My first batch!!!!

After buying books, supplies, ingredients, researching recipes....I just suddenly stopped pursuing anything related soapmaking. Really strange. I guess I just got nervous about making my first batch and put it off for almost a year. Really absurd, I know. I was talking over this new-found passion of mine with the mother of my 9-year-old's BFF and proudly shared my bulk lavender buds. She quickly pointed out they were set to expire this June! Unbelievably, a year went by and no action on my part. So, with that slap in the face I decided to get to work. I really liked a recipe from AnnWatson's book. It contains a nice balance of oils that should result in a hard - yet conditioning bar. So, with my recipe in hand and all the step almost memorized - I went for it. The results came out great, seemed a little too easy given all the warnings that scared me away in the first place. It really wasn't bad at all. So with this batch I've officially started my quest for my unique, all natural, divine, and competitively differentiated base recipes.

So, safety first - I get suited up with the goggles and rubber gloves. I measured out all of the ingredients in advance since I want to make this as easy and efficient as possible. The next step, is to mix the lye and the water (water INTO the lye slowly and never the other way around.) That heats up pretty quickly, I stick in a thermometer (note to self - get a better digital version) and the temp is close to 200 degrees F. I heat up the oils in the microwave and stick another thermometer in that. Trick is to get both mixtures at approx. the same temp at the same time. I'm still learning this so am stressing over how to balance the temps. I get each to around 110 degrees, take a deep breath, and start the process! Pouring and stirring in the lye/water mixture was easy enough. The proof is in the pudding however - soap pudding that is. So, I get out my stick blender and it does whip up to a nice light trace. I was careful not to overdue it and pulsed and stirred, pulsed and stirred. Once it was light but clearly a trace, I added my EO and some calendula petals for fun. That was it!!! Poured it in the mold and it looked beautiful! Going to bed with sense of accomplishment is always satisfying.  MISSION ACCOMPLISHED!  I think I'm onto something...