Teach Soap

Hello,

I made my first (then second) melt and pour soap using the same recipe for both. BOTH of the batches have the same problem: they are lighter in the center, after cutting them into bars. I've attached a photo. It is a recipe from Martha Stewart using Olive Oil melt and pour, adding french green clay and EO. The mold used was a well washed out quart size milk carton. The only significant thing I can think of that might have caused this is that the green clay takes a long time to dissolve in the hot, already dissolved liquid soap. Anyone know why this might have happened?

Thanks for whatever help you can offer!

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BrookeLynn

"Courage is being scared to death, and saddling up anyway."

I wish I could get the photo to blow up on my screen for me so I could see it more closely.

Honestly, it looks like discoloration to me from the essential oil. What essential oil was it? Discoloration sometimes goes from the outside in, as the soap is exposed to air. I wonder if that could be it?

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Happy Soaping!

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

Hi,

I couldn't attach a larger version of the first photo, so here's one taken from close up. I used Rosemary EO (new bottle) and Lavender EO. My soap base is Olive Oil melt and pour that I just got from Bramble Berry, so it's new product. Can this happen from heating too long? The green clay took a long time to dissolve over heat.

Thanks for your input!

_________________
BrookeLynn

"Courage is being scared to death, and saddling up anyway."

Which EO did you use?

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

The brand is NOW. I used Lavender in one batch and Rosemary in the other.

_________________
BrookeLynn

"Courage is being scared to death, and saddling up anyway."

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

Thanks to all who had some great suggestions for my discoloration problem. I think I figured it out. I made a third batch, but I melted the base at a lower temperature. Also, when I added the French Green Clay, I stirred much LESS vigorously. The clay is very difficult to dissolve and the temptation to almost whisk it is hard to resist. But those two changes have improved the color 90%. The center is still every-so-slightly lighter, but I'm not sure I would notice if I wasn't looking for it.

Thanks again for your input!

_________________
BrookeLynn

"Courage is being scared to death, and saddling up anyway."

You can wet the clay in some water to make a slurry, or mix it with some glycerin with a frother.

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