Teach Soap

Jeebus. Major Soap Disaster #2. I thought I had learned the last time - but nooooo......

First time using a floral fragrance. I had been avoiding them due to their reputation for acceleration. So I am using cannabis flower from Mystic Moments, a UK company. Oh...and a NEW brand of fragrance oil to boot.

Did I question the wisdom of making a 1200 gram batch with a new fragrance from a new company from a new category, floral????

Oh how I wish I had.

I used a decent amount of water... 30% strength lye solution. Too strong?

Oil temps were 120 degrees F
Lye at 120 F

OO 60%
Castor 10%
Coconut oil 72 deg 30%
Fragrance 5%

Stirred with a spoon - moderately vigorously. Figured I'd be better off w/out the stick blender. Then ricing like I'd never seen - big old chunks. Got out the stick blender in desperation - seemed to smooth it out. Plopped it into the mold..its got way too much oil.

More water?
Ugh, I stuck it in the garage and will deal with it tomorrow.

TEST BATCHES!!!

Awww, April! So sorry to hear... But thanks heaps for the word...

Can't tell you how many times I've sworn the same... and not done it.

But I don't do many scented soaps. I'm sure that complicates things exponentially, esp. with "unknown" fragrances...

Cheers to you for the report, girl!

When a soap rices or seizes, let it. Then let it gel right in the pot, stir well then glop into your mold.
It sounds like you need to rebatch at this point.

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

Shred it or chunk it with gloves on and put it in the crockpot on low. When it's the consistency of mashed potatoes, stir very well, then glop into your mold. Only occasional stirring is required.

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

I'm confused. I thought you were always supposed to use a stick blender?

I'm so sorry that happened to you.

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~Dharlee

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

The rebatch process went pretty well. It was easy to scoop out of the mold with a spoon into manageable chunks. Melted down in about 20 minutes, became "gel" like in color - plopped into the mold. Out of the mold less than 24 hours later; can probably cut it tomorrow.

Now my question: was this hot process or rebatch?

I have pH test strips around here somewhere. I'll have to dig them up and test this.

I have also learned to not be afraid of soaping cooler as well. I noticed you stated your temps were at 120. Soapbuddy soaps at just warmer than her hands, and I've been getting braver and braver (I usually soaped at 110), I am hitting 90ish now because I am getting better at remembering to spritz and cover the soaps to chase away the ash gremlins. Glad the rebatch went well! I almost had a soap-on-a-stick last night, too. Silly FO's. Mine was BB's Sandalwood Vanilla. I was warned, for sure, and it acted up alright. Saved it though!

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

Thanks SB! Since its a rebatch, rather than hot process, I assume that means it still might need some cure to bring the pH down? Per Ann-Marie's article on Hot Process Hero...the HP process results in a soap ready to use. But this soap here doesn't fit that category.

Rebatching soap 24 hours old? That still needs the 4-5 week cure. Sounds about right as its still a little soft.."normal" soft that I would expect of soap with 60% olive oil that is only a few days old.

Whether CP or HP, it still needs a cure time. High olive soaps benefit from a longer cure time. The pH changes slightly lower as the soap cures.

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

Cool you saved it, April!

Last time I used a fragrance, "Bay Breeze," I started getting thick pudding chunks like curds & whey... So, I went for the whisk, then let it gel like Soapbuddy says... In about 30 minutes, it was back in the mold... Came out great.

I was like cold process with a hiccup... Not as much work as HP, but not straight simple like CP... Just a little detour to keep life interesting...

Too many successes has spoiled me - that's for sure. Screwups are important to learning....just wish I had them two years ago and thus out of the way!