Any soap makers about? Want to recreate one and have questions

[Dellabob123]

I want to recreate a lovely soap that I found. I have the ingredients list and have been researching how to make using cold pressed method, which is how this soap is made.

My first question is that if the base ingredients are olive oil, coconut oil, Shea butter, and castor oil as listed in that order, would they use a melt and pour base from with olive oil as it is the primary ingredient and then add coconut oil, shea and castor on top of that?

when I’ve read about using a melt and pour, it only mentions adding fragrance and colour to them and never additional butters or oils… and this is where I get confused.

if I wanted to recreate, how would I do this with the above ingredients? What would be the weights of each for a small batch? Anyone made similar that can give me pointers?

Melt and pour aren't really proper soaps, you will need to hot or cold process. It's not that hard, I started recently and the results have been lovely. Good for gifts, too.
There is a site where you can calculate amounts needed, hang on...

Melt and pour isn't cold process. You need lye. And working out the proportions from an ingredients list like that is like asking how long is a piece of string. Can't you just buy another bar of the same soap? It'll be cheaper and easier than buying a full CP soapmaking setup to make it.

soapcalc.net

Ah, ok. I really fancied making soap. I’ll have a look at the calculator….thank you @Squirrelsnut

Making cold process soap is actually quite easy, but you do need all the equipment & ingredients.
You're unlikely to be able to faithfully recreate it, without knowing the exact ratios of oils/butters, but you can experiment.
Castor Oil should never be above 5% of the oils used as it makes soap slimy.
Otherwise just use Soap.calc & try different %s & test the resulting soaps.

I'd suggest finding a tried and tested cold process recipe first of all to get familiar with how it works before you start veering off the tracks, and yes definitely use a lye calculator.

This recipe www.thesoapery.co.uk/blogs/news/shea-butter-soap-recipe might be a good place to start - I've not tried it but it has the ingredients you mention.

Some good tips, thank you. That recipe looks good @UnaOfStormhold other than essential oils, i might give it a go. I’m just trying to run before I can walk…getting over enthusiastic 😁

If you're really interested you might find a local soap making course, where they'll have all the ingredients & equipment & show you how including the safety aspects. Or look on YT for videos. The Soapery or The Soap Kitchen are great for ingredients, recipes & tutorials too.

Super old thread but I could not resist...

From the title I thought you were writing a soap opera script. I had a good idea too... Eastenders go to Blackpool for the summer hols and stop off at the Rovers Return.

Alfie Moon gets together with Corrie's Sally. Jack Branning gets together with Corrie's Sarah Louise. Sharon puts in a successful bid to Newton and Ridley to buy the Rovers Reurn. The 'Kimfulencer' takes over the world of fashion right under the noses of Corrie's Carla and Stephen and sets up Kim's Knicker & Fashion World. Denise buys out Audrey from the salon and opens a spa/hair/nail bar/florist and employs Corrie's Tracy, Dev and his son. Eve's criminal record disappears and she goes into partnership with Adam Barlow.

Newly married Kathy sets her sights on Ken Barlow and hatches a plan to reel him in. Patrick Truman has one eye on Audrey and the other eye on Rita and the other on me! I (Mrs Truman) won the prize and now live happily ever after in soap land.

Guess who already lives in Blackpool running a successful chain of chippies ? Ian Beale. Guess who is working for him? Michelle Fowler and Kelvin Carpenter. They are lottery winners and want to give back to the community.