Soap Making 101

I just got a bar from a local soapmaker that is clove-chinese 5 spice and it is heavenly!
She used to carry a clove-rosemary too.
I like clove, obviously.
 
I don't know, it still sounds very scary to me but I can't seem to find an orange clove soap that's going to moisturize my poor dry bod. I'm really into aromatherapy and orange oil is the best way to start my day.
 
I just smelled some oatmeal sulfur soap that was developed for a pet with a rash. I could detect some slight rotten egg smell, but I actually liked the blended scent very much.
 
Could anyone talk about rendering fat? My husband is going to be helping family butcher a steer/cow. We could probably have all the fat we want. What do we want--The thick layer between skin and muscle or the stuff around the organs?

Any suggestions on how to melt, filter/purify this? Or pointers to where I could find this information?

For those of you who soap, what are the differences you have noticed between vegetable-oil only soaps and soaps made with animal fats?

Thanks!
 
That is so, so helpful, Farmfresh!

One more question: How much (weight or volume) fat can I expect from a steer/cow if I only use the fat around the kidneys?

Well, 2 questions, I guess :D : If I get lard from the grocery store or my local butcher, is that already exactly what I need for any type of soap?

Thanks!
 
Free: I think I have read about you using your chicken fat. Can I save any cooking fat, like bacon, or the stuff that hardens on the top of chicken soup when refrigerated, clean it as desribed by Farmfresh and save it for soaping?
 
I have 2 local meat markets. I think I will start there in looking for fat/lard. So, the suet is the stuff around the kidneys?

I like the idea of getting big chunks of hard fat to feed the birds, too!
 
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