Teach Soap

Why are you supposed to add your lye and oils together at the same temperature? What is the chemistry behind this? Is this always necessary?

Thanks all!

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Olivia :)

I don't. I go by the feel of my hands on the pitcher and the soap pot. If both are just warmer then my hands, I soap. I've seen some books that advocate that both must be the same temp. Maybe that's where it came from, since some people use screaming hot lye to melt room temp oils.

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

I read it is better for the lye solution to be a few degrees cooler than the oils before mixing so as not to 'burn' the oils, being the more delicate of the two. I try to get them within 5 degrees of each other, but you guys say that's not necessary?

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

Thanks for your answers guys, but do you know why the lye and oils should be close in temperatures to each other? That's the part I'm most confused about...

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Olivia :)

I am not really sure why but for me if the temps are over ∼10°F of each other it speeds up trace for me

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Anna Rose @-}--
blog

That is interesting, Rosie, I'll keep that in mind!

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Olivia :)

It's not necessary to have lye and oils at the same temps. I soap using the thermal transfer method where you add the very hot lye solution directly into to the oils. I add the hot lye to my room temp solid oils, stir until they melt and then add my room temp liquid oils. I've never had a problem with trace being speeded up and normally have lots of time for swirls. My recipe is 60% hard oils.

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