Teach Soap

I have now done this successfully twice and think this is going to be my method of choice from now on.
I added FO's that I thought may be problematic such as chocolate and rose - so I added them to the oils mixture before adding in the lye. I soaped at low temperatures as well in order to ensure slow trace. I then whisked until they were nicely emulsified and then stick blended for literally 5-10 seconds. I started dividing them into the colorant cups at a VERY light trace - and had tons of time to work with them and swirl and blend.
Nothing seized and nothing riced. Now I just hope nothing will go wrong in the curing stages!

I always add my fragrance to the cooled off, melted oils. If I'm not familiar with the fragrance, I start mixing with a stainless steel whisk before using the stick blender. Sounds like you will be fine. Just make sure the fragrance gets mixed in well.

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

It's funny how differently I soap to when I first started after ready all the books!

I have'nt bothered with using a thermometer for years either.
I also add my essential oils and clays to cooled melted oils. I add my Lye mix after it has been cooling for roughly an hour! I make it, drive my daughter to work, by the time I am back.....it's cooled enough to use! That's my soap routine. I make up about 5 kilos of Lye at a time.

I don't check it's temps. It works perfectly every time.

I have a great basic reliable recipe I never stray from. Sometimes I think people over complicate their soapmaking.

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

I think she meant she is ready to SOAP as soon as she comes back - not actually use the soap.
She let's the lye cool off and when she gets back - she's ready to combine and start soaping.
I hope I'm right about this!

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

SB, I read what you said to someone in another post about it is important to blend the fragrance in thoroughly so as not to create 'fragrance pockets', which could irritate the skin. Thank you for bringing that to my attention. But arent you a bit worried about pouring lye solution into a pot of scented oils? I mean, the EOs are so fragile that i thought the EO would survive better if I add the EOs immediately after light trace. No? Perhaps i need to start adding EOs to the oils before the lye like u guys...

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

Thanks SB. I guess i will start adding fragrance to oils after i melt down my saturated fats, when temps often hit 160, immediately after mixing in unsaturated fats, which for me is always olive oil. I have learned so much from you. Thank you for being here.

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

Only my coconut oil ever hits 160 when i am melting it bc i am not patient enough to do it on low heat (i dont use microwaves, period). I figure its coconut oil so should be able to handle 160 bc it a 100% saturated fat and can withstand very high temperatures.
Health nuts say coconut oil, butter, ghee, or grease are the safest oils to use for sauteeing or frying bc saturated fats have a more stable double-bond than unsaturated fats, which are more prone to degradation bc of the less stable single-bond between the carbons, which come as result of missing 2 hydrogens per molecule. Hydrogen, having only one proton and one neutron, which makes it element #1 on the periodic table, is a very stable atom and its lack in unsaturated fats also contribute to poor performance at high temps. If u disagree w/ that logic pls by all means let me know. The coconut melting point is 76 so im only raising it about 80 degrees over that.
After i melt the coconut and whatever saturateds i am using then i add the room temp olive or whatever unsaturateds and heat the whole pot up to whatever temp i want it at when i mix in the lye.
From now on i add fragrance to oils immediately before adding lye. Thank you again.

I prefer to use the lowest temps possible. From my research, when you melt any oils at a high temp, it tends to shorten the shelf life of the oils and might possibly cause DOS. I figured better be safe then sorry.

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