Teach Soap

How much beeswax should I use in my soap in order to cut down on soda ash? Ash is my nemesis!

And if I do add beeswax should I increase or decrease an oil in particular in order to make up for any reduced lather or (insert any negative effect beeswax may have on soap here)? I use olive oil, palm, coconut, she, cocoa, and castor.

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Soapmaiden (Natalie)

Recalculate your recipe and add 1% beeswax.

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

Are you just getting ash on the tops? I recently started using 91% rubbing alcohol to spray the tops of my "high top" loafs of soap and it works great!

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Laura<3

I spray mine with rubbing alcohol to get rid of my ash too

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

Do you spray it when you pour it in the mould or after it has cured and has the ash?

I spray my entire mold down with alcohol and then spray the top of the soap, and it does help, but ash still shows up depending on the essential oil I use (like lavender).

I'm going to try 1% beeswax and see how it works! Thanks!

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Soapmaiden (Natalie)

I treid beeswax, and those two batches got the heaviest ash I have ever seen, almost 1cm thick on one of them! I've found that 91% rubbing alcohol works the best for my recipe. Although I do see a difference when I use a new/different recipe than my standard. I also find that the fragrance changes things too. My 8 colour faux funnel with energy FO has gone ashy on the mold sides, while the cut sides are fine. No idea why.... likely just to annoy me. Pretty sure soap gremlins paint on ash stabilizer when we aren't looking!

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~~Heather~~
Mad [soaping] Scientist

Maybe it depends on temps and himidity? I have problems with castile and lavender oil, but none other soaps that contain beeswax. I live in a dry desert.

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

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

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

I just spray the top of my soap liberally after I am finished, then again after a few hours/before I go to bed.

I have not tried this with any CP containing Lavender EO, so not sure if it works with that or not.

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Laura<3

I get ash on everything.... ash is my friend.... ash is good for us..... ash is pretty !!! I just keep saying this and now I am OK with the ash, I have embraced it as something I am good at.

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

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Genny

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

Anyone have this problem with Peppermint EO? Mine seems to get a lot of ash.

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Soapmaiden (Natalie)