Teach Soap

I am new to soap making.. I have made 3 batches of soap using my own recipes and calculating the percentages online. The first 2 batches came out fine. The last I have an issue with.. I think I know the problem. I didn't realize you arent supposed to use castor oil/olive oil in such high percentages.

This is the recipe I used: sweet orange essential oil.. colored naturally, 40% olive oil, 20% coconut oil, 20% castor oil, 15% palm oil, 5% cocoa butter. Coated with crushed up orange peel granules

It has basically been stuck in the mold. I made it 3/3/08. It is a little bit soft if I press it really hard.. although it does seem like it has hardened over time.

Will I ever be able to get it out of the mold (heavy duty plastic/pvc? mold).

Any tips/feedback for why this happened?

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

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Sandra Starnes
R&S Acres
Scurry, Texas
www.freewebs.com/randsacres
sandralstarnes@yahoo.com

This is my recipe that I usually do

5.25 oz coconut oil
5.25 oz palm oil
5.25 oz safflower oil
5.25 oz canola oil
4.5 oz unrefined shea butter
Sodium hydroxide 3.49 oz
Liquid 8.42 oz (coconut milk/goats milk)

If I am doing cold process I add in honey and the oils at trace. Am I using too much sodium hydroxide?

Thank you

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Countrypumkin
Shannon
Sassy Shannon's Soap's & Thing's
https://www.facebook.com/HeavenlyScentations
https://www.zibbet.com/sassyprincess

Your recipe looks ok - the lye concentration works out to about a 5% superfat. Just curious -did you mean that you add the honey TO the oils at trace? Or are you adding other oils along with the honey? If so, they need to be entered into a lye calculator along with the rest of your recipe.

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

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Countrypumkin
Shannon
Sassy Shannon's Soap's & Thing's
https://www.facebook.com/HeavenlyScentations
https://www.zibbet.com/sassyprincess