Teach Soap

HELP!! Everytime I try to make either shampoo or body wash (recipes vary), I cannot get it to thicken. I've tried the salt solution (yes, it is iodized), and it never thickens it. I just now tried the crothex, and all it did was blob in my shampoo and goop around the stirrer! What am I doing wrong?

Here is the oils & percentage I used (large batch 48 oz):
Sweet Almond 1.29 oz (4.9%)
Castor Oil 2.55 oz (9.7%)
Coconut Oil 2.55 oz (9.7%)
Flaxseed Oil 1.29 oz (4.9%)
Grapeseed Oil 1.29 oz (4.9%)
Jojoba Oil 1.29 oz (4.9%)
Meadowfoam Oil 1.29 oz (4.9%)
Olive Oil 3.84 oz (14.6%)
Palm Kernal Flakes 3.84 oz (14.6%)
Rice Bran Oil 1.29 oz (4.9%)
Safflower Oil 2.55 oz (9.7%)
Sal Butter .69 oz (2.6%)
Sunflower Oil 2.55 oz (9.9%)
3% superfatted
3% lye (Potassium Hydroxided) 5.394 oz
Recommended liquid 16.55 oz
(10 oz distilled water - 3.55 oz Aloe Vera - 2 oz Green Tea - 1 oz oatmeal infusion)

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JKM Creative Enterprises

I added up your %'s and they are 100.2%? Why are you using so many oils? Did you run this through Summer Bee lye calc? That one has liquid soap calc. I always go with minimum water required and add more if needed. Some fragrances and essential oils will thin out your liquid soap.

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

_________________
JKM Creative Enterprises

_________________
JKM Creative Enterprises

Run the same recipe through Summer Bee liquid soap lye calc and see what difference there is in water and lye. Litsea and citrus oils can thin out your soap.

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

_________________
JKM Creative Enterprises

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

_________________
JKM Creative Enterprises

Make another batch with water at a minimum. Don't add Aloe Vera, Green Tea or oatmeal infusion. If that batch gets really thick, then mix it with the first batch.

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

_________________
JKM Creative Enterprises

_________________
JKM Creative Enterprises

I do 1:1 then take it from there. Soft oils dissolve easier. Are you using boiling hot distilled water?

Here are some general guidelines.
For a 15% dilution 48oz of water per lb of paste
For a 20% dilution 32oz of water per lb of paste.
For a 25% dilution 22oz of water per lb of paste.
For a 30% dilution 16oz of water per lb of paste.
For a 35% dilution 12oz of water per lb of paste.
For a 40% dilution 9oz of water per lb of paste.

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

_________________
JKM Creative Enterprises

Was the Crothix in pastilles or liquid form?

Are you sure the pH is what you say? Which pH strips are you using? It seems unlikely to me, that the pH could be as low as that.