So Fresh, So Clean

Ain't nobody dope as me; I'm just so fresh, so clean (so fresh and so clean clean) 
- So Fresh, So Clean, OutKast

I absolutely love soap-making, specifically cold-process soap and I am determined to find the perfect recipe.  I've been researching this for over a year and I must say that it takes a certain amount of discipline, patience, chemistry knowledge and ingenuity to be a successful soap-maker.  But the final results are very rewarding and intoxicating to me.  

So why does soap-making require so much?  I'm glad you asked.  To start, it is a dangerous process, working with lye requires taking precautionary measures like safety goggles, gloves, a mask and common sense.  Secondly, you have to determine what you want from your soap.  Do you want a thick lather, for it to be super moisturizing or for it to be long lasting?  Once you determine this you can decide what combination of oils and butters will give you that result.  Then you must determine if you want to add scents/fragrances or colorants and experiment to see how they will react to your recipe.  Some scents don't last in the curing process and some colorants won't come out the way you want depending on the oils and butters you use.  All in all, I love the experimentation, learning and creative process.  

Below are my two latest recipes.  They have the same ingredients, the difference is in the percentages of the oils and butters.  I can't wait until they are done curing so I can determine which recipe is superior.  Then I will finally be able to make this new product available.  Currently, I only have a sandalwood scent, as you can tell by now, I absolutely love sandalwood.  What soap scents do you like?  Have you ever thought about or tried making soap?  What challenges have you faced?  Or what successes have you had?  I'm curious to know.