Teach Soap

So the other day I had a relatively small batch that I soaped at 135 F - I scented it with BB's Soapy Clean. I use a stick blender to mix everything up. My recipe contains olive, palm, coconut, and soybean oil (not Crisco, but the actual oil). I've used the recipe numerous times and it turned out fine... except for this once for this part of the batch. I made an 8 lb batch and split it into one 4 lb batch (the one that curdled) and two 2 lb batches. The other two smaller batches turned out fine.

When I was pouring the soap into the mold, I noticed some small chunks near the bottom of the soap pot. There were already a lot poured into the mold so I poured the rest and figured I'd see what happens later. I've never seen these chunks before.

Also, about 2-3 days later after cutting the soap, I've noticed you can tell there are small spots in the soap that definitely were the curdles and now some of them are turning a little bit darker.

I'm curious to know what might have caused my soap to curdle.

Also, if I rebatch this soap, will it be okay or should I throw it out?

I would love to hear, personally I have made three batches of CP, the first one I think actually turned out even though we thought it was a problem, because we did do the zap test. The second one just plain looked like it never finished processing and the third which was very small, 5 soaps poured into molds almost 2months ago, is still soft, not sure what to do about that. I wonder if I can save the last one . kinda gun shy, sticking to M&P and rebatch for now. Boo Boo's are not cheap.

theGinger8

Sounds like it either got too cold toward the bottom of the soap pot, or your soap seized. If some parts are turning darker it could be not mixed in fragrance, which could be irritating to the skin, or free lye which would zap. Do the pieces that are darker zap?

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Irena
Closed minds are like faulty parachutes; they refuse to open.

I haven't tried the zap test yet - but will later. This batch is only about 10 days old - do normal most batches pass the zap test after that amount of time? I'm still fairly new to cp soaping so I'm still learning.

lick your finger, rub a portion of the soap with your finger, then lick it again. I've gotten my zap within 12-24 hours of pouring. No zap after a couple days means a great likelihood of success!

Normally, most batches pass the zap test after 2-3 days. If they don't, it was either mismeasured or not thoroughly mixed.

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Irena
Closed minds are like faulty parachutes; they refuse to open.

I have done a zap test after 24 hours and not gotten zapped? Is this possible or am I just immune to the zap?

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Irena
Closed minds are like faulty parachutes; they refuse to open.

Did not zap!

But wow my soap tastes gross. I think the curdles might be FO that didn't get mixed in perhaps -- I tested it on both the normal looking part of the bar and one of the chunks that is turning a little bit darker and I could really taste more fragrance on the darker spot. Yuck.

So that said, if I do a rebatch/remelt should I be okay?

Thanks everyone for your advice so far! This forum is great.

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Irena
Closed minds are like faulty parachutes; they refuse to open.

Soapbuddy, you are my new hero.

Thanks for all your great help with my various questions! As a new soaper there are so many things I have yet to learn!

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Irena
Closed minds are like faulty parachutes; they refuse to open.