Teach Soap

I just had a question (which has probably already been dealt with , but I'm not sure where on this site you can search?)
I made a batch of bath bombs and used only citric acid and Bi Carb, Clay & Almond Oil they worked well, got very hard

Last night a made a batch from Anne Maries recipe, Citric Acid, Bi Carb, Corn Starch, Epsom Salts and Avocado Oil, I didn't have any Witch hazel, so I didn't spritz the mixture, it seemed to stay together, this morning the mixture is very crumbly, is it because I didn't spritz it? What does witch hazel do, and can I substitute water or alcohol for it?
Can I save the mixture by adding some cocoa butter to bind it together?
What is Corn Starch for?
The whipped topping worked well, if I add fragrance with vanilla in it will it discolour the icing sugar and meringue powder or is it just the bottoms?
Thanks and sorry if this has been asked before!!

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Diane

Just saw where I can search for it! Sorry

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Diane

Can't find the answer in the search, so if someone would mind answering?

Am I right in assuming different clays have different qualities, so therefore some would attract water?
I added Kaolin Clay to the bath bombs, but I notice they all say to use Bentonite?

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Diane

I've never had problems with clays attracting water. But salt is a great humectant & will attract moisture.
The corn starch, I'm assuming is a filler & binder? But I've never used it. Cocoa butter can help bind them together.
If you're using oils/butters to help it stick together, you wouldn't necessarily need to use witch hazel or alcohol (yes you can use this in place of with hazel). But you'll have to test to see how it works for you.
If the mixture's already reacted, cocoa butter won't save it. I'd just use it crumbled.

Make sure you take lots of notes when doing this, so you know not to repeat the same mistakes & you'll know what's actually working.

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Genny

Thanks for the reply Genny!

I came back from work yesterday afternoon and the bombs were fine, guess I needed to give them a day to set harder!

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Diane

So some of you don't even use witch hazel at all? I have been wondering if there was a substitute... witch hazel always seem to set off the fizzing reaction early in my bombes. Maybe I just use too much?

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Olivia :)

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Anna Rose @-}--
blog

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Olivia :)

Thats what I do, just making sure you don't pour the witch hazel in (whick I was (90% you didn't seems like yo do your research ) Because that would really set off the fizzies

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Anna Rose @-}--
blog

Thanks, Rosie! I am going to try a little less witch hazel next time...

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Olivia :)