Teach Soap

Last night I made a batch of CP soap, same recipe I always use - only this time I poured some of it in a regular log mold and some of it into a smaller mold. It's a cupcake mold meant to make heart shaped cupcakes. I put the cupcake mold into the cabinet that my computer us in and closed the door, and it's usually 90+ degrees in there with the door closed. I did not insulate it further. I treated my log mold the way I always do - put it on the counter above my computer where it's always toasty and covered the top with a couple of kitchen towels. (so, not in the 90 degree cabinet, but on the countertop above)

The log mold has responded as expected. It's hardening up nicely and the color is what I was expecting. Pretty much fine.

The cupcake one...not so much. It is much paler in color and it's still very soft. It's like cool room temp butter. When I pull the silicone mold away from it, it holds its shape but when I poke it, it's gooey.

I''m assuming it's a temperature problem...can someone point out where I went wrong, what I might do differently in the future to make cp in this small mold or if that is even possible? Also do you think it'll harden up eventually or is it ruined?

thanks!

I've had that happen before. Mine hardened up but it took about 2 weeks and once the moisture evaporated out of it. My guess would be that it didn't reach the same temp and the log & didn't gel. I'll bet it will still be a great soap.

The larger the soap batch, the more likely it is to gel. Your smaller mold did not gel and that why it's a little soft. Nothing wrong with that. Just leave the smaller one in your mold if you can til it hardens up a bit more.

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

Well now I suppose I'll get to find out the difference between soap that gelled and soap that didn't.

Check out the appearance. Soap that gelled has a translucent look (kinda), while un-gelled looks more opaque. I think gelled soaps last longer in the shower, IMHO.

soaps that aren't gelled will last long too----- they need to cure longer as evidenced by the small batch vs large batch. I make all my soaps in individual molds. As long as they are left to cure a minimum of 4wks, they get just as hard. Of course if my stock is up and I can go 6 weeks or more, all the better!

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

I've had both gelled and ungelled soaps in the shower and both lasted just as long.

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