Lori Nova’s Top Ten Essential Oils

In episode 144 of Soapmaking 101 with the Soap Queen, Anne-Marie Faiola explores the aromatic world of essential oils in soapmaking. The episode kicks off with a warm welcome and introduction, setting the stage for a comprehensive overview of essential oils. Anne-Marie shares her top ten essential oils, highlighting their unique properties and benefits. She also discusses her favorite essential oil combinations, providing listeners with inspiration for creating custom scents. Usage calculations are covered, ensuring safe and effective incorporation of essential oils into soap recipes. The episode concludes with a sponsor message from BrambleBerry.com, offering additional resources for soapmakers.

How to Prevent Fading & Browning

In episode 143 of Soapmaking 101 with the Soap Queen, Anne-Marie Faiola addresses the common challenge of soap discoloration and offers practical strategies to maintain the appearance of handmade soap. The episode begins with a warm welcome and introduction, setting the stage for the discussion. Anne-Marie then delves into techniques for preventing soap discoloration, emphasizing the importance of ingredient selection and storage conditions. She shares tips on maintaining soap's visual appeal, ensuring that finished products remain vibrant and attractive. The episode wraps up with a conclusion and a message from the episode's sponsor, providing additional resources for soapmakers.

Finding the Perfect Purple

In episode 142 of Soapmaking 101 with the Soap Queen, Anne-Marie Faiola explores the creative process of crafting wedding soap favors. She begins with an introduction to the episode's theme, focusing on the art of color experimentation in soapmaking. The discussion includes insights into effective color blending techniques and the challenges posed by discontinued supplies. Anne-Marie presents her final color choices for the wedding favors, offering inspiration for listeners seeking to personalize their soap creations. The episode concludes with closing remarks, summarizing the key points and encouraging soapmakers to embrace creativity in their projects.

The Art Of Natural Dye

In episode 141 of Soapmaking 101 with the Soap Queen, Anne-Marie Faiola delves into the fascinating world of natural dyeing. The episode begins with an introduction to natural dyeing, discussing the various factors that affect color outcomes in the dyeing process. Anne-Marie explains the concept of weight of goods (WOG) and the importance of light-fastness in achieving lasting colors. She provides an overview of common natural dyes, including onion skins, weld, cochineal, madder root, and indigo. The episode also covers the essential processes of scouring and mordanting, necessary for successful dyeing. Fun facts about dyeing techniques are shared, providing intriguing insights into this colorful craft.

What are Water White Fragrance Oils?

In episode 140 of Soapmaking 101 with the Soap Queen, Anne-Marie Faiola introduces the concept of water white fragrance oils, highlighting their benefits in soapmaking. She compares water white fragrance oils to essential oils, offering guidance on when each type is best utilized in crafting soap. The episode also explores creative applications for non-water white fragrance oils, expanding the possibilities for soapmakers. Anne-Marie concludes by showcasing Bramble Berry's selection of fragrance oils and resources, providing listeners with a valuable source for enhancing their soapmaking endeavors.

HSCG Conference Guest Post: Kevin Dunn AKA Dr. McSoapy

In episode 139 of Soapmaking 101 with the Soap Queen, Anne-Marie Faiola delves into the chemistry of soapmaking, focusing on the role of triacylglycerides and their transformation during the process. The episode provides a detailed exploration of lye, discussing its significance in creating heavy soap, its impact on pH levels, and the concept of lye discounting. Anne-Marie offers insights into these core elements, emphasizing their importance in crafting high-quality soap. The episode concludes with a nod to BrambleBerry.com as a sponsor, highlighting their valuable resources for soapmakers looking to enhance their skills and knowledge.

HSCG Conference Guest Post: Kevin Dunn on Superfatting and Discounting

In episode 138 of Soapmaking 101 with the Soap Queen, Anne-Marie Faiola explores the intricate science behind soapmaking with insights from Kevin Dunn's soap science concepts. The episode delves into a fascinating water bottle experiment, illustrating the different types of glycerol and their roles in soap formulation. Anne-Marie further discusses the concepts of lye discount and superfat, providing listeners with a deeper understanding of these crucial elements in crafting quality soap. The episode wraps up with closing notes and highlights BrambleBerry.com as a sponsor, offering valuable resources for soapmakers to enhance their craft.

HSCG Conference Guest Post: Get Your Website Noticed

In episode 137 of Soapmaking 101 with the Soap Queen, Anne-Marie Faiola dives into the world of web optimization tailored specifically for soapmakers. She begins by introducing the Google Webmaster Zone and the significance of trust factors in enhancing online presence. The episode then explores the creation of relevant content, emphasizing the role of images and keywords in attracting and retaining audience interest. Anne-Marie also discusses the importance of being cautious with links and the nuances of off-page optimization. The episode concludes with Anne-Marie's key takeaways and highlights BrambleBerry.com as a sponsor, offering resources for soapmakers to enhance their craft.

A Guide to Weight vs. Volume

In episode 136 of Soapmaking 101 with the Soap Queen, Anne-Marie Faiola delves into the foundational aspects of soapmaking, highlighting the importance of accurate measurements. She explores the critical distinction between weight and volume when dealing with soapmaking ingredients, emphasizing how precision impacts the quality and consistency of the final product. Anne-Marie offers practical advice and techniques to ensure accurate measurements, fostering a successful soapmaking process. The episode wraps up with closing thoughts and suggestions for additional resources, providing listeners with further guidance and support in their soapmaking endeavors.

How to Handle Potassium Hydroxide

In episode 135 of Soapmaking 101 with the Soap Queen, Anne-Marie Faiola introduces listeners to the critical topic of working safely with lye, specifically focusing on Potassium Hydroxide in soapmaking. She provides a comprehensive understanding of lye, including proper storage and handling techniques to ensure safety in the soapmaking process. Anne-Marie emphasizes the importance of essential safety gear and tools when working with lye to prevent accidents. She also offers practical advice on how to respond effectively to any incidents involving Potassium Hydroxide. The episode includes a segment highlighting Bramble Berry, the sponsor, offering resources for soapmakers.

Prepare Your Colorants for Cold Process Soap Making

In episode 134 of Soapmaking 101 with the Soap Queen, Anne-Marie Faiola welcomes listeners to a new session focused on the essentials of preparing soapmaking ingredients and exploring various colorant techniques. She provides detailed guidance on selecting and preparing ingredients to ensure a successful soapmaking process. Anne-Marie also discusses different methods for incorporating colorants, offering tips to achieve vibrant and consistent hues in soap. The episode includes a resource spotlight on BrambleBerry.com, highlighting valuable tools and materials available for soapmakers, enhancing their ability to create beautiful, customized soaps.

Soap Behaving Badly

In episode 133 of Soapmaking 101 with the Soap Queen, Anne-Marie Faiola welcomes listeners to a practical discussion on managing common challenges in soapmaking. She addresses issues such as acceleration, ricing, and discoloration, offering insights into handling these problems effectively. Anne-Marie shares valuable tips for ensuring good soapy behavior, helping soapmakers achieve consistent and successful results. The episode concludes with closing remarks and highlights resources available from Bramble Berry, providing listeners with additional support and tools for their soapmaking projects.

Natural vs. Organic

In episode 132 of Soapmaking 101 with the Soap Queen, Anne-Marie Faiola begins by welcoming listeners and providing an overview of the distinctions between natural and organic in the context of soapmaking. She delves into the nuances of "natural" and "organic" labels, clarifying their meanings and implications for soapmakers. Throughout the episode, Anne-Marie offers key takeaways on using these terms accurately and responsibly in soapmaking practices. The discussion aims to equip listeners with a clearer understanding of these labels, empowering them to make informed choices in their soapmaking endeavors.

All Olive Oils Are Not Created Equal

In episode 131 of Soapmaking 101 with the Soap Queen, Anne-Marie Faiola welcomes listeners to an informative discussion on the role of olive oils in soapmaking. She dives into the nuances of testing and using store-bought olive oils, offering practical advice for soapmakers. Anne-Marie shares her recommendations and conclusions from various olive oil tests, emphasizing the importance of choosing reliable vendors. The episode also explores all-olive oil recipes, highlighting their unique qualities. It concludes with a sponsor message from Bramble Berry, featuring their Castile soap products, providing listeners with additional resources for their soapmaking endeavors.

Declutter it up!

In episode 130 of Soapmaking 101 with the Soap Queen, Anne-Marie Faiola opens with an introduction to the episode's focus on creating an efficient soapmaking environment. She explores the importance of organizing your workspace and shares practical decluttering principles to enhance productivity. Anne-Marie discusses the benefits of decluttering, emphasizing how a tidy workspace can improve the soapmaking process and overall creativity. The episode provides listeners with actionable steps to streamline their work area, fostering a more enjoyable and efficient soapmaking experience.

Soapy Math

In episode 129 of Soapmaking 101 with the Soap Queen, Anne-Marie Faiola opens with a warm welcome and sets the stage for a math-focused exploration of soapmaking. She delves into the importance of math, guiding listeners through calculating usage rates and understanding parts and ratios essential for crafting soap. The episode progresses into working with scent blends and the application of percentages in recipes, providing practical insights for soapmakers. Anne-Marie introduces the Lye Calculator, sharing valuable shortcuts and tips for soapy math. The episode concludes with closing remarks, equipping listeners with the mathematical tools to enhance their soapmaking journey.

The Spoon Trick

In episode 128 of Soapmaking 101 with the Soap Queen, Anne-Marie Faiola begins with a warm welcome, setting the stage for an engaging exploration of lip product crafting. She introduces the "spoon trick," a handy technique for creating lip products, providing listeners with detailed step-by-step instructions. The episode includes a demonstration using Coral Mica and a Lip Balm Base, enhancing the learning experience with practical examples. Anne-Marie encourages listeners to share their own tips and experiences, fostering a sense of community. The episode concludes with a sponsor message from BrambleBerry.com, offering resources for further exploration in soapmaking and beyond.

How to Clean Oily Containers

In episode 127 of Soapmaking 101 with the Soap Queen, Anne-Marie Faiola kicks off the episode with a warm welcome and an introduction to the day's topics. She takes on a cleaning challenge, addressing the tricky task of cleaning oily and waxy containers using a melt and pour soap base. Anne-Marie highlights the environmental benefits of this approach, sharing tips on how to repurpose soap scraps effectively. Listener engagement is encouraged throughout, adding a community feel to the episode. The episode wraps up with closing remarks, leaving listeners inspired to incorporate sustainable practices into their soapmaking routine.

Guest Post: Exfoliants in Soap

In episode 126 of Soapmaking 101 with the Soap Queen, Anne-Marie Faiola welcomes listeners to an exploration of exfoliants in soapmaking, alongside highlights from a recent conference. The episode provides a comprehensive overview of preparing the lye and oil mixture, a crucial step in cold process soapmaking. Anne-Marie then delves into the art of layering soaps with exfoliants and natural colorants, offering tips for achieving beautiful results. Listeners are treated to a showcase of finished soaps and insights from conference attendees. The episode concludes with a dose of inspiration and additional resources for soapmakers eager to expand their craft.

How to Use the Swirl Tools

In episode 125 of Soapmaking 101 with the Soap Queen, Anne-Marie Faiola introduces listeners to the art of creating beautiful swirl designs in soapmaking. The episode begins with a discussion on various swirl tools and techniques to enhance soap aesthetics. Anne-Marie provides a video demonstration on resizing swirl tools and explores additional creative projects. She also shares valuable resources on essential oils and DIY projects, offering inspiration for soapmakers looking to expand their repertoire. The episode wraps up with a sponsor message from BrambleBerry.com, guiding listeners to supplies and resources to elevate their soapmaking journey.