Teach Soap

I've had a problem recently (the last month or two) with the tops of my MP soaps hardening with wrinkles or creases. It's not a huge deal, but they're not the wonderfully smooth bars that customers and I like to see. I'm wondering whether anyone else has had this problem and knows where it comes from?

My work surface hasn't changed and I'm careful not to bustle around in there much after they've poured. The only problems I can think it might be are:

- the summer weather? I live in Seattle and we have plenty of cloudy breaks, so I'm not entirely confident that this is it.
- the molds? This seems to happen especially, but not exclusively, in silicone molds. Particularly the blue 12-bar one, which is incredibly useful but a little flimsy.

Thanks everyone! Your ideas are much appreciated

The only thing that I can think of is your weather. Has the humidity changed?

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

It's possible that the humidity plays a factor. Are you putting your soaps in the fridge or letting them cool off on their own? Are you waiting long enough before getting the soap out of the mold?

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

Is any air blowing on the soap while it's setting?

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Rachel
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I've noticed the same thing on soaps that I'm a little heavy handed with the alcohol spritzer...could that be it?

It generally happens when you move or nudge the molds before the soap has set up completely. It makes the soap "ripple" like a pond but, as the soap base is viscous, it sets that way. Silicon molds are more prone to it as they are softer and move when moved ... if you know what I mean????

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Soaper from Melbourne Australia
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