a few questions

[Guest guest]

I made a batch of buttermilk soap this weekend and it was a little different

than the way I typically make it. I wanted to use all buttermilk and not any

water base, so I chilled the buttermilk overnight and then put it in the freezer

a little while to chill ever further. When I mixed the lye with it, it turned a

dark caramel color, which I understand to be normal. It didn't smell all that

nice, but it never does :-)

I peeked at the soap this morning and it is a dark tan color {actually it looks

really good}. The batch I usually make looks more like a soft cream color. My

question: Is this what it is suppose to look like? The base of oils were

coconut, palm, olive and castor. No other ingredients were added. I wanted the

buttermilk to be a creamier bar and I think making it with solely buttermilk,

that should do the trick. I just wasn't sure if the " stench " was normal when

mixing the lye directly into the buttermilk and the darker color. I would think

wanting to color the soap would be sorta tricky since it is darker - but that's

not something I'm looking at right now.

I would appreciate any comments - - -

Thanks,

deb