Teach Soap

Hi all. I made my first batch of cp after being out of the game about 2 years. I didn't have many oils on hand but used what I did have and bought some olive and sunflower oils at the grocery store. I measured out my lye and water, got it mixed and cooled (it cooled to about 81 degrees F before I was ready to use it). I do know that all the lye was dissolved. I measured my oils and warmed them up so the coco butter and beeswax was melted thoroughly. My oils were around 130 degrees F. I know I should have waited until they were cooler but I didn't. I was running out of time in my day. So I poured in my lye/water mixture and started to sb. It traced fairly quickly (in just about 5 minutes max), I attribute this to my oils being so hot. So I added my fo (Lemongrass Sage from BB), sb'd a little more so to make sure it was nice and mixed, seperated into 2 containers, colored on of them with my mica mixed in a small amount of jojoba oil, then proceeded to plop it into the mold. It was very thick at this point. I banged out the air bubbles (although there are a few I can see on the outside since I've unmolded) and swirled quickly. I wrapped it with a towel and put it to bed for the evening. I took the top off after about 18 hours and there are some spots that looked like oil had seeped out of the top. Just little drops on the top but not all over the top. I zap tested and nothing. Well, I left it in the mold another few hours, unmolded and cut it. It was very very soft still. After a day (this morning), it is still soft but I can tell it is hardening some. More spongy than soft. My question is, is it the oils I used or did I do something wrong? I would like to make another batch but I am not used to my soaps being so soft when I unmold them. Also, I used to cpop but I didn't do that this time. I do know it reached full gel though (couldn't help but peek occasionally). Does that make a difference in getting the moisture out quicker? Here is my recipe

460 grams total
Water as percent of oils 30%
Superfat 7%

Water 138g
Lye 61g
Beeswax 23g (5%)
Castor Oil 23g (5%)
Coconut Oil, Fractionated 92g (20%)
Cocoa Butter 23g (5%)
Jojoba Oil 46g (10%)
Olive Oil 207g (45%)
Sunflower Oil 46g (10%)

Any suggestions? I did look through some of my old recipes and saw that I generally would do the water percentage as 25%. Maybe that's the difference in the softness? I am typically very impatient so this is just killing me. TIA for any help.

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Haven

The difference in water amount could make it softer, but it sounds like everything will be fine in a few days. Some recipes just take a little longer to set up.

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

Thank you. There is just so much I have forgotten after a couple of years. I remembered the basics and I have been reading quit a bit lately. I just got the bug again to make some soap (ok, I've used all of my scraps from long ago and needed some soap cause I hate store bought soaps) and want to make sure I get it right. At least I remembered how to line my mold, it took me a minute but it came back quickly. Lol! I guess I just have to be patient. IT'S SO HARD!!

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Haven

Don't worry it will all come back to you! I am thinking you just need a little more practice. Maybe next time try getting the oils and lye within 10 degrees of each other and see if that helps. Did you keep any of your records from previous batches and could go back to some of your tried and true recipes???

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

Why the fractionated coconut? That's a soft oil in soap.

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

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Haven