Teach Soap

This may be a silly question - I'm really new at this. I'm trying to make a really white cold process soap. All my CP soap comes out yellow (or really brown if I use a fragrance oil with vanilla). I assumed that the yellow color comes from olive or canola oil so I tried making a batch with 30% coconut oil and 70% crisco thinking that since the oils were white the end product would be white. It turned out white but is really dry and crumbly. I'm so confused. Am I insulating too much? Does anyone have a recipe for a really white soap?

What was your actual recipe? How much did you superfat? At what temp did you combine oils and lye? Did you add a fragrance? Did it gel?

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

It was a really small batch (I didn't want to waste too much product if it didn't turn out). I used 3.6 oz of coconut oil, 7.3 oz shortening, 1.6 oz lye ( 0 superfatting) and mixed by hand at about 100 degrees. It traced after about 5 minutes. I didn't add any color or fragrance. I poured it into a wooden mold and insulated with a few towels. I took it out of the mold after 24 hours. At first it looked ok but after another day or so it just cracked and crumbled.

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

Thank you so much for your advice. I really appreciate it. I'll try that batch again but maybe in a 2 lb size and measure the lye more carefully. But is it OK to use just coconut oil and shortening or do I need to use some sort of "soft oil" (canola, soy, olive, etc) also?

You could... but if you have some olive oil available why not incorporate that into your recipe? Use one of the soap calculators and be sure to add your % of superfat. Coconut oil tends to be drying to most skins, so a limit of 20-25% is good. The superfat will not only benifit your skin but protects your soap from becoming lye heavy.

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

What they said and when I want a natural white soap I stick it in the freezer instead of gelling. Have to know your EO and FO too, make sure it will not discolor. Good luck!

_________________
Four Seasons Fine Handcrafted Soaps
& Specialties, Inc.
Laugh, Love, Live!

_________________
Four Seasons Fine Handcrafted Soaps
& Specialties, Inc.
Laugh, Love, Live!

Can you really put your soap in the freezer? Do you put it in there right after pouring it in the mold? How long should you leave it in the freezer? Wow - thank you to everyone - you are all so helpful !

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

I learned from Soapbuddy and most people find the texture of the un-gelled better, they call it the "cold stuff" in make most of my soap this way. I place in the freezer vs fridge because the fridge sometimes still gives me a partial gel with some FO. I place right in after pouring in the molds.

_________________
Four Seasons Fine Handcrafted Soaps
& Specialties, Inc.
Laugh, Love, Live!