I am just going to jump into the pictures and reviews.
This is from the Journey line: Journey to India. This was created with half ounce of coconut milk, 0.75 ounce of Black Oxide mixed with Canola oil, 3 ml Teal gel lab color and 2 ml Bordeaux Mica from The Chemistry Store and 0.75 blend PPO. The scent doesn't discolor but it Accelerates slightly.
This was soaped at room temperature and I used a drop swirl with the Black Iron Oxide and Teal gel lab color. I saved the Bordeaux for the top swirl. Because of the peaked top I couldn't cover and force gel I could only wrap the sides. The teal at first faded to khaki and then turned a khaki green. It has been over a week so I am not sure how much longer it will take for the color to come back or if it will really will.
As you can see below the teal is valiantly attempting to get back to what it needs to be but I am not sure if it will. I do love the swirls though.
I really love how the tops turned out. I will be okay if the top doesn't come back to the correct color. I think this is great for the top. The scent was overwhelming has now mellowed but is not back to its full strength. After today I will place it in a box to finish out its time and hopefully the color will come back as well as the scent.
Traveler: Saddle Up!, this time I am working to get the best color scheme. I used 0.5 ounce of coconut milk, 0.75 ounce of Electric Blue from Gracefruit mixed with Sweet Almont Oil, 3 ml Vanilla gel lab color and 3 ml Copper Sparkle mica mixed with 1 ounce of Grapeseed Oil. I soaped at room temperature and used the Vanilla as the base color. I remembered the fiasco from Giacomo's Touch and sought to embrace the fade. LOL
I used the drop swirl for this one as well but reserved the last of the Electric Blue and Copper Sparkle for the tops of the soap. At first I wasn't going to force gel but once I saw that I was loosing the blue I changed my mind. I was able to get most of the blue back but not the deep blue that I started with.
The Saddle Up! EO/FO blend was 0.75 PPO and I now see that since it didn't rice or Accelerate that I can use 1 ounce PPO. The leather and lime scents have mellowed but are still there. I am super excited about this masculine blend.
Traveler: Leather and Lace #1. I soaped at room temperature and used half ounce of coconut milk, 0.7 ounce of titanium dioxide and 3 ml Canary Yellow gel lab color and 3 ml Blackstar Gold Mica with Grapeseed Oil from The Chemistry Store. I saved some for the top because I wanted to give a lace-type look to the top of the soap. No Acceleration or Discoloration for this blend!!
I used 0.75 ounce of blend PPO. First, I mixed the TD throughout the entire batter. Then I did a drop swirl Canary Yellow gel lab color with drizzled Blackstar Gold over the top and used a chopstick to attempt to create a lace pattern on top.
The scent is perfect at 0.75 PPO of blend and this was a 2 lb batch of soap.
Dessert: Summer Spritzer. I soaped at room temperature. I used half ounce Coconut Milk, 0.75 ounce TD that is water soluble, 3 ml Canary Yellow and Caribbean Orange and Coral gel lab color from The Chemistry Store. This time I used a TD drop swirl and then used ITP swirl with the Orange, and Yellow. I reserved the Coral for a pattern at the top. This Accelerated on me so I only really had about 2 minutes of play time for this.
I forced gel on this one and think that it really came out really well. The colors are bright like the Summer theme that I wanted. The scent could be stronger so I would say that it is safe to use 1 ounce PPO.
And lastly from the Romance line, Room 803. Soaped at room temperature. I used 3 ml Brick Red Oxide from Bramble Berry with 1 ounce Canola oil and 3 ml 24 karat Gold Mica from Crafter's Choice in Sweet Almond oil. I have used the Brick Red sporadically over the years because I have found that no matter how much batter I put the colorant into only that particular batter becomes pudding in 2 minutes. I have tried whisking by hand, only pulsing the stick blender for a few seconds and then swirling with the wand and nothing changes. I still love the color though.
The gold stuck beautifully. I think I may have finally found the proper ratio when it comes to that mica!!! The blend overall doesn't Accelerate or Discolor.
Final Thoughts:
Journey to India - The scent is a wonderful light fragrance that would be best served in a shower gel, lotion, beard oil. Basically for topical usage. I wouldn't recommend it for CP or HP.
Traveler: Saddle Up! - Use 1 ounce PPO and the scent should come through fine in CP or HP soap. This would make a wonderful beard oil, shower gel or body butter fragrance for men.
Traveler: Leather and Lace #1 - This is such a kickass fragrance!! I will NOT be selling the recipe to this one!! LOL I would recommend keeping the ratio at 0.75 ounce PPO because it comes through so strongly!!!
Dessert: Summer Spritzer: I would recommend for CP using 1 ounce PPO rather than the 0.75 PPO that I used since it is kind of faint. This would be great in all topical products and bath bombs and fizzes.
Romance: Room 803 - I would recommend this one as a room spray, linen spray or car freshener. I don't really like it as a body product but you can be the judge.
I hope this helps you.
