Teach Soap

My questions are:

1) Will I be okay if I use EVOO (30% of the total oils) or will I have too soft a bar? With the castor oil that's 35% soft oils.

2. Should I add the melted shea at light trace? I know that shea can speed up trace but this is a small amount. OTOH, it's a small recipe.

TIA,

justkate

Technically olive oil is not a soft oil. Olive olive will harden nicely once the soap is cured. Add everything (oils/butters) at once as the lye will take whatever it wants up to 24 hrs. after the soap is poured.

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

Thanks, soapbuddy! I read a post that said that EVOO makes a soft bar. I didn't word that well in my last post.
I'll follow your instructions. Appreciate it

justkate

You're welcome and good luck!

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

It traced in under five minutes. No joke! Barely used the SB. It turned a beautiful yellow as soon as I started blending. I soaped at 110 degrees. I hope this batch turns out well. My house smells like wild honeysuckle in June. Mmmmm.

Florals usually trace faster. As long as everything got stirred well you should be ok. Don't insulate this one too much, so it doesn't overheat.

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

Spatula is harder to mix with. Try a stainless steel whisk next time. Once gelling is complete, it should lighten up, but it won't be as light as an ungelled batch.

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

Ungelled batches take longer to saponify, so the soap could be softer in the beginning and you might need gloves to cut it.

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

Soapbuddy,

You were right on target. Gelled batch has lightened but isn't as light as the refrigerated batch, which is a shade lighter than butter. Lovely. Cut both. (Wore gloves)

Looks like the gelled batch did fine. I don't see anything hinky.

Also I'm thinking the recipe is contributing to quick trace. The castor oil and the shea butter, maybe? I just finished a batch w/ BB's Sensuous Sandlewood FO. If there are floral notes in that I didn't smell them OOB.

Blended with whisk for 2 minutes. SB for one. Used whisk again. Well blended but reached trace in 4 minutes. Soaped at 110 again. Not that I mind having a batch ready to pour that fast, it was easy, but I won't be able to do any coloring with this recipe unless I infuse the oil.

Thanks for all your help. I really appreciate your contributions to this forum.

You're welcome. Glad it worked out for you.

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

You might try dropping the temp a little. Sometimes the extra heat can speed up trace also. It would be worth the experiment especially with your non floral scents.

_________________
You may be only one person to the world, but you may also be the world to one person

Soapbuddy,
I just cut the sandalwood batch that I made yesterday evening. Gelled batch. It has lighter swirls throughout it, but I didn't do any swirling. I actually like the look, but um, I'm not sure it's supposed to look this way. Did the tongue test. No zap.

Thoughts?

justkate