Teach Soap

I have read that some soapers add their goat milk at light trace in order to avoid its reaction with the lye and others add the goat milk with the lye at the start. I want to know if there is any "damage" done or "alteration" to the goat milk when it's added with the lye that would lessen it's skin soothing properties. Also, if I were to add my goat milk at light trace, would I then discount my water at the start to make up for the addition of the goat milk later? Thanks!

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Soapmaiden (Natalie)

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

That makes sense. What you described is basically what I just did with my first batch of goat milk soap just now. Yay!

I guess the only way to really avoid the milk mixing with the lye is to hand mill the soap and then add the milk.

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Soapmaiden (Natalie)

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

Yea, you're right... that's something to consider. I wonder if anyone has any experience with this process of making goat milk soap?

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Soapmaiden (Natalie)

I can't remember if it was this forum or another one but someone described rebatching soap and adding milk instead of water (you only add a teeny bit of moisture when rebatching, like a tablespoon or two). I think it's "okay" to do and I've done it myself. (I actually despise rebatching but that's just me and I've only tried it with one milk soap batch that wasn't the way I wanted it.)

Anyway, I haven't really noticed that's it's gone funny or anything (I just pulled it out of storage and smelled it right now ... ). Technically though you would think the addition of (non saponified) milk would be an issue but it doesn't appear to be. At least not yet. Hmm ... now I'm wondering about this!

PS: I've used both the "slush" method and just adding a little milk at trace and either way works great. Depends on how much milk you want in your soap (vs water) and how concerned you are with color/overheating/appearance/etc. I've got a couple of posts about my milk soap adventures on my blog if that helps

Karri

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I soap therefore I am.

I rebatch with nothing but GM, and I've never had a problem.

I do a ton of milk soaps, mostly goat because, well, I have goats The method I like best, to avoid the skanky smell/orange/gross brown effect, is to freeze the GM ahead of time. I take the GM out of the freezer while I'm measuring and melting my oils and butters. Break it into chucks, and very slowly add my lye. If I need a very white base, I will add a few ounces at trace.

HTH

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

That looks good enough to eat

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I soap therefore I am.

Looks good! I make a similar soap like that.

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