Amounts of Citrus EOs per batch: 
The general amount per pound for citrus eo's is .9 oz. per pound. The litsea  will make for a stronger lemony scent in your soap, so I personally limit it to around 1 tsp. per 2-3 oz. of eo's. I try not to use benzoin because it can be sensitizing and it colors your soap, but if you have to, use about 2 tsp. (powder) per 1 1/2 lbs. of base. I've used rosemary as a fixative in potpourri, and in soap you can also use vetiver, cloves, and lemon and orange peels. Thanks to List Mom, Becky, for this information

Typos "Hall of Fame":
This is my personal favorite, and it had me on the floor.  It pushed me so far over the edge on a day I really needed something to laugh at and we owe it all to Hel: "ass on the floaters."

Now Hel was referring to the ash that accumulates on some of our soaps. List Mom Becky's helpful advice was this," Certain soap recipes seem to be more affected by ash than others, there are many different factors that can contribute to this. Certain recipes never seem to have an ash problem while others are covered with it. To help avoid it you can lay saran wrap or freezer paper on the top after pouring (I don't bother, just trim it off) and keeping your soap covered for at least the first 24 hours after pouring reduces or eliminates it. Light dustings can just be wiped off with a damp cloth, others may have to be cut off. The more soap you make, chances are your going to encounter ash. If you absolutely can't stand fussing with it, then you'll need to experiment with bases that aren't affected with it. Those bases usually contain castor oil, beeswax or cocoa butter according to Cavitch which I have tested out and found to be true."

Monoi de Tahiti:
There was quite a stir this month over Monoi oils.  Was it just overpriced coconut oil? Or something more? Here are some of the great comments to help you to decide...they made me curious to want to find out for myself in the future.

Monoi is NOT just coconut oil with EO or FO added (The Taire, Coconut and Sandalwood DO have added fragrance.  All Monoi oil is put through the gardenia soak, but if no fragrance is added it is called unscented.  All of the new fragrances have fragrances added to them). It is soooooooo much more than that.  No one who has ever used Monoi could possibly believe that it is just plain old coconut oil. A bit more research is needed here.  Go to http://www.southpacific.com and read the info and specs on this oil.

I have had an awesome amount of success using Monoi oil. Make one batch with regular coconut oil and you can't help but see the difference.  As far as the price goes, it is a more expensive oil, but I charge more for the soap and have had not one complaint on the price.  People will pay for the quality of this oil. As far as I know the process of making the monoi is a little more technical than just adding eo's, I don't think you'll have any problem using and selling any products made with it. Make some Monoi Lotion bars...people will buy it just because of the word "monoi".... If you had fresh Island grown gardenias to play with, then you could make some of your own maybe. It takes a lot of flowers like when you make rose water.

Clays:
After conducting my experiment with the Bentonite and the French Green clays, I  have come up with the following tips:

• FGC is gritty compared to Bentonite (don't ask me how I know).
• Bentonite is certainly slicker(almost like a super slick soap)...it would be great to mix up a batch and slather on the soles of my children and myself and slide all over  the oak floors in the dining room.
• Bentonite is clumpier and soft, 'pastey'--adhering to itself, FGC is easily disperse  into a liquid.
• Bentonite was not drying to the back of my hands, FGC was very drying.
• Bentonite remained clumped and adhered to itself upon drying in my container,  whereupon FGC turned into dried, curling flakes that crumbled when touched.

Congratulations:
On February the 12th, our Peg became official. She now has her license and tax id... (weeping uncontrollably) congratulations, Peg! 
 

Best Tip This Month:
Premeasuring Bath Bombs dry ingredients! Prepare all dry ingredients ahead of time and seal in a zip-lock freezer bag.  The colors, fragrances, oils, etc. are added just before a show, filling a particular order (or just making them for yourself).  So far, no problem with shelf life or fizziness. From Kathy of Kith-Kath Bath.
 

Final note:
Melting PVC pipes in oven to alter the rounded shapes into ovals.  The fumes given off of PVC (Polyvinyl Chloride) are toxic and known to be a very dangerous carcinogen (cancer causing substance). It is what accounts for the most toxic and killer fumes in a house/building fire. Think twice about doing so, but if you insist please turn on your ventilators and remove your small animals and children from the area.