Teach Soap

So, I am having a battle with coffee. My first coffee soap had WAY too much coffee, the second is very pretty, but not enough coffee (and had a bunch settle that could scrape paint). This batch ... well, it's hard to explain.

I started it last night and I added Vanilla FO. I stirred it and stirred to keep the coffee from settling (since I don't have a suspension friendly base). I wasn't liking the smell and then, pretty quickly it thickened up. I set it aside to see how I felt about it after it hardened. So, this morning it smelled like coffee, so I'm thinking it had something to do with the heat. I also was thinking about how I like the "look" of CP and it hit me that the consistency I reached last night was somewhat similar to CP when it's poured into a mold.

My questions is this ... has this ever happened to someone before? I've never heard about this before, so I'm not quite sure if there's something odd about it or if it's just because I kept stirring.

I'm not overly happy with the color, but I want to withhold judgement until I cut it!

Any thoughts?

http://www.flickr.com/photos/36736618@N07/4537078954/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/36736618@N07/4537078100/

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Amy in Soapland

Anyone?? I am starting to believe that this result IS strange ... maybe the mix of coffee and stirring??

It still isn't completely hard. Definitely more so than last night, but it has a slight give. It's humid today, so I popped it in the freezer to see what that does.

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Amy in Soapland

I think it's cool looking. I haven't had that exact texture but I've made soap before that looks more like CP and mine was frothy looking.

When I am making my MP Soap, I also keep stirring it til its ALMOST like that to insure that the ingredients I add don't settle on the bottom. Since I've yet to get an infared laser thermometer to know the temp, I just keep doing it this way. So far, I've had real success doing the stir...

Hey Anne Marie.. When are you going to carry some of the thermometers? I know there are various ones...

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JKM Creative Enterprises

I have this laser thermometer. It's super easy to use. http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/d ... mber=96451

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

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JKM Creative Enterprises

You can also find a new one on e bay. Look up this number: 220591734329 That one is $29.99 & only $2.49 for shipping.

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

amygrimis, it looks more like latte foam on top of milk, or kahula cream cheese cake ! Maybe you need to add a bit more brown? I like it the way it is right now.

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Shieh Design Studio
https://www.facebook.com/ShiehDesignStudio
http://soapandrestless.blogspot.com

It looks like it's gone a slightly whipped texture from continous stirring. Stirring until it's a cooler temp has just made it possible for you to 'mould' it as you would like, at a guess. I think it looks really nice though and a good effect at trying to make it look like CP.

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Sarah x

Thanks everyone! For some strange reason I hadn't thought about mixing colors to make brown and will definitely do that next time. It's been popular and I'm planning to try it again ... probably a different theme, but I'm keeping this recipe. I'm glad to hear that it wasn't something strange that made it happen and I'll be able to repeat it!

I'm planning on pouring a red/white loaf tonight with the Arabian Spice FO (amazing!) and I am debating between this method and attempting a two color MP swirl.

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Amy in Soapland

Agree with everyone else - it's totally normal. It just happens when the soap has been stirred long enough so that it cools down and can suspend. =)

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Happy Soaping!

Anne-Marie
blog: www.soap-queen.blogspot.com
supplies: www.brambleberry.com

Good to know and thanks for jumping in, Anne-Marie. I just poured the Arabian FO'd loaf and it looks really cool. I did a layer of un-colored goat's milk and then a second layer of Aloe colored with a mix of Black and Brick Red Oxides. I stirred both long and I'm anxious to cut it! It sure does take longer to set, though!

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Amy in Soapland