Teach Soap

I see on the board those who gel and those who dont. I havent read anything in my books about not gelling. what are the pros/cons?

I do know that partialy gelled soaps are u-g-l-y.!!!!

It's a matter of personal preference. I don't gel. My soaps come out lighter and I can use less fragrance.

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

I sometimes don't get because I like to color it turns out. Thypically I put .7 to 1 oz FO per pound. Could you lower that with no gel?

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

Does soap have to go into the oven to gel? Or can it gel without going into the oven? And what is the purpose of getting a soap to gel?

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

Ahhhhh . . . thanks for clarifying that. When you look at finished soap, does gelled soap look different than soap that has not been gelled?

I think they look different. Colors are softer.

I gel every batch. It's personal preference....not much more. I think gelled soaps last longer, cure faster and feel silkier to the skin. You don't have the vibrant colors when you gel but I care more about effects than aesthetics. I am sure others here disagree. Thank goodness we live in a democracy and can voice our opines.

I gel every batch too. Only one time did I try to prevent it by putting a batch in the fridge and I got partial gel. It wasn't pretty. I just prefer to gel now.

What about if I want to make little peaks on top of the soap that kind of resemble frosting and drizzle? Would gelling still let me accomplish that, or does the top of the soap end up smoother and flatter when you gel it? Here's the look I'm referring to:

Yes, you can gel and the peaks will stay. Just don't let the soap overheat. As soon as the soap gels, take it from the oven or take off any insulation like towels and let the soap cool off.

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

I thought I had read on another thread that I'm supposed to let the soap heat for one hour in the oven at 170 degrees, then turn off the heat and let the soap sit in the oven overnight. Did I get that wrong?

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

I definitely like the fact that gelled soaps are ready to use sooner. Does it only take 4 weeks for most gelled soaps to cure (as opposed to 4-6 weeks for ungelled)?

Speaking of that - what happens if I decide to take a bar of 1-week-old CP soap into the shower to try it? Does it just melt sooner? Or are there other drawbacks/cautions?

Thanks!