Stephenson Shea Butter Melt and Pour Soap Base

I purchased the shea butter melt and followed CS instructions to a T and I did not use or add any additional products. I made 2 batches and none of the bars lathered. I reached out to CS support advising them of the issue. CS support responded to my email...however the emails back in forth are CS asking questions. To date I have not received a resolution and the matter is still unresolved. I am disappointed that I have a 25 Lb box of soap base that I can not use because it does not lather and is useless. I do not give this soap base any stars and I do not nor would I recommend the shea butter melt.

First time using This soap base. Is takes a lot to melt in my double boiler and while melting is forms a skin on top, and it hardens too quick, is so quick it stars to harden while pouring

Not impressed at all with Shea Butter. When put in the microwave to melt, it doesn’t melt well at all. Then I have to put it back in the microwave, risking it being “burnt”. After that, while stirring, it forms a skin before being able to pour it at a decent temperature.

Great for the cost! It's soft to the touch but still a hard, nice looking bar. It didn't have a bad/overpowering scent out of the plastic box like other commenters had. It was easy to remove and to cut. Melted just fine.
I added a colorblock, mica, clay and an extract as well as a scent. (I made facial bars) It took well to the color and scent. Of course it's white, so adding these colors required extra product. Turned out just fine! I'll be ordering more in the future.

My only complaint with this soap is that its not very lathering. I made Shea Butter with Oats, honey and peppermint soap and I also made Shea Butter with Oats, Coffee and honey both are great. Formed nicely within my silicone mold.

I think I already wrote through my complete satisfaction with CS's service and shipping speeds for the Goats Milk base, so I won't repeat it here.

Not at all thrilled with this base.
— Out of box, the soap has a really strong bodily odor. Smell can't really be masked without dumping a whole into the base; odor cuts right through citrus formulations and makes for fatty florals. This is the kind of base for the maker of soap who dreams in the fatty nuttiness of shea butter (obvs not me).
— 142d melt point is accurate and the soap will take and requires a high temp to fully melt. When I take this down to a temp that seems suitable for adding eos, additives, etc., film started to form quickly, despite carefully monitored workable temps. Tried again, same issue despite a revised formulation of additives. Was able to produce some bars, just enough to convince me out of using this.
— Bars this produced were harder than those made with other Stephenson bases, which is a plus, but there's the smell of the base creeping up again. Leaving shea out of soaps bc of this base. There's always lotion lol.

Am glad CS had this at a reasonable price to try, get the idea out, and move right along.

I recently purchased this product to make soap. I am super disappointed with this product. It is absolutely horrendous, it doesn't lather at all nor foam when used in the shower. It doesn't leave your skin feeling moisturized after usage at all (Shea Butter how is that?). I feel dry after usage. Those who are testing my soaps for me had the same complaints. I made different batches and it is the same horrendous result with this base. It is useless maybe this should go back to research/development and tested because it is completely useless. What's the point of this product if it is not delivering any performance no lather no foaming at all. The quality of this base is horrific.

This is my favorite base to use. It holds fragrance well, and creates a hard, long lasting bar of soap. I’ve played around with adding all kinds of things to this base - mica, dead sea mud, ground oatmeal, poppy seeds - and I’m always pleasantly surprised with how the bar turns out. I wish Candlescience carried more soap making products like these so I could shop for everything in one place, but I’m a happy repeat customer.

I use this base for 3 of my soaps and everyone loves it. It does dry quickly, and I wish it was a littler harder. I mix it with activated charcoal, turmeric, oatmeal & honey, essential oils and even some fragrance oils. I have no problem with it.

In my experience, I've made 4 batches with it, and it's a very nice lathering soap, but scents don't really work well in it. It does give off a little more scent when in use. The soap itself is almost invisible when used which could lead to overuse of soap. My suggestion is if you don't sell heavier scented soaps, then this will be a very good start/addition.

Very nice, smooth when cutting. Can definitely smell the Shea butter, so extra scent is needed to be added if you want to mask it. Melts perfectly, but dries quickly. Works well with micas.

Its not "Neutral odor" at all. You need to use a lot of concentrated perfume to mask the smell of this soap which smells too industrial. Why does no one write about its strong smell? I will look further on some other base.

I've made many bars of soap using this kind. Melts perfectly and smooth! Holds fragrance and dyes very well. Feels great on my hands after removing from molds. Easy to clean up. AWESOME product!