Teach Soap

(Sorry if this has been covered at length previously -- "swirl" is apparently a dirty word to the search engine )

It seems like there are 3 main ways to get natural colorants into your soap -- infusing the coloring agent in oil and using the oil in the soap, infusing in water and using that as your lye water, or adding the raw material at trace. If you're making swirls (let's say in the pot for the sake of simplicity XD) with only natural colorants, what are your options?

Can you add infused oil at trace? (Even if you can, I'd be concerned that you couldn't add enough to get your desired color...)

You could add the material directly to the mix at trace, but then you might get scratchy bits in your soap, I gather?

Any help/advice would be greatly appreciated

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CP newbie who's turning into a soaping addict!

When I do swirls, I like to use colorants that you CAN add at trace, like clays, cocoa, activated charcoal....

I know some people used infused oils by making multiple batches at the same time then swirling them together... I don't have enough equipment or coordination to try this myself though!

I also haven't tried adding infused oils at trace because I don't think you could add enough to get a nice color without making the soap really greasy. I've often wondered if there was some way to do this, but also to work the amount of infused oil into your recipe calculations so that you don't end up with a rediculous amount of superfatting. It seems like somebody who is good at math and very precise with their measurements should be able do this...

Sorry I don't have too many helpful hints...hopefully other people will chime in too!

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http://www.facebook.com/pages/Spotted-H ... l&filter=2
http://spottedhipposoap.blogspot.com/

If you want to add the infused oils you can simply deduct that amount of oils from your total batch and adjust that way. I generally split out my batch and add a small amount of the coloring herbs to each cup, stir well and either add back into the whole pot or pour more into the cup and then use that to make the swirl. I don't usually have issues with "scratchy" as you say, but I make infusions for those that tend to be scratchy or seeds that you need to infuse.

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Remember, it's not just that we weather the storm, but how we dance in the rain.

Tammy

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CP newbie who's turning into a soaping addict!

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http://www.facebook.com/pages/Spotted-H ... l&filter=2
http://spottedhipposoap.blogspot.com/

Yes, that is it. Although I don't usually leave out a large amount of the colored oil (maybe around 1oz), I don't see why it would be lye heavy. You mix the lye into your entire pot and break out your coloring portion after the lye is mixed in. Then it will all be in the same mold to gel once you mix the swirls in, so , it will all be saponifying and reacting together. If you need a stronger concentration of the oil infusion, you just increase either the length of time of the infusion or increase the amount of the herb in the oil, or both. This way you can still keep the amount of oil that you are adding in pretty low while achieving the darker coloring you want.

Experiment, have fun and Much luck!

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Remember, it's not just that we weather the storm, but how we dance in the rain.

Tammy

Can't you just pour some of the batter into separate cups and color what's in the cups and swirl that way?

Yes, certainly! We discussed that option more toward the top of the thread. Now we were looking at how to deal with infusions and I was answering a question about accounting for the extra oil.

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Remember, it's not just that we weather the storm, but how we dance in the rain.

Tammy

Thank you, LL! As soon as my annatto shows up at my door, I'll try making a super-infusion and give this a whirl (...swirl? )!

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CP newbie who's turning into a soaping addict!

Oh, dang! I promise I know how to read! *headdesk*

No worries Beanie! It's all good
Jenova; I have two solutions of annatto seeds going at all times. One is a very deep orange, lots of seeds, and one is a light orange, but if put in at a low amount will [sometimes] look 2b more of a yellow. I LOVE annatto seeds! Have fun experimenting! Just remember to strain your oil so the seeds don't fall into your soap pot. Oh, and post some Pictures when you make your first annatto seed colored soap!

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Remember, it's not just that we weather the storm, but how we dance in the rain.

Tammy

@ LavenderLady - I made soap using madder root for color and I love the pink! I made a 2# loaf that gelled and had some extra that I poured into individual molds and didn't gel. the gelled is much prettier. The ungelled is a grayish pink. Maybe it will change as the soap cures, but it's not very pretty right now!

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Linda
I know the voices in my head aren't real, but they sure have some great ideas!

I am so glad that you like your gelled one anyway! Since I always gel, I didnt think about the "not" option. Sorry! But it is a pretty pink, isnt it! WTG LINDA!!!!! Pictures when you cut please!

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Remember, it's not just that we weather the storm, but how we dance in the rain.

Tammy

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Linda
I know the voices in my head aren't real, but they sure have some great ideas!

You bet ya baby!

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Remember, it's not just that we weather the storm, but how we dance in the rain.

Tammy