Teach Soap

Hello everyone, I have a question, Ann-Marie has a recipe for Whipped Shea Butter that includes frac. coco oil, but I don't have any at the moment, is there something else that I can use? Thank you.

Sonya

I've used other butters (aloe butter, for instance), plus olive oil, or any other coconut oil (76 degree is fine) or even cocoa butter, melted and tempered, with a bit of a liquid oil so it doesn't get too hard. You don't have to be exact with a recipe like this.

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

Thank you mellifera, I do have the 76 degree one. When you say tempered, what does that mean exactly? So in order to make whipped shea butter I def. need a liquid oil? Or can I use the 76 degree coco oil and the shea butter, but melt both and then whip? Thanks.

Sonya

You need a liquid oil too otherwise when it cools it will be hard.

_________________
Genny

Ok, thank you genny. Does it matter which liquid oil? I have olive and I have grapeseed.

Olive is more greasy and heavier, whereas grapeseed is a lighter oil. But most grapeseed oil has a shorter shelf life.
If you're just experimenting and not making a big batch, I'd go with grapeseed.

I love olive oil in soap, but not in a leave on product.

_________________
Genny

Thank you Genny, I only use Olive Oil when I am making CP soap, which is hardly ever. Is there another oil that you can recommend that I can maybe purchase from the store? I am not able to wait for frac. oil from a supplier. Thanks.

Sonya

If you have a Whole Foods or other natural store in your area you can buy sweet almond oil, jojoba oil (kinda pricey), or apricot kernel oil. Now Foods is a common brand in those types of stores.

_________________
www.facebook.com/Semplice-Naturals

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

On the soap queen recipe, Anne-Marie used the 76 degree coconut oil, so it's solid at room temp. Sounds like you have all the ingredients to get started!

_________________
AubreyEApothecary.com
facebook.com/AubreyEApothecary

Can I add another question to this thread about tempering?

I read some instructions from the soapdish.com on Tempering:

Tempering: Graniness in shea butter is fairly common, caused by crystallization during the cooling process. Graniness in shea butter is not an indication of poor quality, just a reaction to temperature fluctuations. It tends to be more of a problem during the summer months when products sit in hot trucks during shipping. The proper method for alleviating graininess is a process known as tempering. To temper the butter, heat it to 170 to 185 F, and hold it at that temperature for approximately 15 to 30 minutes. To keep the fat crystals from reforming, stick the shea butter into the refrigerator until solid. The steady heat of tempering will help completely melt the fat crystals, but will not harm the beneficial qualities of the butter.

My question is this: do you only have to do this once?

_________________
Kristen D. Vineyard
visit my blog http://washwithvegetables.blogspot.com

I use the 76 deg coconut oil and shea butter as is for my whipped butter, no melting, just like AM's original recipe read (dump in all ingredients and mix), and it turns out perfect every time.

Alternatively, I have used sweet almond instead of coconut, but add it to the creamed butter slowly, a little at a time, to avoid it getting lumpy. The almond version does give me a bit more trouble in that it can want to go flat, I think this is usually a temperature issue. (I live in a very hot and humid part of the country.)

Both work great as finished products, though the almond version does seem to absorb a bit faster.

_________________
Laura<3

I tried a very basic recipe of 6 oz shea butter, 6 oz coconut oil and 3 oz almond oil. I heated my butter and coconut oil over a double boil until just melted and then added the almond oil. I sat this bowl in an ice bath and once I noticed it started turning solid again around the edge and bottom of the bowl, I added 15 drops rose geranium, 10 drops roman chamomile and 5 drops lavender, then stick whisked it on low until it became white and formed stiff peaks. It all came together very easily and is not grainy at all, very smooth and silky. I did a lot of research and found about 25 different recipes that were all slightly different!! I came to a site based in rationality (as if!) that suggested 75% butters and hard oils to 25% soft liquid oils. That just kind of made sense to me. It turned out really really nice and was a LOT of fun to make!! It smells like a common bug spray, so Im anxious to see if it will work in mosquito season- but with the essential oils I used, it just might.

Maybe by just melting the shea butter a little bit it was tempered enough? I did not keep it at 175 for too long, and the body butter is smooth as silk.

_________________
Kristen D. Vineyard
visit my blog http://washwithvegetables.blogspot.com

That sounds really nice luna!

_________________
Laura<3