Re: A newbie with a question........

[Guest guest]

Leana,

Thank you for the tip! It looks as if I will also have yet ANOTHER

site to bookmark! I have so many saved or written down, I almost forget what

I have! I hope you are having a great day as well.

Regards,

[Guest guest]

Good Morning -

I do hope the pros chime in, but lemme see if I can get ya started. It is

so important to measure ingredients properly. I know that many quality

soapers do eyeball amounts, and personally I do when I am cooking food. I

do have some toiletry recipes that I know well and I eyeball them when

making them for personal use. I might suggest that when trying a new recipe

or making something for sale it is important to measure as accurately as

possible. So, how do ya do that...with a digital scale! Look around

(office supply stores and ebay have them) for various models and choose one

that you are comfy with. Mine was only about $30 and quite worth every

penny!

Now on to the ratios and percentages...many recipes are given in " parts " and

percentages. Just think of this like...if I am going to make this in

ounces...one part equals one oz. So if I need 17 parts I need 17 oz. If I

need 2 parts, I need 2 oz. I do not make toiletries using cups, T, t, I use

ounces so that I may be as accurate as possible. A cup of something can

vary a bunch and I cannot guarantee that my measuring cup is accurate. What

if I overfill a little, or under fill a little. This can make a big diff in

the end product if the ingredient is a critical one...like lye.

OK...HTH, and I am anxious to see the pros chime in for ya. Have a super

soapy day! Christi in Dallas

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 2/5/02 8:58:55 PM Pacific Standard Time,

CleansingQueen@... writes:

>

>

> I am relatively new to all of this and I have a question that will

> most likely bring a smirk to those old pros! ;o)

>

> How do you determine the amounts to use for a recipe when it says

> something like

>

> 2%preservative

> 3%eo

> 25% oils

> 70% water

>

> OR

>

> Add the preservative or essential oil at .25 to 1%

>

> and other such related examples. I am assuming there must be some concrete

> method beyond " eye balling " measurements for ingredients, especially if

> they

> are to be sold to a consumer. Anyone who wants to take the time to respond

> to a newbie like myself would be greatly appreciated!

>

> Regards,

>

>

>

Hi ,

I think this is an excellent question! Working with percentages will give

you a " standardized " formula/recipe. You can then use your formula to make

as much or as little as you want and your proportions will remain the same.

One thing to mention is that you will want to be consistent about whether you

are measuring volume or weight in a particular formula/recipe---you wouldn't

want to have both in one formula. The professonals will use weight as a

measurement and the above formula that you are referring to is more than

likely based on weight. Many people start out using tsp. tbsp., cups, etc.

though. You can pretty easily convert that over to weight by just weighing

out each tsp. and tbls., etc.

I am not great at mathmatics, but will give a try at explaining at least one

way to figure out amounts based on percentages:

How about this example of a basic cream formula that makes 500 grams?

Emulsifying Wax NF    9%

Shea Butter              7%

Glycerin                   5%

Jojoba                     2%

Water                     77%

Total                       100%

To calculate the weights for a 500 gram batch:

1) Convert the percentage of each ingredient to decimal. (ie. 9% divided by

100 = 0.09)

2) Multiply the decimal figure of each ingredient by 500. (ie. 0.09 x 500 =

45 grams)

3) Add up to see if your calculations were correct.  You should have 500

grams and 100%.

Emulsifying Wax NF    9% = 0.09 x 500 = 45 grams  

Shea Butter              7% = 0.07 x 500 = 35 grams

Glycerin                   5% = 0.05 x 500 = 25 grams

Jojoba                     2% = 0.02 x 500 = 10 grams

Water                     77% = .77 x 500 = 385 grams

Total                       100% = 500 grams

Also, I have a section in my website that offers some examples of how you can

make these conversions. Try www.theherbarie.com and look under the formulary

at the Sweet Orange Cleaner and also under the Tips for Making Your Own

Products.

Good luck with everything and let us know how it goes!

Angie

The Herbarie...Visit us at:  http://www.theherbarie.com for Body Care

Products and Bulk Ingredients...Botanical Extracts and Proteins, Ultra-Mild

Surfactant Blends, Conditioning Emulsifiers.

[Guest guest]

Good morning , I am a newbie too, and sometimes the amount of info on

this list and other web sites can be so overwhelming! Check out this site

www.soapnuts.com. There is a section on lotion making and it helps with the

percentages and stuff. Also, it's just great reading! I allways go and check

out a site if it is recommended to someone by a list bud. I now have loads of

soap sites bookmarked and I haven't even got close to soaping yet! But, there

is so much info on these sites that it just seemed smart to keep them. Hope you

are having a great day.

Leanna in Alberta.

[Guest guest]

Hi ,

I am a fairly newbie also...and my gosh...I'm just like you and Leanna...have

lots of sites I've been reading in and learning, and bookmarking. And I've been

busy copying/pasting recipes, instructions, suppliers info into folders...but

have yet to try my first batch of soap...haven't even purchased supplies...but

one day soon!

Let me take a stab at this for you...maybe an experienced list bud will clarify

it better and correct me if I'm missing the mark here.

In your example...the first group of percentages total 100%...in other words,

these would be representative of a total of 100 parts ...70 parts x, 2 parts y,

3 parts of z, 25 parts of q.

The second example means likewise, but is written differently. .25 to 1% is

like 25% to 100%, which is like 25 parts to 100 parts...this would mean 1 part

of x to 4 parts of y.

Hope this helps you.

Helen in FL

A newbie with a question........

Hello everyone,

I am relatively new to all of this and I have a question that will

most likely bring a smirk to those old pros! ;o)

How do you determine the amounts to use for a recipe when it says

something like

2%preservative

3%eo

25% oils

70% water

OR

Add the preservative or essential oil at .25 to 1%

and other such related examples. I am assuming there must be some concrete

method beyond " eye balling " measurements for ingredients, especially if they

are to be sold to a consumer. Anyone who wants to take the time to respond

to a newbie like myself would be greatly appreciated!

Regards,

[Guest guest]

Angie,

Wow, thanks! I will definitely keep you posted and check out your

site as well. I knew there had to be a method to the madness! ;o)

[Guest guest]

THanks Helen, happy clipping!

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 2/6/02 8:38:34 PM Pacific Standard Time,

CleansingQueen@... writes:

> Wow, thanks! I will definitely keep you posted and check out your

> site as well. I knew there had to be a method to the madness! ;o)

>

Hi ,

You are very welcome! I hope my explanation made some sense ! If I can

help with anything just let me know.

Have fun!

Angie

The Herbarie...Visit us at:  http://www.theherbarie.com for Body Care

Products and Bulk Ingredients...Botanical Extracts and Proteins, Ultra-Mild

Surfactant Blends, Conditioning Emulsifiers.