Teach Soap

Hi Folks -

I need advice, please. Last Sunday, I made a batch of soap that I swirled, using multiple colors. I used an olive oil, coconut oil and castor oil recipe, of which olive oil occupied about 70%. I soaped at room temperature - both oils and lye water.

Everything behaved beautifully.

However, three days later and the loaf has the consistency of Velveeta Cheese. It cannot be cut.

I am thinking I made a big mistake. I put the loaf in the fridge for a few hours right after soaping, thinking that, if the batch heated up and gelled, then that would be bad since I soaped at room temperature.

This is the first time I have soaped at room temperature and I love everything about it up to this point.

Not sure how to change my procedures.

Thanks for any helpful advice.

BubbleBath

I think your soap is fine. Your soap is 70 or 80 percent soft oils (olive and castor), plus you didn't gel. It will take longer to firm up, but it will be fine.

How much castor did you use?

Thanks for your reply, dixiedragon.

I used Castor Oil at 5%. Maybe I need to be more patient with such a high percentage of olive oil used. I did use Sodium Lactate at 1 tsp. per lb. of oils.

Maybe the refrigerator was a bad idea? It seems like I read somewhere that people do this to inhibit gelling.

Many thanks.

BubbleBath

With that much olive oil, it would be better gelled. If it's still in the mold and the mold is oven safe, put the mold in the oven on low (170 degrees US) and leave it in there til it gels.

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

Thanks, Irena -

Is gelling likely to take place if one soaps at room temperature?

Regards,

BubbleBath

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

Thank you very much.

So, what would be a recommendation for a recipe and soaping temperature that allows time for swirling?

Many thanks!

BubbleBath

Soap Queen has a lot of good recipes, as does www.millersoap.com.

Your recipe isn't BAD. It's just slow. Maybe try gelling it next time and see what happens.

My recipe is:
20% coconut
45% lard
25% olive
5% castor
5% sunflower

I use full water and I have time to swirl.

_________________
Linda
I know the voices in my head aren't real, but they sure have some great ideas!

If I soap with heavy cream, should I soap at a low temp and, then, refrigerate? If so, for how long?

Thanks,

BubbleBath