Teach Soap

Hi. I am new to Teach Soap so please forgive me if I am posting this in the wrong place.

I wanted to make a liquid castile soap. I came up with a recipe for 80% olive oil, 10% sunflower oil, & 10% coconut oil (76 degree). I figured for a 3% lye discount. After the soap was finished I put it in a large plastic container and let it sit. I noticed a thick layer of white stuff floated to the surface. The white stuff is like a thin Elmer's glue in consistency, but is a decent soap. I think I can suck the white stuff off with a turkey baster, put it in a separate bottle, and it will be fine for use as a liquid soap. I'm just wondering why this happened. I'd prefer for the whole batch to be clear. Should I not use a lye discount with liquid soap? What else might have caused this? Thanks.

Hi Barbara! I can't help you, but I did want to say "welcome to the forum!"

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

I would run your recipe again through Summer Bee Meadow liquid soap calc. If it's the same, it possible that your LS needed to be cooked longer.

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

If your recipe is right, if you used the proper lye, all things being equal, I'd agree w/ SB, just needed longer in the pot.
And welcome!

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

Tammy

You must cook it at least till the paste appears to be turning transparent. Going with a lye discount could also make your soap not clear. I go 2% heavy on the lye then buffer it down with borax and always have clear liquid soap.

Bruce

_________________
www.homebrewsoaps.etsy.com