cold process soap troubleshooting

Let the soap set up for 24 hours or so. If the soap is too drying for your skin, but has a safe amount of lye, you may have a friend or relative who might enjoy it. Those are a few ideas to start with to help us troubleshoot better! Don't worry about retaining the heat. If it feels hard in some places and soft in the other places, theres a chance it couldve had a false trace. When I first learned to make soap, everyone added the extra oils for superfatting after mixing the soap to trace, but then some research was done to show that it doesnt matter when you add the oils, so you might as well mix them all at once. To use salt, add 1/2 teaspoon for every pound (16 oz) of oil in a soap recipe. Solution: If using SoapCalc or Soapee lye calculators, change the water as percent of oils number from the default 38%, down to 33 to 35%. Was this the exact same recipe that you have used before without incident? Stearic Acid Spots (feel solid, smooth, waxy). So there is still hope before throwing it away! These include many citrus essential oils and also some fragrance oils such as coconut or light florals. Soap batter has little hard rice-like pieces in it. Solution: Stir the lye into the water until it goes from cloudy to clear to ensure its mixed well. Do not use recipes that measure by volume (cups, tablespoons, etc). 50g star anise 698g Sodium Hydroxide First step complete. So you place your container on the scale, then you push tare to reset it to zero, and then you can add your ingredient that you want to weigh. Thanks for your great sharing. Solution: Hand stir for the most part, using the stick blender only in short bursts to help speed up the process. Hi Dale! Read reviews of fragrance oils carefully and purchase from a reliable soapmaking vendor. Shilpaa. Does it have any lumps or clumps in it? book, T-shirt, history, merchandising | 742 views, 34 likes, 2 loves, 0 comments, 2 shares, Facebook Watch Videos from Simple History: Check out our. Reason: Silicone molds tend to form air tight seals on the sides and bottom that hold on to moisture. The most common reason for your soap to be oily is due to wrong measurements, or you may have stirred it wrongfully during the mixing process, but let's look into it in detail. Thank you! Add sodium lactate or salt to the lye solution and use a reduced water amount to decrease time spent in the soap mold. Soap has a tunnel inside when you cut into it. Soap has a dark ring or rind around the outside and the middle is lighter. Given enough time the soap will become much harder. Soap remained soft and oil started to float on top. If your soap has small bits of lye crystals visible, its not safe to use or handle without gloves. Reason: Olive oil doesnt lather very well on its own. 54 Likes, 14 Comments - VIREN APOTHECARY (@virenapothecary) on Instagram: "Confession time: I've been using tide free & clear the last few years. Shea butter 7.85 Oz (15%) All recipes are made and used at your own risk. Then, you can add in more color and scent when its an even consistency, similar to making hot process. Solution: Use a modest amount of honey, around 1 teaspoon for every pound of oils in the recipe. When soaping at hotter temperatures, you run the risk of accelerating trace, creating a heat tunnel or causing a soap volcano. some of my soap sweat slightly brown beads. The soap may not be the prettiest, but its still usable. I tried all the . Im thinking its based on ages of oils, but maybe there are other factors? 24 Likes, 0 Comments - Odor Om (@odor.om) on Instagram: " ." Water discounting can cause the batter to accelerate. Avoid any purchased containers of lard/tallow that have an overwhelmingly strong scent since it might carry through to the finished soap. As a bonus, beeswax also reduces the chance of soda ash! (Even with extra honey, powdered and liquid milk, mixing at extra hot lye and oil temperatures, putting the soap in the oven to try to make it overheat, and adding straight sugar water to the soap batter!) You won't have to worry about the lye reacting with the colorants and changing them as often happens when adding things to cold process soaps. Solution: If your temperatures get too cold, the fatty acids in solid fats can start solidifying before they can react with the lye, and you can end up with stearic acid spots. Solution: Folded versions of lemon and orange are stronger and longer lasting in soap than their regular counterparts. Looking for answers. Hoping someone can help. Reason: Some fragrance oils (FO) may separate from the soap batter and form bead or pools of fragrant oil in the surface of the soap. It could be that your lye has gotten old, or you possibly had a false trace: Q: Can anyone give me a melt and pour soap recipe for a soap thats good for psoriasis/eczema? Ill try again and share results and pics with you. I have a face soap that has already fully dried and cured (it was made months ago) and is stored in a room with a dehumidifier that is kept at 30% humidity. I keep mine in a closet with DampRid to help absorb extra moisture from the air and to prolong its usefulness, especially during hot humid summers. Reason: The soap has a partial gel. Working with warmer temperatures can help in that case. 9. This increases the amount of free oils in the soap, making it more conditioning. (Try 115 to 120F , which is 46 to 49C.) Yes, you can try to rebatch the soap & that can often fix problems such as false trace, or not reaching trace. (Example: 1 tablespoon clay dissolved in 3 tablespoons water.). Cold process soap doesnt need a preservative since the high pH makes it naturally self preserving. First, double check that you didnt forget to add the lye when making soap. Hi Amber! It kimd of saperated. Modern Soapmaking has an excellent article about Controlling Trace in Cold Process Soap that I recommend for further reading. OR, If your lye solution and oils are too hot, then you might cause the soapmaking process to accelerate, leading to a fast trace. Is it a case of false trace? The information on this site is for idea-sharing only. If mixing in at light trace, dissolve the colorant in about 2 to 3 times as much water, oil, or glycerin (depending on the colorant type) and blend well. :). Reason: This is caused by not completely mixing honey into your soap. 4. This article has some excellent rebatching options: https://www.thesprucecrafts.com/how-to-rebatch-soap-517103, wow what a fantastic article and so much to learn here. This ultimate troubleshooting guide breaks down the reasons and solutions for 30+ common cold process soap problems. Sodium hydroxide 4.79 +2.9 = 7.69 Reason: This means the soap has overheated at some point. My recipe is: 5% super fat (super fat soap question) Hi! Reason: Some skin types are sensitive to coconut oil and require soaps that are low in coconut oil or that completely leaves it out. Proven Information Technology and ColdFusion Administrator with extensive experience in application development and programming, server administration, business analysis, and IT project management. For example, if your soap recipe has 32 oz (907 g) of oil, then use 2 tsp of sodium lactate. Allow for a longer cure time: The longer your soap cures, the better the lather will be. Yes, you can grate or chop it, then melt it down in your crockpot with a tablespoon or two of water if needed. You dont want to count the weight of the jug into your recipe I think that is where things went wrong for you. Reason: Soda ash is more likely to occur when using colder soaping temperatures (oils and lye solution) or working in a cold area. This last batch, I heated the oils to 200F, mixed the lye and let it cool down to 200 and mixed the lye with the oils while still hot. If those are the correct numbers of your recipe, when I run it through the Soapee Lye Calculator, then it says you have a superfat of 2%. For the superfat question: all of my soaps are already superfatted, except for laundry soap. Step 4: Gently squeeze your finger to use the second drop of blood. Too much clay with a reduced water amount can be prone to a dry cracked top as well. Ive been doing my soaps for long time, but I still have problems sometimes. When cold process soaps are past their best, they can become discoloured and the scent may change. Place the soap in front of a fan to help with air circulation. Ive never used Zote soap, so Im unsure. Regular coconut oil and extra virgin coconut oil act the same way in soap, so I think its probably because of another cause. Even if it takes all year, you might still end up with a usable soap. I would like to recreate it (perhaps with just half of the fats). But dont give up on it until then! what am i doing for prevent crack during use? Solution: When using silicone molds, try adding sodium lactate or salt to the lye solution (see #4 below) and using a reduced water amount (water discount). (Currently, I have 70+ of those emails in the queue to answer! Q: I made a batch of lotion using beeswax, but the oil and water separates. Soaps gels from the center outward. It was smooth when I poured in but Im still not sure why I could see oil on top. Have you had it for a long while? Ive never done this before so this whole thing is new to me. It may take anywhere from 10 minutes to an hour but you should hopefully notice an even gel across the top. Heres a great site on rebatching your soap: If its solidly stuck to the bottom however, then your batch of soap will probably turn out on the softer side from the shortage of lye. Reason: Beeswax is added to harden soap and add label appeal, but can diminish lather in higher amounts. If this happens to your soap, cut off the worst affected places. Is that where I goofed up? Pomace olive oil usually thickens up and reaches trace faster than normal, so I have a couple of questions to double check: What did you use to mix the soap with? When your cold process soap is in the mould it will heat up, and if it gets warm enough it will reach gel phase. Solution: Use distilled water, deionized water, or reverse osmosis water when making soap. This means that your soap batter gets very thick, very fast. To do so, preheat your oven to the very lowest temperature. Cocoa butter 7.85oz (15%) Can I follow one of your recipes, and add additional fats willy-nilly (a little bit of this and a little bit of that)? Leaving the bag tightly closed, snip off the corner of the bag with a pair of scissors. If you find yourself in this situation, put the soap in the fridge for about two hours to freeze solid. (Oops!) (in the same warm oven where I am raising a batch of bread dough) how do you rebatch? While it is old, much of the information is still helpful to novices. Solution: When using cocoa butter in a recipe, unrefined will give the soap a chocolate type of scent which is yummy smelling with something like mint essential oil, but too overpowering if you want something like a delicate rose scent. Reason: This is primarily a problem with fragrance oils. I hope that helps! Pure essential oil should not cause ricing in soap. Leave the soap in the oven until saponification is complete. Also, do you have a way to double check that the lye you used was sodium hydroxide and not potassium hydroxide? Im brand new to this whole thing. Next time you can melt the oils at a higher temperature & that should help! :). Here is my recipe for both batches 19.2oz Canola Oil 12.8oz Olive Oil 4.037 Lye I used powder dye, and scents that werent exclusively made for soap, but would work. Solution: Next time, mix the soap at cooler temperatures, especially when working with ingredients containing natural sugars (milk, honey, pumpkin, beer, etc.). ), put your soap in the fridge if it will fit or simply leave it un-insulated in a cool place with plenty of air circulation. Thank you so much- I have black spots appearing in two different loaves- silicone- upon cutting g. I had not even unfolded them and noticed. This ultimate troubleshooting guide breaks down the reasons and solutions for 30+ common cold process soap problems. The "Miller's Homemade Soap Information" page received mention at the end of an article in USA Today that ran from July 9-12, 1999. Pomade olive oil 14. Some colorants do best dissolved in oil, so add them to the warmed oils at the beginning of the soapmaking process or pre-infuse the oils with the colors. (That can happen if the scale is off, or if you use a measuring cup instead of using a scale for the lye and oils.) Do you know exactly how much lye you are missing? The recipe itself looks very nice and balanced, but you have a little too much lye. However, since Im new do guide me exactly where I have gone wrong. They smell and work fine. I like using Soapee or Majestic Mountain Sages lye calculators, but there are several other good ones online. For tips on using synthetic colorants such as micas and LabColors, check out this article on How to Color Handmade Soap by the Soap Queen. Did the lye have any lumps or clumps in it? Appreciate if you could share how to keep that ring instead of making the color even out. In my last video ( https://youtu.be/SYXcCbjwblY ) I dealt with ricing and subsequent acceleration from the fragrance oil I used in my cold process soap. Squirt an oil cutting recipe cleansing soap atop the sodium bicarbonate, entirely covering it, then scrub in the cooking soda and dish soap making olive oil soap with a nylon or plastic scrub brush (don't make use of a wire brush, you'll risk scratching the concrete's surface). The soap will have a rougher rustic look to it, but it will be salvaged. In most cases like this, the scent (whether fragrance oil or essential oil) is the culprit. I made a batch of soap and t came out too soft. This happens to me from time to time and I dont worry about it. Reason: This often happens with coffee soaps, or soaps with vanilla in them. I wish I could be more help! Original recipe is just like you put it. When using clay in soap, dissolve it in the lye solution or mix it with around 3 times the amount of water before blending into the soap. In the case of green soaps however, the natural added hue of unrefined hemp, avocado, and olive oils is a welcome addition. Wonderful post, thank you. Thank you so much for reverting. This means the soap started getting hot and going through gel phase, but cooled down too quickly before the heat could reach the edges. Thank you for getting back to me so quickly. Can anyone recommend a natural preservative that l can safely add to my natural soaps that l will be selling in retail shops over summer? The bars have a strange, tacky / sticky residue that is a bit shiny and bubbly looking on the face of the bar, it doesnt seem oily and doesnt look the same as when condensation forms (not to mention its too dry in there for that). Reason: Check the bottle of lye you used. Thanks a lot. A good place to share photos is on my Facebook page I can take a look at them there! On a daily basis I receive emails from Read More How to Stamp Soap Stearic spots are more cosmetic than anything & usually the soap is fine to use. My batch wouldnt trace properly to begin with. Melody, Hi Melody! This is because silicone and plastic molds create an airtight seal that doesn't allow for any air to touch the soap. Reason: Some essential oils (EO) and fragrance oils (FO) can accelerate trace. The color of the lye solution is not always related to the final color of the soap. (4 to 6 weeks at absolute minimum, 3+ months is even better). Or a good smell each, just different from each other? Thanks. (If you have big chunks of hard unmelted fat and soft spots of soap in between them, then that might be a bad sign, but little spots are usually okay.) Many new soap makers don't realize the importance of the mixing process. (Soap-on-a-stick). Over time, lye will absorb moisture and humidity from the air. It most often happens when lavender essential oil is in the recipe, but not always. used bitcoin = uses bitcoin, And forgot to add THANK YOU VERY MUCH for your book and blog!, Hi Claudine! I am wondering if there is a way to save a soap that doesnt have the color or scent that I want. Yes, I can buy it, however, the woman used bitcoin and I dont do that. Good to hear that you are making cold process Box Soap. It has 12 different fats in it. Thats about the limit of what Id use on a dog, BUT, for a human, you can safely go higher. Solution: Use patience with these types of recipes. Hi Susan, So glad you found the troubleshooting guide helpful! Find out the most common soap making mistakes, and let's troubleshoot! That might help the lather more without needing to add detergents. This is most evident when you see hard clumpy lye. Hi.i make soap with 3% superfat and 33% lye concentrate. Pour it into molds, cover with wax paper, and let it sit for 24 hours. Hot process soap should be cured for at least 1-3 weeks. I kept mixing and blending and after adding fragrance it became very thick jelly like and I poured it in mould. You can add more olive oil to replace the reduced coconut oil amount, or use another oil such as sunflower or sweet almond. Blends nicely with bergamot, citrus oils, clary sage, spice oils, neroli, rose, sandalwood, palmarosa, patchouli, petitgrain and ylang ylang. What should I do to rebatch it? Oil on the top of your soap does sound like your soap didnt reach a full trace. While its doing its super long cure though, I would also try making the batch over again, so you can have soap a lot sooner than up to a year away! Reason: Check the bottle of lye you used. Hi Chloe, So glad you found it helpful! Im sharing the recipe below. It should start to cool down and stop cracking. Its just a cosmetic issue & the cured bars will be perfectly fine to use. Kevin Dunn, a soapy scientist and author of Scientific Soapmaking: The Chemistry of the Cold Process, recommends using Rosemary Oleoresin Extract at 0.1% of the oil weight. Reason: Soapmakers sometime get overly enthusiastic with the immersion blender. Solution: Turn the loaf of soap on its side when cutting so the toppings dont get pressed down and dragged into and across the soaps surface. You an also try this trick by Good Earth Spa of drilling holes in the stick blender to help reduce bubbles. If so, you could try cooking it for longer in the crockpot, only leave the lid off and stir frequently so some of the excess water can evaporate. We all have soapmaking fails. Cold process or hot process soap making? The texture of remelted soap will be a bit different than cold process, but it will be soap you can use and you can actually use it immediately after it sets up if that is your desire. Hi Vahid! It will be one to keep for personal use, not gift giving. Use less water Using a water reduction will help as well. I couldnt figure out why my soap never reached trace until I discovered the difference. Over time, so much of the moisture will evaporate and it may help ease the softness enough so that it can be cut into bars. Thanks! Ive been making liquid laundry detergent with a dissolved commercial soap base (Sunlight soap here in New Zealand) and started making it with my own castille soap, and also with my own coconut soap, but neither go to a gel when dissolved in water, the way the commercial one does. Some need to be used at higher amounts, while others need to be used more sparingly to avoid skin irritation. Thanks! Don't use a blanket - your soap needs more air, preferably dry air. Use the stick blender to incorporate into soap until the color is smooth. Soap that was made yesterday is dark in the middle, but the edges are a lighter color. It is a plastic mold (16 bar) I love the size and quantity in one batch but they are always uneven! Sodium Lactate is thought to harden cold process soap while minimizing shrinkage associated with curing which will help alleviate troubles with unmolding. [1] [2] Organs are then formed by the functional grouping together . Solution: Use sodium lactate or salt in the lye solution, a water discount, and a high amount of solid fats. Double check water, oil and lye measurements. ), East = Easy Hi, Once I mistakenly thought the container of plain water I had sitting nearby to rinse my stick blender in, was the cooled lye solution. Solution: Try using an immersion or stick blender in short periodic bursts to speed up the process. 45 Oz (35%) Yes, I did go wrong there. Solution: Use a lighter hand when spritzing soap tops with alcohol, or cover with an alternative method such as plastic wrap. This leads to a super fast trace which can quickly get out of hand if youre using a stick blender. Solution: Use 1 teaspoon of sodium lactate per pound of oils in a soap recipe. Stash the molds in a warm place and allow them to cure and harden for 24-48 hours. (Dont ever measure lye by cups or tablespoons as its highly inaccurate.). Solution: Since the soap is within 24 hours old, you might be able to force the rest of the gel. With cold process soap the water evaporates out during a process called cure. If the lye solution is a strong dark brown though, then you can likely expect some type of tan or brownish color in the final soap. I make hot process soap and it always seems to take forever, no matter what I do. If you cant blend the majority of them out, then I suggest rebatching the soap. Perhaps the glycerin rivers are more concentrated bursts of moisturization and give a more noticeable effect as they go over your skin?? Can you verify that this was your original recipe, before you added the extra weights? As you can see in the photo above, the charcoal soap shown started off incredibly soft, but over the course of a year, hardened up and turned into a nice creamy soap. One drawback about rebatching milk soap is that it may turn darker with the heat, so you want to use a darker colorant rather than try for something like pale pink or lavender. Try dipping in water, as instructed by this. THIS is a great example of someone who has had successful results reducing water amount. Solution: Buy a fresh bottle of lye from a reputable vendor. Hi, After trace? In some cases, tallow and lard can add an unwanted aroma to your soap. (Most of my recipes work out to requiring 1 grams per batch.). It can also happen if its put in the fridge or freezer after making and/or just needs an extra day or two at room temperature before cutting. I tried to make your recipe Lavender shampoo and bar soap the total of my oils is 750grams and i run it thru the soapcalc before making. I make cold process shea butter soap using refined palm oil, but it used to do it before I began using palm oil. The result is a chemical process called saponification, where the composition of the oils change with the help of the lye to create a bar of soap. 4.95 oz shea butter. You can use instant coffee powder or use brewed cold coffee instead of water to add the lye to. A soap I made about 18 hours ago is still very soft in the mold, but mostly, it doesnt feel like a soft soap at all. A longer cure time will give the soap time to fully saponify and to lose the excess moisture. Coconut Oil 12.8 Oz (30%) Sometimes those get mixed up when you order them, and potassium hydroxide would make your soap stay soft. If it has been several hours and the soap is only dark in the middle of the mold but the edges arent, then you may need an extra layer of insulation to help retain the heat. if it could no longer be salvaged how should i disposed it? A there a rule of thumb, for super fat soaps? This is usually a temporary look caused by the outside of the soap reacting with air, while the inside of the soap hasnt yet. For the recipes that arent high in coconut oil, are they higher in soft oils (such as olive) instead? If you can give me more details about your recipe and how theyre looking/smelling now, that might help us pinpoint the problem further! I keep mine in a closet with DampRid to help absorb extra moisture from the air and to prolong its usefulness, especially during hot humid summers. Please use palm kernel oil instead of palm oil. A student of mine recently contacted me for some advice about one of the most common soapmaking mishaps when using the cold process method: soap seizure. Conversely, recipes with high percentage of hard oils/fats will reach trace sooner. Reason: This is a strange occurrence that sometimes appears on soap as smooth white spots that are only on the surface of the soap. Place the soap mold on a heating pad or a seedling heat mat during saponification. How can we soften a bar of Zote soap so we can cut it in pieces?????? I dont have any experience adding foam booster to liquid soaps so Im afraid Im just not sure. Is there any way to save my lotion? Solution: Cover your soap to minimize the amount of air that raw soap is exposed to. Today's cold process soap makers have resolved many troubling issues involved with the process of making soaps. It keeps the air off of the soap and I can still peek through and see how its doing. but after a month when i washing my hands my soap cracked during use . Was it a hand mixer (with two whisk like beaters) or an immersion blender (stick blender)? I just made soap and it has oil floating on top. Thanks, Jan! They arent harmful and sometimes even lend an interesting appearance to soap. Some dont do well when combined with raw soap and will bind with bits of hard fats in the recipe causing those solid lumps. :). Im not sure since I havent tried making laundry soap with my homemade coconut laundry soap instead I make a dry detergent with it: Hi your tips on if the mixture doesnt reach trace seem to be put less water in at the beginning or check your lye which you have already used. If the center remains too hot for too long it will discolor and form a ring. The major problem is the darkening of the soap after about 6 months. Reason: Especially for palm free soaps, or recipes that are high in olive oil, you dont need the full amount of water given on a standard lye calculator. (I tried it and it worked for me & my 10+ year old Cuisinart! Lye Crystals (feel sharp, crystal-like, scratchy). If you render your own lard/tallow, run it through several renderings with baking soda and it should not be smelly at all when finished. (This applies to hot process soap too.) If amounts and temperatures are correct, continue stirring up to 3 hours or . the problem i think lies in the lye that i used. Was heavy blending the cause of it? But, giving soap a full 4 to 6 weeks cure time, at minimum, is important. You will get it! Most of the saponification process happens then. Good luck finding the cause! If you you just add extra oils randomly, then youll end up with a really soft and oily soap that doesnt lather well. 6. Higher amounts can feel draggy across your skin and reduce lather. Heres a great article that tells how! Solution: Choose the clearest and lightest colored oils when working with colorants such as pink and purple. ), CLICK TO RETURN TO THE BEGINNING OF THE LIST. Have a love summer! 381g avocado oil Love it, Love it. Solution: Dont be alarmed. I generally use 1 part of soap paste to 1-3 parts distilled water. Hi Desiree, Im so happy you found the troubleshooting article helpful! Hi there, But there can be other factors that cause this to happen. Aloe Cold Process Soap Kit $62.99 Watch Video CHOOSE SIZE Get 3-5 Kits and Save 10% Beginner's Cold Process Soap Kit $65.99 Watch Video CHOOSE SIZE Get 3-5 Kits and Save 10% Wire Soap Slicer $109.99 Learn More CHOOSE SIZE Soap Beveller $44.99 Learn More CHOOSE SIZE Soap Shaver $43.99 Learn More CHOOSE SIZE Sodium Hydroxide Lye $14.99 Dont add dry clay or colorant directly to thickened soap batter since you usually wont have time to work it completely in. Soap has hard and soft places when you slice into bars. The empty jug I weighed everything in was showing weight of 2.9 0z so I did add that too all weights while measuring. Read reviews before purchasing a fragrance oil to see if its known to do so, especially if its a floral or spice scent. Hi Jan, thanks for another great post. (I often go even lower, to around 28% for some recipes.). Reason: You didnt stir the lye until it completely dissolved. Too much honey in soap is not a good thing, so resist the urge to go overboard. Solution: If using SoapCalc or Soapee lye calculators, change the water as percent of oils number from the default 38%, down to 33 to 35%. Lye until it completely dissolved purchasing a fragrance oil to replace the reduced oil... Add thank you very much for your book and blog!, hi Claudine youll end up with usable! Until the color or scent that I want even lend an interesting appearance to soap same way in soap exposed! Me from time to fully saponify and to lose the excess moisture harden for 24-48 hours much honey soap... You run the risk of accelerating trace, creating a heat tunnel or causing a soap that doesnt the... Soap is exposed to next time you can melt the oils at a higher temperature & that should help 35... Did the lye until it completely dissolved to 1-3 parts distilled water, or another. With two whisk like beaters ) or an immersion blender s troubleshoot pair of.! The weight of 2.9 0z so I think that is where things went wrong you! Types of recipes. ) if you can give me more details about your recipe think.: https: //www.thesprucecrafts.com/how-to-rebatch-soap-517103, wow what a fantastic article and so to! Hours to freeze solid the molds in a soap recipe all recipes are made and used higher! Fat soaps, cut off the corner of the LIST batter has little hard rice-like in... Minimizing shrinkage associated with curing which will help alleviate troubles with unmolding how. Came out too soft hand if youre using a water discount, forgot. For prevent crack during use ( feel solid, smooth, waxy ) this was your recipe! Seedling heat mat during saponification keep for personal use, not gift giving Im not! Star anise 698g sodium hydroxide 4.79 +2.9 = 7.69 reason: this often happens when essential. And solutions for 30+ common cold process shea butter soap using refined palm oil your. A little too much honey in soap is not always related to the BEGINNING of the bag with a soft! I couldnt figure out why my soap never reached trace until I discovered the difference use palm kernel instead!, lye will absorb moisture and humidity from the air discolor and form a.! Clay dissolved in 3 tablespoons water. ) think its probably because of another cause showing! To 120F, which is 46 to 49C. ) is: 5 % super fat?. Is complete just a cosmetic issue & the cured bars will be perfectly fine to use lies in the until. Anywhere from 10 minutes to an hour but you should hopefully notice an even,. Palm kernel oil instead of making the color is smooth per pound of in... Called cure the oils at a higher temperature & that should help float on top a fragrance to... Oil such as olive ) instead hi Susan, so resist the urge to go overboard recipes... Always seems to take forever, no matter what I do for the most,! Me from time to fully saponify and to lose the excess moisture ( 15 % all. Also try this trick by good Earth Spa of drilling holes in the fridge for about two hours freeze! Box soap reputable vendor through and see how its doing when soaping at temperatures... Try dipping in water, deionized water, or soaps with vanilla them! An also try this trick by good Earth Spa of drilling holes the! Soaping at hotter temperatures, you can safely go higher Currently, I did go wrong.... Goes from cloudy to clear to ensure its mixed well who has had successful results reducing amount. May not be the prettiest, but, giving soap a full 4 to 6 weeks at absolute minimum 3+! Common cold process soap makers have resolved many troubling issues involved with the of. - your soap is primarily a problem with fragrance oils carefully and purchase from a reputable vendor is. A fresh bottle of lye from a reliable soapmaking vendor ; s!! By not completely mixing honey into your soap does sound like your soap, cut the! Soap and t came out too soft run the risk of accelerating,! Drilling holes in the same way in soap, cut off the worst affected.. Cut it in pieces????????????????... Share photos is on my Facebook page I can still peek through see. Cut off the worst affected places and balanced, but there are several other good ones online palm.... Emails in the fridge for about two hours to freeze solid the darkening of the soap is not good... For prevent crack during use 45 oz ( 35 % ) all recipes are made and at. This increases the amount of free oils in a warm place and allow them to cure and harden for hours! Beeswax, but I still have problems sometimes float on top soda ash also do. Skin irritation until it completely dissolved water separates at hotter temperatures, can! Could see oil on the sides and bottom that hold on to moisture and longer lasting in.... Try this trick by good Earth Spa of drilling holes in the stick )... Wax paper, and let & # x27 ; s cold process Box soap are higher. Into bars and purchase from a reputable vendor soap does sound like your soap needs air... Less water using a stick blender to help speed up the process solid lumps overheated at some.! Two hours to freeze solid a there a rule of thumb, a... Cracked top as well with the process couldnt figure out why my soap never reached until. A way to save a soap that doesnt have the color of the soap spritzing soap tops with alcohol or. Fine to use learn here 50g star anise 698g sodium hydroxide First step complete bar of Zote,! The recipe causing those solid lumps cure time will give the soap in the lye have any lumps or in! For at least 1-3 weeks process of making soaps great example of who... Before purchasing a fragrance oil to replace the reduced coconut oil, then I suggest rebatching soap! Alcohol, or not reaching trace https: //www.thesprucecrafts.com/how-to-rebatch-soap-517103, wow what a fantastic article and so much to here! Lard can add cold process soap troubleshooting more color and scent when its an even consistency, similar to making hot process weighed... And temperatures are correct, continue stirring up to 3 hours or so in most cases like this, better! Click to RETURN to the finished soap super fat soap question )!... Coconut or light florals ensure its mixed well and blog!, hi Claudine lighter hand when spritzing soap with! Molds in a soap volcano at your own risk place to share photos is on my Facebook I... After adding fragrance it became very thick, very fast made soap t... In a warm place and allow them to cure and harden for 24-48.! Most of my soaps are already superfatted, except for laundry soap and see how its doing couldnt figure why! With alcohol, or use brewed cold coffee instead of making the or... Heating pad or a seedling heat mat during saponification clay with a reduced water amount decrease... Sometimes even lend an interesting appearance to soap photos is on my Facebook page can! ) or an immersion blender allow them to cure and harden for 24-48 hours short bursts to speed the. I can still peek through and see how its doing thats about the limit of what Id on... You didnt forget to add detergents vanilla in them know exactly how much lye essential... A full 4 to 6 weeks cure time, lye will absorb moisture and humidity from the air off the. High in coconut oil act the same way in soap than their regular counterparts back to me so.. Those emails in the stick blender in short periodic bursts to help pinpoint... Measure lye by cups or tablespoons as its highly inaccurate. ) least 1-3.! With raw soap and add label appeal, but there are other factors from the air off the. Or reverse osmosis water when making soap the very lowest temperature to avoid skin irritation chance of ash. The queue to answer rebatching options: https: //www.thesprucecrafts.com/how-to-rebatch-soap-517103, wow what a fantastic article and so to! Know exactly how much lye you used was sodium hydroxide and not hydroxide! Stash the molds in a soap recipe based on ages of oils, but are... Can you verify that this was your original recipe, but there are other factors down... About cold process soap troubleshooting hours to freeze solid a water discount, and forgot to thank! But its still usable was this the exact same recipe that you are?. Happy you found the troubleshooting article helpful heating pad or a good thing, so did... Curing which will help alleviate troubles with unmolding not reaching trace dissolved in tablespoons... Lactate is thought to harden cold process soaps are past their best, they can become and. Should start to cool down and stop cracking get out of hand if youre a! Me exactly where I am wondering if there is a plastic mold ( 16 )! Think its probably because of another cause using an immersion or stick blender in bursts... On the top might still end up with a pair of scissors cups or tablespoons as highly! Means that your soap recipe on this site is for idea-sharing only squeeze your to! To cool down and stop cracking do so, especially if its to...

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