Teach Soap

Is it me, or does Bastille Soap take longer to set-up?

I made a couple 1+ pound batches using this recipe:
75% Olive Oil
20% Coconut Oil
5% Castor Oil

and it seems like the soap still isn't hard enough to un-mold/cut (24 hours later)

I also used this recipe (not Bastille):
69.2% Olive Oil
23.1% Coconut Oil
5.8 Castor Oil
1.9% Shea Butter

and even this recipe seems softer than my recipe using palm. (obviously Palm is much harder).. I made loaves on Tuesday night using this recipe, and I don't think they're ready to cut yet either . (I'll most likely wait until Monday to cut those)

Maybe i'm letting my Lye/oils cool down too much? IDK, but I'm going to stick to soaping while my Lye/Oils are still pretty warm!

Seems to solve the problem (A batch of soap I made I made on the 14th is perfect (using the 69.2% Olive Oil, 23.1% Coconut Oil, 5.8 Castor Oil, and 1.9% Shea Butter recipe)

Olive oil rich recipes do take longer to firm up but then do harden. I've had more problems this summer with bars taking longer in the mold. At first I thought it was because I'd tried master-batching my lye solution and maybe something went wrong. Later a batch or two not using the MB lye solution also took longer. I'm guessing our unusual summer weather may be the culprit. Is your weather a little different too?

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Linda

I learn so much when I can't leave well enough alone!

Good to know about the MP! Yup it's been a bit more humid than last summer so maybe that's it. Have avoided putting the AC on even when during a brief hot spell so maybe my curing room got too warm and humid? Ugh, it's frustrating but at least the soap will be ok.

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Linda

I learn so much when I can't leave well enough alone!

If moisture got to your lye, your calculations will be off and your soap will be softer. Technically you are weighing the moisture as well as the lye.

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

Yikes, I didn't think of that! I don't open more than one 1 lb container at a time but that can be open awhile if I'm just making small batches. Time to move my lye stash just to be on the safe side.

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Linda

I learn so much when I can't leave well enough alone!

Beezy: I did a 70/30 olive oil/coconut oil recipe for my first batches. I assumed they would be softer due to the olive oil and didn't even attempt to take it out of the mold until nearly 48 hours...probably 42. It was way too soft after only one day. Was fine at 42 hours.

Beezy, if it's really humid you can get some Damp-Rid to help control the moisture. It works really well.
http://www.amazon.com/DampRid-FG50T-Hi- ... s=damp+rid

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

So, I have a feeling Bramble Berry wants to put blame on me (my measurements), for my soft batch soap.(and it's still soft 4-5 days after being made)


They asked me if it was indeed a bottle of Sodium hydroxide (which is understandable), but asking me to email my recipe ( when I already told the rep over the phone that the Lye had huge clumps), pictures, pictures of the lye flakes.... Really? can you not accept the fact that someone didn't screw the lid on tightly before it being shipped?

Won't be buying lye from them again, that's a fact. lol

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

Here's a thought; since your recipes are higher in olive oil, it's possible that your soap didn't gel, in which case it will take longer to harden; or your olive oil is adultarated. Here is a list I posted some time ago.

IMPORTED OLIVE OILS:

Filippo Berio Extra Virgin Olive Oil: Two out of three samples failed.
Bertolli Extra Virgin Olive Oil: Three of three samples failed.
Pompeian Extra Virgin Olive Oil: Three of three samples failed.
Colavita Extra Virgin Olive Oil: Two of three samples failed.
Star Extra Virgin Olive Oil: One of three samples failed.
Carapelli Extra Virgin Olive Oil: Three of three samples failed.
Newman's Own Organics Extra Virgin Olive Oil: Two of three samples failed.
Mezzetta Extra Virgin Olive Oil: Three of three samples failed.
Mazola Extra Virgin Olive Oil: Three of three samples failed.
Rachael Ray Extra Tasty Extra Virgin Olive Oil: Two of three samples failed.
Kirkland Organic Extra Virgin Olive Oil: All samples passed.
Great Value 100 percent Extra Virgin Olive Oil: One of three samples failed.
Safeway Select Extra Virgin Olive Oil: Two of three samples failed.
365 Everyday Value 100 percent Italian Extra Virgin Olive Oil: Two of three samples failed.

DOMESTIC OLIVE OILS:

Corto Olive Extra Virgin Olive Oil: All samples passed.
California Olive Ranch Extra Virgin Olive Oil: All samples passed.
McEvoy Ranch Organic Extra Virgin Olive Oil: All samples passed.
Bariani Olive Oil Extra Virgin Olive Oil: One of two samples failed.
Lucero (Ascolano) Extra Virgin Olive Oil: All samples passed.

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

I wouldn't blame the lye unless I made a (small) batch of a standard recipe with the brand of oils, especially olive, and then had it turn out differently. The first castille I made was soft for two days, at which time I rebatched/hot processed it, and it was fine. I never really knew if I should have been more patient, if reducing the liquid would have helped (probably; that's what I've done since), if the olive oil itself was an issue, or what.

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Lesli Sagan
Avital's Apiaries
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