Teach Soap

I am new to soaping and have done a lot of research. I have seemed to find that there isn't 1 right way, and everyone does things differently. Searching through the forum I have been able to answer most of the questions that did come up after I made my first batch, but there is one I couldn't find.
Does the temperature of the lye water and oils matter? I have saw the people only mix at 110 degrees, 100 degrees, but also people who say room temperature if fine, or add it whenever. I have saw that people suggest putting your lye mixture in an ice bath to keep them temp down. So when I made my first batch I had my lye in an ice bath until I was done mixing the soap. By the time I was ready my water was pretty cold. Does thing do anything to my soap? The soap seems to be just fine, so I am just wondering what it is about the temperatures.
And with the no gelling, do you put the log right into the fridge too, or just the molds?

One more thing with additives. I want to make some soap with oatmeal, do I just grind it up and add it, and how much do I add? Is it the same with cocoa powder?

Some recipes work with room temp soaping, others, like ones with beeswax need a higher temp. So it depends which ingredients you use. I don't gel. Depending which scent I use, I put my soap in the fridge or the frrezer; up to overnight. After it's out of the mold, I wait for the soap to come to room temp before cutting.

Try ground oatmeal at 1 TBS. per lb. of oils. I don't use cocoa powder since it can stain the tub or the washcloth.

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

OH! i didn't know about the cocoa staining the tub!!! Great tip!
Thanks soapbuddy! I also had the same doubts as MsSarah regarding the temperatures.
Don't know if this is a dumb question but I wonder if when the soap comes out of the freezer and you let it come to room temperature, does it sweat? if so, does this extra water on the soap make the curing time longer?

Soap out of the fridge or the freezer can sweat. I just wipe it down with a paper towel. It doesn't make the 4 to 6 weeks curing time any longer.

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

I soap at room temperature. BUT my soap batches trace fast so if you want to add color/swirls....fancy stuff maybe a little warmer would help?

Can someone assist me?

In Singapore, sodium hydroxide, potassium hydroxide and caustic soda are controlled substances and a licence is needed to buy, store and use it. We can only purchase “sodium hydroxide (<17%w/w)”.

What does it means and how would that be applied to the soap-making process.

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

I called most of the chemical companies and no one will sell it to you, unless you have a licence from the government.

If we increase the NaHo quantity in the soap-making ingredients, would this achieve the required 100% purity.

Thanks soapbuddy

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