Soap Makers Help!

[Morgaine]

Quote:
Oh you can use way less liquid that, lol. A fan is not going make the soap loose that much water and the dessicants will help with the moisture already in the air but isn't going to pull it from the soaps faster. Really the only way is to use less water. next time try 8oz of water as long as the fo is well behaved.

Thanks! I cut the goat milk back to 8 oz for this batch --- no color, no scent, just oatmeal. Y'all scared me saying it would move fast. I've made a lot of soap, but I'm new enough I still get very nervous handling lye and raw soap.
I mixed slushy frozen milk and lye IN an ice water bath and my oil was around 85*. Let me tell you, I stirred / stickblended that rascal for 1 hr 10 min before I finally got it to trace. I was about to think it wasn't going to happen. Lesson learned.
Thanks for the advice! I'll be 'discounting' the next batches.

Lisa

lol glad it set up finally! Make your oils a little warmer (100ish) and it should trace faster unless you are doing all lard or Olive Oil which those take FOREVER to trace! You are fine using 8oz since you have being doing this for a while. I love to discount. It feels weird when I don't because of the scent.

 

[ChicksterJo]

I did a lard soap (with OO and CO) this morning and this is what it looks like

It took longer than the other two batches I made to come to trace but it finally did (and good thing I didn't burn out my stick blender). I swirled a little in the pot and then I swirled the rest of the cocoa mixture on the top.

 

[Dipsy Doodle Doo]

I'm happy to know I can get a little faster cure time. I usually have the oil about 100*, but y'all scared me so I let the oil cool more than usual.
I split 10+ lbs of mixed oils into 4 batches Sat and scented with AppleJack, YlangYlang, Lemongrass, and Oats and Honey.

Mixed another 10+ lbs this morning and the first was that sloooow to trace batch. I'll make the other 3 batches tonight and scent with Bayberry, Peppermint, and probably more O&H, because it's my favorite. Then I'll be almost out of smelly-stuff again and need to order more.

Lisa

 

[Dipsy Doodle Doo]

Quote:
Oooooh, that's pretty.
Do you just mix cocoa powder in the batter?

Lisa

 

[ChicksterJo]

Ooh, your soaps look marvelous! I especially like that blue swirled one. How did you get that blue? I ordered a bunch of clays and I think a 1982 blue mica from BB. I also ordered some fragrances. I can't wait to play with them!

 

[ChicksterJo]

I took some of the basic mixture when it was at very light trace then I mixed it into the cocoa powder (which I mixed with a little bit of the oil so it wouldn't clump). The cocoa part was darker when I poured it. Now it has kind of a milk chocolate look.

 

[WomanInTheWoods]

Chickster & Dipsy, your soaps are fabulous!!!

I haven't attempted a swirl yet, but I hope mine come out as lovely as yours! Chickster, you've got to post pics as soon as you cut that.

 

[ChicksterJo]

I can't wait to slice into it

It looks good enough to eat right now. I made this batch 32 oz instead of 30 oz and ran the recipe through soapcalc. I hope it turns out

I am addicted to soaping and I will probably make another batch tomorrow.

Oh and I found olive oil at Costco for ~$21 for 6 L. Uh-oh lol. This means I can make slightly bigger batches!

 

[Dipsy Doodle Doo]

That blue is Cellini Blue Mica from Brambleberry scented with Ylangylang.
When I get these others done tonight, I might try that with the cocoa powder.
I'm out of goat milk, but I've got a pint of heavy cream in the freezer --- hahaha! Cocoa and cream?

Lisa

 

[ChicksterJo]

I was thinking of making something like that but I am scared of using milk right now. This is only my third batch. I hope you make Cocoa & Cream (or imagine cookies n' cream!) and show pics.

I didn't know what blue to get from Brambleberry so I chose the 1982. I want to make like a powder blue for an almond scented soap for my SO.