Teach Soap

I am having an issue with gel rings in my soaps. The first time I made a 5lb batch of soap using Aloe Vera liquid in place of the water in my lye solution, scented it with a Patchouli and Orange essential oil blend and put it in the freezer. When I unmolded it, the whole batch had a large gel ring in the center. I thought it might be from the Aloe Vera gel so I made another batch with goat's milk in place of the water in the lye solution, used the same essential oil blend and put it in the freezer. Another loaf with a gel ring in the center. I am beginning to think it might be the essential oils I am using or maybe I just need to insulate the batch and force gel. Any suggestions?

Obviously you do not need to wrap well and force gel, cuz even with freezing you are getting a partial gel. So yes, maybe you should stop fighting it and just allow the gel, but, if you want a non-gelled soap, then you can try leaving it in the freezer longer (which doesn't always work) or you can leave out super-heaters like milk, honey, and certain eo's. Thing is, the eo's that you used were probably not a large contributing factor, as they really aren't super-heaters. It could have been other ingredients or a combination of ingredients in your recipe, something in the aloe gel, or just gremlins, but we know the one batch had a lot to do with the milk. So you can do a regular batch (no milk, honey, sugar etc) and see how that works in the freezer (get it in there fast and leave it there longer than you did the first time), or you can allow it to gel. If you are going to allow gel and you use the same exact recipe(s), then do not insulate your soap or else you will likely overheat it. Sometimes I cover my mold with a box and check it in 10-20 min. If I can see that gel is underway and the sides of the mold are warm, I will remove the box and leave the soap. This keeps me from over-heating but not having to worry about a partial gel either. It works well for my recipe(s), so worth a shot for you. I'd hate for you to try a gel and then either over-heat or get a partial gel.
Good luck!

_________________
Remember, it's not just that we weather the storm, but how we dance in the rain.

Tammy

Or, you can live with the ring. It doesn't bother me, but I know that it drives some soapers bonkers.

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

Aloe has some natural sugars and so does any type of milk. These type of sugars make the soap hotter during the saponification stage. If you are using a wooden mold, it traps heat more then a plastic mold.

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

Thanks so much for the great suggestions. They're greatly appreciated. What is really baffling me is I made another batch, same as above (same oils, same mold), except I did not scent it at all. I used goat's milk and put it in the freezer for 24 hours. I do not have a gel ring at all, just a nice creamy colored soap. What's up with that?

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

Just take lots of notes about each batch so you'll know what to expect next time.

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