Teach Soap

Hi to all, from irresistible Greece!
As a newbie i have 1-2 questions to make because i am confused.

1. What is the right temp for oil and lye to mix? I read 50 celsius for oil - 45 for lye, 50 cel. for both, 44-50cels. same for both, 32 cels. same for both... really confusing!
2. Do we heat all the oils or we put some of them after trace? Because we have our own extra virgin olive oil (300 olive trees) i plan to focus on a base recepy with varations: olive oil, coconut oil, palm oil, almond and castor oil, 3-4 essentials of my own.

Thanks

Angela

Things seem to go most smooth,ynif the oils and lye are the same temperature. It isn't essential, but it's a good way to start for a beginner. I don't add more oils at trace. It doesn't seem to make a difference to the final soap.

32C is a bit cool. I would soap around 45C to star with.

Great you have olive oil! You could make an all olive oil soap, too!

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

Hi Angela! Welcome!
I agree with Mellifera. Some books say to add oils at trace for supefat, but the lye is still active so I just figure all oils into my lye calculator and then adjust the superfat. The same thing with temperature, 45C is a good place to start and you can adjust as you make more batches.

You are so fortunate to have all that lovely olive oil! I make 100% olive oil soap and using goat's milk instead of water and it is wonderful.

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

Hi Angela! Glad to see you on the forum. I am jealous of those olive trees... you are so lucky. There are many rules out there that you can read about but nothing beats the experience of the soapers on this site. They have helped me numerous times. All questions are welcomed.

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

I tend to heat my solid fats (butters and palm) until they are nice and clear; need to make sure all the stearic acid is melted. Then I add my soft fats (for me that's just olive and castor). This usually leaves the conglomerate fat mixture at around the exact right temperature for soaping. I tend to soap between 100*F and 115*F.

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~~Heather~~
Mad [soaping] Scientist

Hi Angela,
So glad to meet another European soapmaker here. There are just a few of us here,I don't know where the others educate themselves,because this is so great place to get knowledge and others' experience for free. The best place to start with and certainly so helpful with any kind of mess or troubles you can face to.
I'm a newbie,as well, though not as new as you are. I've been soapmaking for couple of months now.
I'm a Serbian girl,living in Skopje,Macedonia and I wonder if you maybe know where in Greece good f.o. could be found.
I know there are many soapmakers in Greece,but haven't been lucky enough to come upon some.
It would be great if you knew,as I could get them from there much easier then from other European countries.
Any kind of information would help.
Thanks and welcome to this great passion!

Welcome!
Your oils and lye water can be 10 degrees apart and still be fine. They don't have to be exact. I add all the oils and butter together except olive. I add the olive after the oils are melted and it helps to cool them down.

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

I can admit ljm1180. Why don't you try the luxurious olive oil with goat or sheep milk? We do not do it often because of the high price. It is a pitty if you mix that wonderful oil with Palm, palmkernel or even coconut oil.

Like soapbuddy, I melt my hard fats and butters and then add the liquid ones to accelerate cooling. As a rule of thumb, I check the temp. with hand. they should be both handwarm, I rarely measure the exact temperature with a thermometer. Regarding the SF, I always add it after trace but I know there are many who add it with the rest of the oils and there is nothing wrong in that.

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Genius is 1 % inspiration and 99 % perspiration