Teach Soap

So I wanted to make a chocolate strawberry soap with my 10 inch silicone mold from BrambleBerry. I divided the soap base (from brambleberry) into three containers to make a triple layer soap. I made the soap and it looked great! I went to cut it and all 10 bars had the layers separate! I was extremely upset at my latest creation of soap French fries.

So I thought "Hey! Why don't I re-melt them and try again!" I thought the reason they wouldn't stick was because I had a fan over the soap and maybe it evaporated the rubbing alcohol or something. I re melted the base, poured at 130 degrees or cooler, avoided the fan completely and let the soap completely harden. Guess what? FRENCH FRY!

What am I doing wrong? All the ingredients are from BrambleBerry and I never had this problem before!

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How frustrating!
I haven't had that problem yet with layering *fingers crossed*.

How long did you wait between layers? Maybe that had something to do with it?
I actually use a large spray bottle for my rubbing alcohol so I probably use way more than I need when soaping.

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Jen
"Soap and water and common sense are the best disinfectants." William Osler

I had the same problem when I tried my first layered loaf soap a month or so ago. I did two layers, and I did spritz rubbing alcohol between the layers. When I cut the loaf, some of the bars were stuck together fine, but some of them split, becoming 'soap sticks'. I speculated that I either waited too long between layers to pour, so that they cooled too much and didn't stick, or I waited too long to cut the soap, so that it was too hard and cool, inducing the layers to separate. Next time, I am going to pour the layers sooner and unmold and cut sooner while the soap is still a little warm. For this batch, though, I stuck some of the bars back together with a little clear base. Not ideal, I know, but at least I can still use them myself. Some of them I just left in separated layers and used them as they were. Actually, I think the 'soap sticks' are kind of neat myself, even though they were an accident, and may see if I can put this to use in any way with future batches.

I hope you can find a solution!

I know I didn't wait too long because I was sitting there the whole time babying my soap!

I made a test batch of soap and the leftover bit in my Pyrex container was dry and flaky like dandruff. I don't think that's normal!

I think something happened to my base before I got it.

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The Black Currant- Shipping within the US!

My shop: The Black Currant on Etsy!
My blog: http://www.theblackcurrantshop.wordpress.com
Also on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter & YouTube!

I have the same problem with some of my soaps. I am so excited when they come out really beautiful and then I cut and the layers fall apart. I wish I could get an answer to this. Is it temp? Too much essential oil? pouring the next layer too early/late? I then have to chop them up and use the layers as embeds. HELP!!!

How long do you wait to cut the loaf into bars? I have discovered if you wait 'till the loaf is too cool, the layers are more likely to seperate. Pouring the next layer sooner will help them stick better too, but of course, there's the issue of pouring too soon and having the first layer give way to the second one and having mixed layers. It's trial and error I suppose. Also, I don't know if you already do this or not, but spritzing each layer with rubbing alcohol before you pour the next layer helps them stick.

Hope that helps and welcome to the forum!

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Olivia :)

Thanks, Olivia! I think I may use too much alcohol. I asked and BB mentioned that I need to use the spritzing. So what I am hearing is pour sooner (which I think I do, but maybe too soon?) I have ruined 50% of my loafs.. Thinking maybe a temperature thing, would that make sense?? I thank you for responding as I am getting frustrated for not figuring out why this is happening. I make some gorgeous loafs. https://www.facebook.com/swsoapco?ref_type=bookmark
Tracey

I would also try cutting your bars sooner, that seems to make a big difference.

I guess it is possible to use too much alcohol. Were you pouring it on instead of spritzing?

Those three things (pouring temp, cutting temp, and alcohol spritzing) are the only things I can think of, other than be sure your base is good quality as that affects how it behaves, too.

You might want to post your link again. My server can't open it, it might be broken.

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Olivia :)

These might be helpful as well; http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5oyh1Bf3 ... EF0838281A and http://www.soapqueen.com/bath-and-body- ... nd-pour-2/

Also, I'm not sure if you are putting the soaps in the fridge to get them to cool faster but this can make the layers separate as well.

It's also good in general to make sure you are not overheating the soap. If its dry/flakey it's overheated. Melt on low or using short bursts, keeping it covered. Try not to get it hot enough to steam. =)