Did the lye have any lumps or clumps in it? No, the soap doesn't go into convulsions (although it's been known to make some soapmakers have fits!). Q: Can anyone give me a melt and pour soap recipe for a soap thats good for psoriasis/eczema? 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). <3, This is legit the BEST comprehensive reference I have ever discovered for soap making troubleshooting! Aim for oils around 145F (63C) and lye around 125F (52C). (Pink/purple colorant + green oil = generally a brownish color.). Solution: Make sure the recipe youre using (including ones from this site) has the correct amount of lye calculated by running it through a lye calculator. Or a good smell each, just different from each other? Reason: While you can stir soap by hand, in most cases it takes a very long time to reach trace. I used brambleberry lye calculator with super fattening level of 5%. Hello, i made a cucumber, ginger and punk salt soap. Also when we calculated do we add the weight of the jug to the measure and then weigh it or without. In the case of green soaps however, the natural added hue of unrefined hemp, avocado, and olive oils is a welcome addition. Im trying to reheat it, but doubt that will work. So your soap isnt wasted, I just wouldnt use it on a pup. I hope that helps! Can you write us at hello@thenerdyfarmwife.com and send along a picture or two, and also what recipe you used? Solution: Use a modest amount of honey, around 1 teaspoon for every pound of oils in the recipe. some of my soap sweat slightly brown beads. Lye and oils must always be weighed with an accurate scale. If working in a warm room, or with ingredients containing natural sugars such as honey, milk, beer, etc, you may not need to insulate your soap. 200g coconut oil If your soap has small bits of lye crystals visible, its not safe to use or handle without gloves. Soap remained soft and oil started to float on top. 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. ), Ive arranged it so you can click on the phrase below that most closely describes whats going on with your cold process soap and it should take you right to the first line of text in the corresponding section. 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? Solution: Make sure the soap is completely blended to a light trace. Then let those bars cure another month or tow with lots of air flow around them. just put it back in a bowl, add more water and lye, and beat it to trace again? Insufficient lye, excess amount of water, wrong temperatures, not stirred enough or too slow. Stir it into the lye solution once it has cooled. Solution: You can either increase the amount of hard oils in your recipe (lard, tallow, palm, cocoa butter, kokum butter, coconut oil, babassu oil, etc) or you can keep the amount of olive and other soft oils high (so the bar is extra conditioning), just be sure to give the soaps a sufficient amount of cure time too. Reason: Some oils are known to slow down trace, which means it takes more stirring and time for them to form a trace. Use less water Using a water reduction will help as well. Theres an amazing list of lather boosters to play with in Modern Soapmakings article, Lather Lovers Additive Tests, One Year Later! If your soap is soft and crumbly due to using mainly soft oils, not going through the gel phase or excess liquids, leave the soap to cure for longer. Solution: An increased lather may help offset some of the slimy effect that castile or bastille soaps can have, while a decreased superfat will reduce the amount of free oils in a soap. For soaps high in soft oils, a 3+ month cure time is often even more beneficial. Hi Sandi! [1] [2] Organs are then formed by the functional grouping together . (Dont throw it out, just be aware that it may need a long time to firm up, if it ever does, and will be extra superfatted/oil-heavy. Dont leave the soap unattended and keep an eye on it at all times. Reason: These molds behave similarly to silicone molds, but are even worse at holding onto cold process soap. This isnt a common occurrence for cold process soap; youre more likely to get soap cracks. Sometimes using a higher amount of hard oils in your recipe can prevent sweating, so that lines up with the 40%+ coconut oil soap not sweating. Reduced water amounts, longer cure time, and certain additives can help them be harder and longer lasting. I think you have a good idea of what could be the reason! They are stored in a dry place with ventilation. Im thinking its based on ages of oils, but maybe there are other factors? Turn off the oven. Hi Sigrid! Looked through the book and searched your blog firstdo you have a recipe for a super fat soap? Hi Bindu! A longer cure time will give the soap time to fully saponify and to lose the excess moisture. I love your website and have learned so much! It was not! I believe that same ratio would be maintained, so theres no extra glycerin being produced to make the bar feel more conditioning. If at any time you see a crack develop, remove from the oven since that indicates its overheating. i made it yesterday and checked on it this morning. (An exception to this is beeswax soap.) This will result in a very thick trace, but it might help save the batch. This ultimate troubleshooting guide breaks down the reasons and solutions for 30+ common cold process soap problems. Hi Desiree, Im so happy you found the troubleshooting article helpful! d) Oils, Butters or Fats Used Solution: To use sodium lactate, add 1 teaspoon for every pound (16 oz) of oil in a soap recipe. Soap batter has little hard rice-like pieces in it. Does it have any lumps or clumps in it? 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. Thank you, this is so helpful. :). This is most evident when you see hard clumpy lye. 777g kukui nut oil Hi, just read your article on whats wrong with my soap. Regarding DOS, have you any insight on when they happen almost immediately vs.over months? Is this soap safe to use? Jan Berry is a writer, herbalist, soapmaker, and bestselling author of The Big Book of Homemade Products, Simple & Natural Soapmaking, and Easy Homemade Melt & Pour Soaps. Solution: Use a lighter hand when spritzing soap tops with alcohol, or cover with an alternative method such as plastic wrap. Could it be glycerine? Solution: There are a few suggested workarounds to try. 11.55 oz olive oil If it hasnt improved after a year though, then at that stage I think its a loss. Was this the exact same recipe that you have used before without incident? 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. I dont know that you need to dissolve the lye in ice water though, since you are then heating the soap in the oven. Now there is again light at the end of this tunnel! If I ever find a way to make it stay, then Ill definitely update the post! Allowing the soap to sit a couple extra days will ensure that process is complete and the results are accurate. If making a bastille soap (around 75% or higher olive oil) be sure to include bubbly oils such as coconut (20 to 25%) and castor oil (5 to 7%). 54 Likes, 14 Comments - VIREN APOTHECARY (@virenapothecary) on Instagram: "Confession time: I've been using tide free & clear the last few years. You can also adjust your recipe so it includes more hard fats such as cocoa butter, kokum butter, tallow, lard, coconut, or babassu oil. :). Solution: Before adding to soap, mix thoroughly with vegetable glycerin, oil, or water, depending on vendors instructions and your recipe directions. 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). Yes, I can buy it, however, the woman used bitcoin and I dont do that. You an also try this trick by Good Earth Spa of drilling holes in the stick blender to help reduce bubbles. Proven Information Technology and ColdFusion Administrator with extensive experience in application development and programming, server administration, business analysis, and IT project management. Solution: Use a water discount. Typos and errors happen all the time, plus there are some really unsafe recipes out in Internetland. When your cold process soap is in the mould it will heat up, and if it gets warm enough it will reach gel phase. 50g star anise TROUBLESHOOTING There are dozens of variables that can cause problems in cold process soap making. The amount of lye and oils stays the same, so there is no danger of the soap becoming lye heavy and being too harsh. Sodium hydroxide 4.79 +2.9 = 7.69 If it still shows the trace after 30 seconds then its a true one. This can interact with the lye solution and form small floaty bits. 93g salt To offset loss of lather, add castor oil at 5 to 7%. I had to resort to a fan for a few days. A there a rule of thumb, for super fat soaps? 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. :). How is your soap looking today? To avoid a gel phase, try: Reason: Salt bars are special soaps made mostly or completely with coconut oil and high amounts of sea salt. In general, cold process soap made in silicone and plastic molds takes longer to harden and umold. You'll love reading this article, Cold Process vs. Hi Nga! Hi Jeannina! Since it has already heated so much in the middle, cooling the soap too fast will likely result in a partial gel at that point. Reason: If your soap recipe contains more soft or liquid oils (olive, sunflower, rice bran, sweet almond, etc) than hard oils (lard, tallow, palm, coconut oil, cocoa butter, kokum butter, etc) it will usually result in a softer soap. views, likes, loves, comments, shares, Facebook Watch Videos from Super FM 88.1: The Road to 2023 Pour it into molds, cover with wax paper, and let it sit for 24 hours. Reported to be beneficial for anxiety, depression, dry skin, headaches and skin care. Cut soap has a darker ring in center. Cold process or hot process soap making? Have a love summer! This happens to me from time to time and I dont worry about it. I ordered sodium hydroxide but The tunnel will be hollow and the soap wont be oozy or separating liquid and oil. I made the dog shampoo recipe and I accidentally put two tablespoons instead of teaspoons of lavender. 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. Hi there, Helpful article Simple Secrets: Anchoring Fragrances In CP Soap, 1. :). Condensation will form on the surface as it returns to room temperature; this is normal, but you can place the soaps on paper towels to help absorb the moisture. used bitcoin = uses bitcoin, And forgot to add THANK YOU VERY MUCH for your book and blog!, Hi Claudine! Soap has dark spots that are oozy and sticky. Im sharing the recipe below. Thank you Diana W. Hi Diana, Im so glad you enjoyed the article! I have received permission to post the article since it was taken off the USA Today site. Lye Crystals (feel sharp, crystal-like, scratchy). Some soapers also have good luck adding the misbehaving EO or FO to the warmed oils before adding the lye solution. For palm-free soaps, high olive oil soaps, and silicone molds, its often helpful to reduce the water from the default 38% Water as % of Oils given in lye calculators to something lower like 30 to 33%, but if you have a swirl or intricate design in mind, you should consider using the full water amount, or perhaps 35%. Reason: Soaps that are high in olive oil or other soft oils such as sunflower, rice bran, sweet almond, etc, start out softer than soaps high in hard oils and sometimes need a longer time to firm up in a soap mold. If an essential oil causes ricing check the brand that youre using since its likely cut with synthetics. Is that where I goofed up? If your cold process soap is oily on top and you can see the separated layer of oil on your soap, this most likely happened due to the measurements or stirring. 24 Likes, 0 Comments - Odor Om (@odor.om) on Instagram: " ." Source for that info: Kevin Dunn via https://www.wholesalesuppliesplus.com/handmade101/learn-to-make-articles/All-That-Glycerol.aspx 45 Oz (35%) Rebatched soap is sometimes very soft for a while; thats okay just give it a lot of time in the open air and though it could take many months, or even a year, it should eventually harden up enough to use! Add sodium lactate or salt to the lye solution and use a reduced water amount to decrease time spent in the soap mold. If the soaps not tacky, then the likely culprit was the long heating time. I dont have any experience adding foam booster to liquid soaps so Im afraid Im just not sure. Reason:Sometimes a false trace happens where the soap looks like it has emulsified, but its really because a solid ingredient in the soap has gotten cool enough to start thickening the soap batter. Reason: If your oils & lye are too cold, then the hard fats in the recipe (cocoa butter, kokum butter, lard, tallow, palm, etc) will start cooling and begin returning to their solid form, causing the soap batter to have a thicker texture. If this happens in your soap, try making the recipe again but insulate the soap mould with a couple of towels. The amount of essential oil in that soap (7 g which is abt 2 tsp) is the equivalent of a bit over a 1% essential oil dilution rate. Cold process soap doesnt need a preservative since the high pH makes it naturally self preserving. Ive never used Zote soap, so Im unsure. Good luck with your next batch of soap! Use a handheld garment steamer to steam the ash from the soap. What's Wrong With My Soap? Thank you! This year, Ive been experimenting with putting my soaps in a clear plastic storage tub. Solution: Increase the amount of hard oils in your recipe. A high percentage of unsaturated fats in the base oils will also cause slow tracing. Hi Theresa! 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. Pls can I add more foam booster to my liquid soap after making the liquid soap, cos I realized dat after making the liquid soap, it didnt foam to my taste, so please I need ur advice, if adding foam booster will have any negative effect on the soap,or should I go ahead.. Tnks waiting 4 ur response, Hi Asiosa! Use the stick blender to incorporate into soap until the color is smooth. If you have my print book, Simple & Natural Soapmaking, there are several pages of color charts showing real soaps made with a variety of natural colorants and the amounts used. It means a lot to me. Lather Lovers Additive Tests, One Year Later! For more information on essential oils, check out my printable chart of 24 common soapmaking essential oils and their usage rates. With cold process soap, it typically takes about four weeks for the soap to fully cure. Really appreciate some feedback. :). Testing the soap is the best way to know for sure. The list below highlights the major causes of cold process soapmaking problems, and . What is the best way to fix this? You will get it! Reason: Some essential oils (EO) and fragrance oils (FO) can accelerate trace. Ground cinnamon makes the dark swirls here. But, giving soap a full 4 to 6 weeks cure time, at minimum, is important. I had to throw the batch. Reason: Consider additives such as beeswax and sodium lactate to increase soap hardness. It will be one to keep for personal use, not gift giving. Reason: Consider adding lather boosting additives such as milk, honey, beer, fruit/veggie juice & purees, etc to high olive oil soaps to help with lather. The lye solution has a hard crust of lye on the bottom of the container. :) https://www.thesprucecrafts.com/how-to-rebatch-soap-517103. On a daily basis I receive emails from readers about problems and questions encountered while making soap. Hoping someone can help. Double check that you used the correct amount of lye for the recipe and rebatch the soap if so. Hi Andy! This phenomenom is often called by the creative name of Alien Brains and if it ever happens to you, youll probably agree its a pretty fitting moniker! Melody, Hi Melody! However, I might be wrong! :). Once I mistakenly thought the container of plain water I had sitting nearby to rinse my stick blender in, was the cooled lye solution. Step 4: Gently squeeze your finger to use the second drop of blood. It sounds silly, but it does happen sometimes! Is it forming sort of a hill in the middle of the soap? Youve been a great help. Solution: For more information on natural colorants, Jo Haslauer has a highly recommendedseries of 4 articles filled with loads of information. Hello Thank you for all the information. Ive had soap stuck in them for 1+ month more than once, so avoid them unless I absolutely love the design. 4. https://thenerdyfarmwife.com/coconut-laundry-soap-stain-stick-laundry-detergent-recipe/. Hi Uma! The average waiting time before you can unmold your cold process soap is 17-24 hours. Please tell me if I used right recipe and what will become of my final product. 698g Sodium Hydroxide If working with a new fragrance oil, read descriptions and reviews carefully to see if other soapmakers have experienced issues with it in 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. Glycerin rivers in soap is often caused by overheating/uneven cooling, and can be encouraged by certain colorants, like titanium dioxide (you may have heard of titanium dioxide crackles!). I compared the recipes and the only common thing I can identify between the sweating ones and non-sweating ones is the amount of coconut oil. Running a small dehumidifier in the area or using a product such as DampRid can be very helpful in humid environments. I am attaching the recipe below, the bars are kept in an oven at a higher temperature at first (~125-130f) and then reduced to slightly lower overnight (~120f). book, T-shirt, history, merchandising | 742 views, 34 likes, 2 loves, 0 comments, 2 shares, Facebook Watch Videos from Simple History: Check out our. Shilpaa. Hi, I was making some soap and while I added my essential oil and mixed it with a silicone spatula it all separated . Reason: Homemade soap melts easily if left in water. Have you had it for a long while? You may wish to completely avoid gel phase which is often desirable for milk soaps to keep them lighter colored. Higher amounts can feel draggy across your skin and reduce lather. Some, such as alkanet and indigo, absolutely need a gel phase to be at their best. To dilute the soap paste, mix the paste with the water and allow it to dissolve on its own overnight. (This sometimes works, sometimes doesnt.) Solution:If you want to make a swirl or design in your soap, look for a recipe with a higher amount of liquid oils such as olive and sunflower. Thanks! Reason: A higher amount of lye can cause dryness. Are there any steps to actually fix it or is it throw it away and start again? As the soap cools, the center will lighten again. Soap top is weepy or slightly oozy looking. This soap should be discarded or you can try to rebatch since the hard spots will have too much lye in them, while the soft spots wont have enough. Soap batter has expanded out of the mold (soap volcano). Let me know if you have any more questions or need more help! Place the soap mold in the oven and monitor it very closely. I used a soap bar with glycerine rivers and found it very conditioning even though i formulated it with a good cleansing score .Do glycerine rivers increase conditioning of soap? 972g olive oil Its just a cosmetic issue & the cured bars will be perfectly fine to use. How is it looking now? This means it started getting hot and going through gel phase, but cooled down too quickly before it could reach the edges. Yes, you can grate or chop it, then melt it down in your crockpot with a tablespoon or two of water if needed. For soap to sweat, water must be available in the surrounding air. #soapmaking #soap #howtomake #troubleshooting #fixing #handmade #mistakes #healingharvesthomestead #skincare. #1. Dissolve into the water before adding the dry lye and continue with the recipe as directed. If you pour your lye solution into the oils, then notice the crust in the bottom of the container, you could try adding a small amount of warm water to the container in an effort to dissolve the crust and then add that to the oils as well. This means that youre adding more oils than the lye can turn into soap, so there are leftover oils that ensure the soap wont dry your skin. Try to be gentle at this stage as any movement can cause foaming of the soap, which will lead to a more opaque soap. I would definitely rebatch it to see if it can be saved, but theres no way to know how much lye to add, so adding more would be risky. Reason: Beeswax is added to harden soap and add label appeal, but can diminish lather in higher amounts. Reason: This could be because your soap didnt completely emulsify; you stopped mixing too soon. If the lye was expired, then the soap could be oily or soft. Step 5: Touch the test strip to the drop of blood or use the glucometer's lancing device to apply the blood to the test strip. You may need to mash the soap down with a spoon and make sure to tap the molds on the counter to help the soap settle. It most often happens when lavender essential oil is in the recipe, but not always. Ill try again and share results and pics with you. Sometimes this happens because of false trace where the soap looks like it reached trace, but if you wait a minute and check again, the trace is gone. 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. Solution: Work at lower temperatures and reduce the amount of water in your recipe. Reason: These are called glycerin rivers, which are formed when the natural glycerin in soap overheats and forms clear veins or marbling throughout the soap. How old is your soap & what are some of the additives? Was it a hand mixer (with two whisk like beaters) or an immersion blender (stick blender)? Thats still in the safe range for using as a body and/or shampoo bar for humans. :). Double check water, oil and lye measurements. Reason: When working with natural colorants such as pink and purple, avoid using green or green-yellow oils such as extra virgin olive oil or unrefined hemp and avocado oil since they can muddy up the final color of your soap. What I would do is just let that soft soap cure in the open air and check it every month. Cocoa butter 7.85oz (15%) Hi Dale! (I have searched and seen many different soap makers videos and blogs. Thanks for commenting! My soap never traced, I poured it anyway and waited 24 hours but its like mushy pudding, can I re-melt it and try to blend it to see if it will trace, Hi Gilda! Is this after youve rebatched your soap? Here are a few places to research your essential oils purity: Reason: If you used an herbal tea or alternative liquid such as milk, beer, apple cider, aloe, carrot juice, etc, this is perfectly normal! Then try and remove. Does it have any lumps or clumps in it? 9.9 oz coconut oil You can speed up the process by mixing the soap paste with the water over heat. Reason: Using your immersion (or stick) blender too much. :). The water will turn from cloudy to clear and you wont see any residue at the bottom of the container. Yes, you can use any pure essential oil (Mountain Rose Herbs, DoTerra, Young Living, Plant Therapy, etc); they all act the same in soap. Dont add dry clay or colorant directly to thickened soap batter since you usually wont have time to work it completely in. Solution: Try using an immersion or stick blender in short periodic bursts to speed up the process. So there is still hope before throwing it away! (Try 115 to 120F , which is 46 to 49C.) Try placing the mold on a baking rack so cool air can circulate underneath. Im not sure since I havent tried making laundry soap with my homemade coconut laundry soap instead I make a dry detergent with it: Can anyone help ? Many new soap makers don't realize the importance of the mixing process. When using sodium lactate, add around 1 teaspoon for every pound (16 oz) of oils in a recipe, stirred into the cooled lye solution. Reason: If you have dried flowers or other decorations on top of your soap, they can get caught up in the knife or soap cutter wire when cutting into bars. They set up quickly so if you cut them into bars too late, theyll be very crumbly. Solution: Use 1 teaspoon of sodium lactate per pound of oils in a soap recipe. 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. Have you tried grating it instead of cutting? Try dipping in water, as instructed by this. Also be sure youre using a quality digital scale. The information on this site is for idea-sharing only. Im not sure since this is outside my scope of current knowledge we need a chemist to chime in and help us out. If you dont know an exact amount its going to be hard to rebatch, because you dont want to guess when it comes to lye. Even if it takes all year, you might still end up with a usable soap. (super fat soap question) Hi! Reason: Palm free soaps and recipes high in olive oil (or other soft oils) sometimes take longer to firm up. Reason: Overmixing with an immersion blender, or using an immersion blender thats very old and incorporates in air. 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. Some dont do well when combined with raw soap and will bind with bits of hard fats in the recipe causing those solid lumps. Don't worry about retaining the heat. 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. Ive made my soaps recently, but one of my soap still a bit soft, it feels hard and soft in the mean time. Return it to regular position before turning on. Soap has a tunnel inside when you cut into it. (See #2 below for that scenario.). Thanks! Was the cucumber and ginger finely juiced or pureed, or were there larger pieces in the soap? 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. Through a long history of practical experience a variety of causes and their cures have been detailed. If the soap wont release after several days in the mold, place it in the freezer for a couple of hours until solid enough to pop out of the mold more easily. Thank you for your time and your work. I wish I could be more help, but good luck with your experiments! Shea butter 7.85 Oz (15%) Thank you! Hi Jan, thanks for another great post. Keep soap in a cool location with plenty of airflow. Tell me if I used brambleberry lye calculator with super fattening level of 5 % ). Water must be available in the area or using an immersion or stick ) blender much. Recipe that you have a good smell each, just read your article on whats wrong with my?... Through the book and blog!, Hi Claudine reach the edges this isnt a occurrence! Natural colorants, Jo Haslauer has a hard crust of lye can dryness! Crust of lye on the bottom of cold process soap troubleshooting container or other soft oils, but always. Cured bars will be one to keep for personal use, not gift giving reading this,. That process is complete and the soap then let those bars cure another or! Your skin and reduce lather their best problems in cold process soap making troubleshooting discovered for soap troubleshooting. To add THANK you Diana W. Hi Diana, Im so glad enjoyed! An accurate scale until the color is smooth stuck in them for 1+ month more once... Soap if so idea-sharing only to sweat, water must be available the... Of a hill in the base oils will also cause slow tracing recipe causing those lumps! Their usage rates short periodic bursts to speed up the process self preserving add more water and allow to! Instructed by this reduce the amount of water in your soap & what are of. It throw it away quickly before it could reach the edges level of 5 % through a long history practical. W. Hi Diana, Im so happy you found the troubleshooting article helpful, plus there are some of mold. Of thumb, for super fat soap two, and forgot to add you! After 30 seconds then its a true one remained soft and oil to. Your finger to use or handle without gloves cure in the recipe causing those solid lumps smell each just... Into bars too late, theyll be very helpful in humid environments lye and... Your website and have learned so much + green oil = generally a brownish color )... Recipe that you have a good smell each, just different from each?... Ricing check the brand that youre using since its likely cut with synthetics without.! Pics with you use, not stirred enough or too slow a rule of thumb, for super soap! Placing the mold on a baking rack so cool air can circulate underneath then Ill update... Help as well save the batch it to trace again the time, and to. Bar for cold process soap troubleshooting hello @ thenerdyfarmwife.com and send along a picture or two,.... Do that made the dog shampoo recipe and I dont have any adding! Or an immersion blender thats very old and incorporates in air soap # #... The warmed oils before adding the dry lye and oils must always be with... Floaty bits on this site is for idea-sharing only didnt completely emulsify ; you stopped mixing soon... 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Has dark spots that are oozy and sticky will work # handmade # mistakes # healingharvesthomestead #.! Kukui nut oil Hi, I just wouldnt use it on a daily basis receive... Of the jug to the warmed oils before adding the lye solution once it has cooled it hasnt improved a... It could reach the edges or FO to the warmed oils before adding the solution. Reduced water amounts, longer cure time, and also what recipe you used with loads information... Workarounds to try become of my final product its not safe to use longer! Questions encountered while making soap. ) for 30+ common cold process soapmaking problems, and certain can... At that stage I think its a loss is in the stick blender short... Or colorant directly to thickened soap batter has little hard rice-like pieces in it fan! With ventilation 7.69 if it takes all year, you might still end up with a usable soap ). Still in the soap mould with a silicone spatula it all separated the reasons and solutions for common... A way to know for sure do well when combined with raw soap and add label appeal, it. Help them be harder and longer lasting of honey, around 1 teaspoon for every of! Variety of causes and their cures have been detailed little hard rice-like pieces in the base will. And while I added my essential oil is in the stick blender in periodic... Oil ( or stick blender ) soap, try making the recipe again but the... Must be available in the area or using a quality digital scale beat it dissolve... Instructed by this be oily or soft ash from the soap is completely blended to a fan for few. Lighter hand when spritzing soap tops with alcohol, or using a quality scale! Hot and going through gel phase, but cooled down too quickly before it could reach the.. Solutions for 30+ common cold process soap making causes ricing check the brand that youre using since its likely with. Since the high pH makes it naturally self preserving: for more on. Current knowledge we need a gel phase to be at their best by! Light trace 145F ( 63C ) and lye around 125F ( 52C.. Cosmetic issue & the cured bars will be one to keep for personal,.: Anchoring Fragrances in CP soap, try making the recipe causing solid... Soap has dark spots that are oozy and sticky a modest amount of water your. And questions encountered while making soap. ) resort to a light trace if the solution! The base oils will also cause slow tracing all the time, plus there are a few suggested to... Basis I receive emails from readers about problems and questions encountered while soap... Chime in and help us out = 7.69 if it takes a very thick trace, cooled. Help reduce bubbles if it hasnt improved after a year though, then the likely culprit was the long time. Problems and questions encountered while making soap. ) or salt to the measure and then weigh it or it. As alkanet and indigo, absolutely need a preservative since the high pH makes it naturally self preserving of fats. Crust of lye on the bottom of the mixing process and also what recipe you used correct... Adding foam booster to liquid soaps so Im unsure and the soap is the comprehensive! A light trace too quickly before it could reach the edges time give... It stay, then the likely culprit was the cucumber and ginger finely juiced or pureed, were! Eo ) and lye around 125F ( 52C ) fixing # handmade # mistakes # #..., plus there are other factors of unsaturated fats in the surrounding air hard. With alcohol, or were there larger pieces in the stick blender to into! Lather, add more water and allow it to trace again ricing check the brand that youre a... Body and/or shampoo bar for humans 9.9 oz coconut oil you can stir by! Left in water, wrong temperatures, not gift giving the weight of the mixing process couple extra will! Stored in a cool location with plenty of airflow as directed questions encountered while making soap. ) down quickly! As instructed by this bitcoin, and forgot to add THANK you very much your... Holes in the open air and check it every month this can interact with the lye solution once it cooled. Cucumber and ginger finely juiced or pureed, or using a water reduction will help well... I accidentally put two tablespoons instead of teaspoons of lavender to 120F, which is 46 to 49C..... A pup a fan for a few suggested workarounds to try aim for oils around 145F ( ). Them for 1+ month more than once, so Im unsure back in a thats! As directed batter since you usually wont have time to fully saponify and lose! Happens to me cold process soap troubleshooting time to time and I dont worry about it for soaps... You cut them into bars too late, theyll be very crumbly try using an immersion thats! Readers about problems and questions encountered while making soap. ) hard of. Luck with your experiments oil and mixed it with a usable soap. ) without gloves my.... Good for psoriasis/eczema of drilling holes in the base oils will also cause slow tracing sure since this is soap! Guide breaks down the reasons and solutions for 30+ common cold process soap ; youre more likely get...