Teach Soap

I made two batches of soap yesterday. Both identical recipes EXCEPT one had Cocoa Butter, and the other had Mango Butter. Same amounts, just that variation.

Both sat for approximately the same amount of time (one batch was made like, 2 hours later). Both went through the same process of making / freezer / sitting on the bench. Both were cut just now.

I love how Palm oil makes a soap bar feel. It brings a certain smoothness that I just adore. Of the two batches I cut, one of them had a very similar feel to it. But, what surprised me, was it was NOT the Cocoa Butter one!!

I expected the Cocoa Butter batch to have a smoother finish as it's a harder butter. But instead, it has quite a tacky / sticky feel to it.
The Mango butter batch however, has an instantly smooth / palm like feel to it.

Um... why? Why wouldn't it be the other way around? Can someone please explain to me the "how" part of here so I can understand the two butters better? Why would cocoa butter still be tacky, when, in it's raw form, it's smoother to the touch than Mango... I'm confused.

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

I don't use palm and never have, but I use mango butter in pretty much every batch.

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

I don't use Palm now either. But I miss that feeling it gives. It's hard to describe...

I'm mostly curious as to why Cocoa Butter gave the tacky feeling, when I would have expected Mango to...

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

I don't know how to describe it, but I find mango butter "drier" then cocoa butter.

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

I blame Lush for my love of mango butter! It is wonderful in scrubs, body butters, and soaps plus it's easy to work with. I just wish it was a little less expensive.

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Linda

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

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

I LOVE my mango butter! The soaps I've made with it have such a nice creamy lather, so awesome!

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~~Heather~~
Mad [soaping] Scientist

Yep, mango wins out over shea or cocoa butter. But I use the cocoa butter to add hardness to my bar. I have never had it go sticky. One of my testers commented that the best bar I made was one that I used both mango and cocoa butter. (I do use the deoderized cocoa butter). Right now I am mixing shea and cocoa butter until I use up the shea I ordered... then will have to re-evaluate.

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

I used to have both butters in, but wasn't happy with the lack of bubbles the two butters + other ingredients I had provided.

The tackiness was only upon first cut. Both have dried fine, although the mango still has a more palm like / smoother feel.

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

Sorry to go off on a tangent but do you have to do anything different with the deodorized cocoa butter? I avoid using cocoa butter because of the scent but would like to try the deodorized.

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Linda

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

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

Thanks! Next time I get an order together I'll add some deodorized cocoa butter to it.

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Linda

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