41]

Angora fibbers are from rabbits ir Cats?

[@beatrizcasas41]

I really thank you this Vídeo Valerie ...say Hi to Bryan.....a Big hug to both of you and a Big Kiss

[@shalebrookhandcraftedsoap7907]

Hello very dear Beatriz! it is always a pleasure to see you and hear from you! Thank you so much for always being so very kind and encouraging and it's wonderful to know that these videos can help in even small ways. The Angora Fibre is from Angora Rabbits, not the hair on the rabbit but the fibre underneath, it is what they use to make angora sweaters and it's used in other things as well for the keratin that comes from it -- you cannot use just any rabbit , it must come from the Angora rabbit (from what I understand as this is a new item for me and i'm still learning and maybe someone else will come on and explain about the fibre too) So glad the tip about the egg yolk helped, big hugs to you, and much love

[@shalebrookhandcraftedsoap7907]

only Angora Rabbits.

[@shalebrookhandcraftedsoap7907]

dear Beatriz, you are so very welcome and Brian says hi back to you too! much love my dear friend!

[@VelmaJinkys]

Hello Valerie. I was wondering when a person does a water discount do they take 5 oz out. Ie..say they have 38% in soap calc and whatever oz of water the recipe shows/calls for they take 5 oz out then add the 5 oz in @ the end of the cook?

[@shalebrookhandcraftedsoap7907]

Hello Vel Mar and thank you for your question --- everyone will or may do things different depending on many different variables --- it is possible to divvy up your total liquid and save 5 ounces for after the cook, but personally I would not do that --- "Just for an Example" say you had 15 ounces of total liquid and 5 ounces of lye and you used at least 6 ounces of water to mix the lye with (as you MUST use at least the same amount of liquid as lye for it to dissolve) that would leave you with 9 ounces of liquid you can use in different ways...and say 'just for example' you used 4 ounces of aloe vera juice and added it to your batter to go through the cook, now you have 5 ounces of liquid left to use and you could use 5 ounces of milk to add after the cook --- i'm pretty sure there are a few that do this and it's neither right nor wrong, I do not do that ….. I think the most I've added after the cook of held back lqiuid is 4 ounces of coconut milk in a 5lb batch, which isn't too bad because its 5lbs; but even so I wouldn't do that now; I find it adds to much liquid after the cook and it takes longer to evaporate; BUT I do like adding 1-2 ounces after the cook and all of this depends on how much i'm making, how big a batch i'm doing at the time, and "which" soap i'm making as well....and truly that is up to the individual soaper....

[@ellaharvey8957]

thank you for your great video,can you tell me how low can i go for cleaning on soapcalc that would be good?

[@shalebrookhandcraftedsoap7907]

Hello Ella, thank you for watching and i'm so glad you enjoyed the video. Those numbers can vary and be good, depending on the conditioning and your ingredients...for example a 100% Olive oil bar is "0" cleansing and 72 conditioning and I usually only super fat that about 5%. Sometimes I have shampoo bars that are 3 cleansing, 10 cleansing, and then conditioning in 60's etc. But a good soap in my humble opinion would be a soap that is anywhere from 13-10 in cleansing, with conditioning at 58 and up on those and super fatted at 7%. A lot will depend what you like depending on your skin type, how hard or soft your water is etc. But even the "0" cleansing of the 100% olive oil soap, still cleans, it 's just super easy on the skin for older people and peole with very sensitive skin.

[@ellaharvey8957]

thank you valerie now i understand why my bars where so drying to the skin i was soaping with 21 and 22 cleaning im a newbe to soaping

[@shalebrookhandcraftedsoap7907]

yes, Ella, that would do it and especially if you were only Super fatting at 5% and your conditioning number was 57 or lower ...

[@ellaharvey8957]

thank you valerie

[@helenv1347]

Hello Valerie: what means not discounted?

[@shalebrookhandcraftedsoap7907]

Hello Helen V -- discounted means to "take away from" i.e. so say for example you have 12 ounces of liquid and you want to "discount" 3 ounces of coconut milk to add after the cook - you would "take away from OR Subtract" the 3 ounces from the 12 ounces, which would leave you with 9 ounces of liquid --- so when I say "is NOT discounted" that means I do not "subtract OR take away from" the total liquid amount, I just add it with out subtracting or discounting. Hope this clarifies that and thank you for asking.

[@helenv1347]

@@shalebrookhandcraftedsoap7907 ahhhhh! Thank you i think the penny dropped. You know i need to get a ph tester so to make sure the soaps are safe before i give them.to friends....thank you so much!!!! Happy soaping !!!❤❤❤❤❤

[@shalebrookhandcraftedsoap7907]

@@helenv1347 you are so welcome --- if you purchase "Macherey-Nagel PH strips, they are good , they go from 0-14 which you need for testing PH on soaps, although PH strips are not always "perfectly" accurate they will help, and that is what I started out with, I have used the Phenolphthalein drops as well, and I do the tongue zap now....but for sure check out your PH, we all make mistakes and it can happen easy enough.

[@helenv1347]

@@shalebrookhandcraftedsoap7907 hello yes i bought some of the ph strips. Going to make soap today👻👻👻❤👻👻👻❤

[@qalbisaafiya7613]

hi I think you are amazing I would like to star sup business and I live in Canada if you can give me some idea about the insurance I appreciate it

[@shalebrookhandcraftedsoap7907]

Hello fu aad xuseen, thank you for your kind words. As far as I know most insurance companies will sell a policy for a home-based business, however, we get ours through the "Handcrafted Bath and Body Guild".