Pic uploaded - lavender hydrosol fiasco

[Guest guest]

For those who were interested in the outcome of my hydrosol experiment, I just

uploaded a pic I took after unmolding the remainder of my soaps.

 

I call it a fiasco because the only bars of lavender that came out sellable were

the ones I experimented with CPOP - they are wonderful. None of this hydrosol

batch cooperated in coming out of my vertical molds. Therefore, I turned the

fiasco into yet another experiment and made a batch of plain old argentinean

lemon and put chopped up pieces of the lavender fiasco in it.

 

Typically, I do not make square bars, but I had no choice. I refused to throw

away this expensive experiment, so I allowed the mad scientist to take over and

I'm glad I did. If you look at the pic (under Cindy - Pittstown Soapworks

folder in pictures section of ), the ones on the left are the CPOP

lavender hydrosol bars; the ones on the right are the lavender

fiasco/argentinean lemon. Both types lather very nicely, so I'm a happy camper.

Unfortunately, they're not part of my " regular " line and won't be on my website.

 

Just thought I'd give you guys a really lengthy update, since a few have emailed

me privately asking about how it went. I will say, however, that they BOTH

smell fabulous. Will I do it again with hydrosols? Probably - I understand

that the benefits to hydrosols are most likely lost during the soapmaking

process, but I really think these bars smell better and lather better--perhaps a

self-fulfilling prophecy, perhaps not.

 

Cindy

Pittstown Soapworks

www.pittstownsoapworks.com

 

 

 

[Guest guest]

Hi Cindy,

 

First off .. Thank you for sharing!

 

> For those who were interested in the outcome of my hydrosol

experiment, I just uploaded a pic I took after unmolding

> the remainder of my soaps.

 

I've looked :-D

 

> I call it a fiasco because the only bars of lavender that came out

sellable were the ones I experimented with CPOP - > they are

wonderful. None of this hydrosol batch cooperated in coming out of my

vertical molds. Therefore, I turned

> the fiasco into yet another experiment and made a batch of plain old

argentinean lemon and put chopped up pieces of

> the lavender fiasco in it.

 

What was the problem with taking it out of the mold? And what material

mold did you use? (plastic, wood, other ... )

 

> Typically, I do not make square bars, but I had no choice.

 

Nothing wrong with square bars .. I make square or rectangular bars all

the time <grinz>

 

> I refused to throw away this expensive experiment,

 

I hear that. I NEVER throw away failed soap experiments. Haven't had a

one yet that can't be saved and turned into something wonderful!

 

 

> so I allowed the mad scientist to take over and I'm glad I did.

 

Good attitude! A mad scientist after my own heart :-D

 

> If

> you look at the pic (under Cindy - Pittstown Soapworks folder in

pictures section of ), the ones on the

> left are the CPOP lavender hydrosol bars; the ones on the right are

the lavender fiasco/argentinean lemon. Both types

> lather very nicely, so I'm a happy camper. Unfortunately, they're

not part of my " regular " line and won't be on my

> website.

 

Sometimes it is a good thing to introduce a " seasonal " special. Have

had a few of those myself

 

> Just thought I'd give you guys a really lengthy update, since a few

have emailed me privately asking about how it

> went. I will say, however, that they BOTH smell fabulous. Will I do

it again with hydrosols? Probably - I

> understand that the benefits to hydrosols are most likely lost during

the soapmaking process, but I really think these

> bars smell better and lather better--perhaps a self-fulfilling

prophecy, perhaps not.

 

Hydrosols can be used for CP soap making, and HP soap making (probably

retain more of the hydrosol properties in HP though .. and they are

GREAT to dilute liquid soap paste/concentrate! I don't consider them to

be a waste at all. As with any soap .. you try to recoup the cost of the

quality ingredients you use in your bars (or liquids).

 

> Cindy

> Pittstown Soapworks

> www.pittstownsoapworks.com

 

Nitey nite!

 

*Smile*

Chris (list mom)

 

 

 

 

[Guest guest]

<First off .. Thank you for sharing!>

 

Thanks, Chris!

 

<What was the problem with taking it out of the mold? And what material mold did

you use? (plastic, wood, other ... ) >

 

The molds that they would not come out of - no way, no how - were vertical

proform molds (very hard plastic--somewhat opaque). I tried waiting, freezing,

waiting, freezing, etc. - took over a week (normally I only leave them in for 24

hours), and nothing. Every single bar came out soft and mashed. Once I scraped

them out and chopped into little pieces, they were fine. This tells me that I

probably used too much hydrosol - they were soft. I thought I should use the

same amount of water.

 

<Nothing wrong with square bars .. I make square or rectangular bars all the

time <grinz> >

 

I agree - nothing wrong with square, but I wanted to be " different " - I see a

lot of square, and I had requests from my customers to make a more " soap-shaped "

bar (by that I took it to mean like the commercial detergent bar shapes).

Actually, I would prefer to make the square ones - they're much easier and

cheaper to make! lol

 

<Sometimes it is a good thing to introduce a " seasonal " special. Have had a few

of those myself >

 

As soon as I can get my webmaster to finish his updates and give me a short

lesson on HTML, I will be doing my own web updates - then I'll offer a seasonal

type - that's a great idea! Thanks.

 

<Hydrosols can be used for CP soap making, and HP soap making (probably retain

more of the hydrosol properties in HP though .. and they are GREAT to dilute

liquid soap paste/concentrate! I don't consider them to be a waste at all. As

with any soap .. you try to recoup the cost of the quality ingredients you use

in your bars (or liquids). >

 

Thanks - I was told that it would be a waste to use them in CP, but after doing

it, I don't think so......I'm sure someone is bound to disagree, but it's MY

money I'm wasting, right? lol

 

Cindy