Teach Soap

Hi everybody,

I'm preparing a series of short ( ) post in cosmetic chemistry,. It covers to a great deal the theory and chemical knowledge behind lotion making, saponification etc.
I've already started with Vitamin E content of plant oils , fragrance allergens and the newest update from the European community. Preservatives, Fats and oils are already on the pipeline. Now I want to ask your opinion: what could you suggest as a topic, is there something about the theory or chemistry behind the whole stuff you're working with day in, day out?
Would be very grateful for any suggestion

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Genius is 1 % inspiration and 99 % perspiration

What a coincidence that you posted this! I JUST signed up for a free intro to chemistry course through Coursera, which starts in Jan 2013 - would not have even THUNK it before making soap.

The thing I love about all of the crafty/artsy things I do (photography, fiber arts, and now soap) is that they inspire me to explore math and science in various ways. I was an art major all through school and really didn't give science and math a fair shake. Between that regret and the fact that my gene pool is rife with Alzheimer's - I am highly motivated to work my brain.

If your efforts further general understanding of saponification - bravo! I think that's where I'd like to see you start. For example, I've been struggling with the role WATER plays in cold process. I get the relationship between the oils and lye...you determine how much lye is needed for a particular superfatting percentage. But I am not clear on how manipulating the water affects the process.

A really good thread where we can ask all our saponification questions...that would be fabulous.

Good idea!!!! ETA: Maybe you want to repost this or edit the subject line? I only found this because I am bored at the moment. A more specific subject line might get more responses.

Wow,
This was what I was already thinking about, I hope I can cover the matter in as short as possible posts without writing a whole encyclopedia.
Thank you, it would be a good starting point

_________________
Genius is 1 % inspiration and 99 % perspiration

Maybe a starting post on definition of terms?

When people get into this hobby (and I'm including any creation of cosmetic-type stuff), they don't know saponification from succotash. I see the same kinds of questions again and again from newbies: What is saponification? What's an emulsifier? What does it mean to let the soap cure?

If you've been doing this for a while, those terms tend to fall from your lips without even thinking. But sometimes people that really don't know are floundering, because they think they ought to know and are too embarassed to ask.

I'm guessing from your first post that something relating to the properties of various oils/butters/fats, and what they bring to soap (or lotions, or anything else) is already in the works?

Anita