Teach Soap

Today I made two batches of soap using this method of pouring the hot lye water over my unmelted oils. I used my lard recipe for both. The first batch almost didn't get all the lard melted - I had to use the stick blender on the last little bits to get them incorporated. The second batch I partially melted the lard in the microwave before adding the other oils and then the hot lye water. Both batches worked very well and gave me time to mix up a couple of colors for swirls. So far, I like this method but will try it a few more times to make sure I can get consistent results.

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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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Four Seasons Fine Handcrafted Soaps
& Specialties, Inc.
Laugh, Love, Live!

Yes I agree the more I think about the more it freaked me out. I tried to make the pic small enough to upload from my phone but have no idea how to. Here is the link to my Facebook page where it is posted https://www.facebook.com/fourseasonssoaps it came out ok but nothing special.

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Four Seasons Fine Handcrafted Soaps
& Specialties, Inc.
Laugh, Love, Live!

I tried this again today.... poured hot lye (168degrees) over my lard and cocoa butter, it melted in about 7 1/2 minutes. I had mixed my goats milk powder in my coconut oil (had to melt ahead of time due to container) and olive oil, then added this to the lye\oil mix. Stick blended for 1 min and it reached light trace. Added the FO (blueberry)... by the time I got my batter separated and added my coloring it was at a very thick trace and this swirl should be interesting. My green that I had in a squeeze bottle became a little grainy on me, but I was still able to do the top treatment I wanted. I think that is because it had to sit the longest, I should have shook it up again before using. I will cut tomorrow.... and come to a conclusion about this process for me.

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Susie
Sometimes A Mistake is so much fun, You just have to do it again!

Just wanted to add my $0.02: I tried this process today and (even though I'm very much a rookie at CP), it worked perfectly for me.

I let my lye water sit only long enough for the cloudiness to disappear, then added the lye solution to my hard oils (coconut, palm kernel and shea butter). Spoon-stirred these for a couple of minutes and then stick-blended some of the chunks, spoon stirred, then went back to stick blending. When all the chunks were smooth (I was at medium trace by now), I added my liquid oils (olive, castor and FO). Stick blended it all together, separated part of the batch for colorant. I had all the time in the world color both parts of the batch (and stick blend them), texturize the tops of each layer and do a pencil line in between.

This method is great! The only time I wouldn't use it would be if I were trying to make swirls and needed a light trace.

Cut my soap today, I like it. Also went back to look at this FO as I used it once before. It did speed up trace for me that time as well (thank heaven for keeping notes). But because it reached a thick trace so quickly, I did not get all of my blue ultramarine incorperated. I will not say it was this process, but still have decided to go back to the way I was doing it before. Reasons are: I am not mass producing so the extra 30 min it takes me is no big deal. I think I have a better feel for my orginal process and I guess I just like it better. Now if for some reason I loose power and still need to soap I can rely on this and that is good! So my experiments are done. Next weeks batch my lye will cool down and my process will slow down. Now on to dreaming up what I want to do. Thanks for listening!

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Susie
Sometimes A Mistake is so much fun, You just have to do it again!

These are the 2 soaps that I made yesterday using this process. I had plenty of time to mix colors and do ITP swirls.

Abalone & Sea (This one has both ultramarine blue and chrome green swirls)


Island Nectar (with yellow oxide swirl)

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

Look AWESOME Linda!!!!

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Debbie

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Four Seasons Fine Handcrafted Soaps
& Specialties, Inc.
Laugh, Love, Live!

Linda, those look amazing! So will you adopt this as your go to method? Did you watch the time close enough to tell how much time it saves you?
Selena: For me it seems as if there is too much for me to remember, I know that sounds odd but I guess I am just used to letting the lye water cool, adding all I can to my oils and off to the races. For some reason I had a difficult time getting everything incorperated into my batter with the last two batches. I do hope others give it a try and post their results.

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Susie
Sometimes A Mistake is so much fun, You just have to do it again!

Those look great Linda! Nice work!

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~~Heather~~
Mad [soaping] Scientist

Beautiful soap! Would you suggest having a lot of experience before trying this method?

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Soap Making is like getting a tattoo, before you are finished, you are planning the next session.

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

Celestial, I agree with Linda. It is just another form of the process. I would recommend going through the steps in your mind or writing them down and then you should be all set.

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Susie
Sometimes A Mistake is so much fun, You just have to do it again!

The soaps look beautiful Linda . For me it saved an hour as my lye and oils take that long to cool down to 100 and longer if I want room temp plus it goes all in one pot so it was super fast and easy. I have not made any other soap sense that as the law office (my real job lol) has been so busy. I have 3 more to make this weekend and will try it again. I use many different processes and now can add this one to the list. Thanks for sharing all your tips you guys are the best.

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Four Seasons Fine Handcrafted Soaps
& Specialties, Inc.
Laugh, Love, Live!