Teach Soap

I made two soaps using CPOP and can't figure out why I have ash and air pockets on the top of my soap. I use the same recipe as I usually do and this only happens when I use my divider type mold in the oven. I tapped this mold on the floor as well to remove any air pockets.

Here are two examples:

Lavender Soap (the soap itself is fine as I've used it and the lather is great etc.) for this one I used essential oils only.

I didn't cover this one with saran in the oven



Bug Soap (for this I used citrus essential oils)

I used saran for this one



This is with the top taken off:



Now this soap was the same recipe except for spicy EO's and in a log shape in the oven with saran and no air pockets.



I know different EO's and colours change the soap outcome but it seems I only have this problem when I use my divider mold in the oven because I've used this same mold in the fridge and my soap is air pocket free. It's cosmetic only but I'm perplexed and think it's something to do with heat and this style of mold if that makes any sense. My family loves the texture on top so I'm going to leave them alone although I'm temped to take all the tops off.

It's possible that your soap started to overheat. Another hypothesis could be if you used palm oil it's the stearic precipitating from the soap.

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

soapbuddy,

Thanks, yes I did use Palm oil in this batch and the overheating is possible. My stove goes to 170 as it's lowest temperature and I usually leave it in the oven for 2 hours and then take it out. Maybe I should try one hour next time.

Michelle

Try melting all your palm oil first, stir it then use whatever you need. I would leave the soap in the oven only long enough for the soap to completely gel. Then, take it out, let it cool and cut.

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

Irena,

Thank you, I am making more soap next week so dying to try this out now. I've heard of people premelting all their palm oil first then letting it get solid and using it at a later date. This hasn't been a problem with the fridge method but tends to happen with the oven. Also I usually just put my palm oil, PKO and Coconut in with my other oils all at once and then heat it up. Melting the palm first on it's own and less time in the oven just might be the solution

Michelle

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Remember, it's not just that we weather the storm, but how we dance in the rain.

Tammy

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

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Linda
I know the voices in my head aren't real, but they sure have some great ideas!