Teach Soap

I ordered a large amount of extra virgin olive oil, I wasn't thinking when I placed the order about how green it is. I planned to make some swirls and colored soap for fall. I will also use coconut oil and palm, and some butters. Does anyone know if the green color will dissipate with saponification, or will it affect my colors? I usually use a lighter refined oil.

Yes, it will affect your colors. I just had a disaster batch where the plum I planned turned a gross orange-pink. As far as I can tell it doesn't lessen, but if you know what it does you can maybe compensate for it.

I think I'll just have to buy some refined for the ones I want to color, and use the virgin for ones that I don't mind the natural green. I plan to make a peppermint pink and white stripe soap and I won't be able to do anything with the green tint in that. It probably won't go to waste, will just have to be creative.

Yeah, I've been totally unable to achieve white or pink when working with EVOO (it doesn't help that I also use unrefined shea, which is yellower). I like the idea of using the EVOO for uncolored (or green or orange colored!) batches, it seems like a good compromise.

I had the same problem though found curing/not gelling did help a bit for white but didn't get bright white. BB has some LabColors designed to work with evoo but I haven't tried them. If only I could find organic olive oil that wasn't extra virgin!

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Linda

I learn so much when I can't leave well enough alone!