Teach Soap

Being a bit OCD, I tried out a LOT of CPOP soap this weekend--about 4 2lb batches!

Each one (except for the salt bar) turned out the same--kind of a shiny, finished jello (but mostly opaque) look to them. And each one's color goes from tan to brown (which was probably brown because of green tea I added in the brown batch). So is this normal? I was hoping for a consistency like a dove bar but it seems too go dark and jelled like. What am I doing wrong? Any advice?

Also, for an update, one should NOT use cheap plastic molds from the 99cent store in CPOP. One batch came out smelling like cod liver oil -- totally disgusting! I actually found a wooden wine box so I was happily lining and oiling it all weekend long!

This is cold process soap; correct?
What was your recipe, how warm were the oils and lye when mixed, how thin/thick of a trace did you get before you put the raw soap batch in the oven?

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

I used 12 oz olive oil, 10 oz of coconut oil, 2 oz sunflower infused with calendula, 2 oz of grapeseed and 4 oz almond plus 10.8 water and 4.3 lye for recipe 1. For recipe 2, I used 4.4 lye, 11 water, 12 olive, 10 grapeseed, 2 cocoa butter and 8 coconut oil. I mixed both batches at 110 degress, then poured into mold. Both traces went to a medium trace before I molded. Then both batches went in (separately) for an hour at 170, then overnight in same oven with it turned off.

I am noticing the batch I made Friday is less shiny on the outside today so it is drying out. The batch from sunday is still shiny but also seems to be drying.

One other question: I want to try remilling some soap so that I can cut down on the fragrance I am using as this is getting expensive. Have you ever remilled CPOP soap?

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

Thanks soapbuddy! Will try with a test batch I made!

What did you think of the recipe? Was there any glaring issue with it?

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

I just pm'd you but it is showing in my outbox (not in my sent box). Is there some special way to send PM's? Boy do I feel blonde!

Lisa

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

Yesterday I recreated a recipe that I did CP about 3 weeks ago exactly (except a different vendor for FO) but the CPOP soap came out 4-5 shades darker than the original CPd soap. Is this always going to be the case (due to the heat)? Is there anything I can do to counteract this? It's a bummer because the originals were a pretty sage green and the cooked one are an ugly dark brown.

I was using a rosemary mint FO blend plus rosemary EO and peppermint EO, plus the recipe itself is just olive, coconut and grapeseed with the olive having an extra couple of ounce vs the other oils.

Lisa

Oops. Forget to mention I also added white green tea powder to both recipes.

Green tea powder oxidizes. That's most likely why your soap turned brown.

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

Of course it does! I am such a doof! Just thought it would be good for the skin. I made an olive oil cleanser with the green tea powder and my skin has never looked better so I was going to do the same with the soap. Never again!

Thanks soapbuddy!

You're welcome.

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