Teach Soap

I decided to move this off of the "adulterated olive oil" thread. Here's the story: I tried to make a pure castille, as a test of my olive oil. I used soapcalc: 907 g olive oil, 116 lye, 272 g distilled water. I mixed at about 115F, used a stick blender, brought it to trace, poured it into a silicone mold. It didn't gel, and 48 hours later, it was still the consistency of yogurt. So I put it in a double boiler, watched it go through gel (it got very dark, like carmel), poured it back in the mold, and let it set up. It is indeed set up this morning, so I removed it from the mold and cut. The texture is odd--The top half inch or so crumbles off the rest of the loaf on some of the cuts. The soap is fine otherwise, but it's like there's a "fault line" at that spot. I did put it in the mold in layers, so that I could pound it on the table to get air pockets out. Is that what happened?

Thanks!

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Lesli Sagan
Avital's Apiaries
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Sounds like the layers did not adhere. Is it possible that the bottom layer got too cool?

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

I don't think so. I put some in the mold, banged it a couple of times, then put in the next layer. I smooshed it down pretty well with plastic wrap. The whole thing is odd--a light coffee-milk color, too, and just snaps apart. I tossed it, even though it seems ok when I try to lather it. Not worth keeping. I really would like to do a pure castile, though. Or a castile and honey, since I need bee products in all my stuff!

ETA There, I fixed the type in the subject. What was I thinking?

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Lesli Sagan
Avital's Apiaries
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I'm just not sure what to think of the color. Even HP castille doesn't normally get that dark. Are you sure it's 100% olive that you used?

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

I should have described the color as cafe au lait--it's a tan color. The layers are clearly visible. Was it 100% olive oil? That's the question, isn't it. Going back over my notes, I've been having trouble with "soft" batches every since I switched from a pomace olive oil from the restaurant supply store to the grocery generic EVOO. I'm thinking it isn't 100%. Another batch I unmolded today--a recipe I've used several times before--came out really soft after 24 hours. Like play-doh. Something isn't right here, and the olive oil is the only thing that has changed. I'm headed for the store tomorrow to get more pomace.

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Lesli Sagan
Avital's Apiaries
Like us: http://www.facebook.com/AvitalsApiaries

I would get another bottle of olive oil. Sounds like that's your culprit.

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

Darned olive oil again huh? Seems to be getting a bunch of folks all at once!!!!!

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~~Heather~~
Mad [soaping] Scientist

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Lesli Sagan
Avital's Apiaries
Like us: http://www.facebook.com/AvitalsApiaries

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The Soapinatrix! *whip-crack*
- Posting the trials and tribulations of my Soaping Journey!

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

Mellifera, let us know how the batch with the new oil goes. I will be needing to get some new oil soon and now will have to shop very carefully as I have oive oil in every batch I make. I am so unhappy that greed has to spoil even the purest of things.

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Susie
Sometimes A Mistake is so much fun, You just have to do it again!

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

I'm doing a batch right now of basic olive/palm/coconut/castor that I've made a bunch of times, this time using a new can of plain ol' pomice from the restaurant supply that I've used before and had no trouble with.

The possible trouble was with a Wegman's brand EVOO is the gallon plastic jar. I'm going to make a pomice castile, too, to compare. I wish there were a way to test it.

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Lesli Sagan
Avital's Apiaries
Like us: http://www.facebook.com/AvitalsApiaries

Calling all chemists out there! ! Does anyone know of something that could help us not only for our soapmaking but for our health?

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Susie
Sometimes A Mistake is so much fun, You just have to do it again!

OK, new batch turned out fine. The plain ol' pomace makes a bar that is reasonably hard at the 24-hour mark. The corners of the 12-bar silicone mold are still a bit delicate, but otherwise we're good. Hmph. I'll try an all pomace castile, too.

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Lesli Sagan
Avital's Apiaries
Like us: http://www.facebook.com/AvitalsApiaries