Soap Makers Help!

[cheeptrick]

I've had this happen with Vanilla before....it's another 'one' of those fragrance oils that is very temperamental. I got the same rind when using grapeseed oil also...but I also used canola in the same batch and I've had the same results with the rind. Did you gel?

Why not grate 1/2 and put one in the microwave with a little water? See which rebatch method you like best...

Whip it and make FLOAP~ (-; I love messing up sometimes!!

 

[cheeptrick]

Do you have an unmolded loaf?? You could whip the vanilla and layer the floap onto an unmolded unbotched cp loaf. That would be lovely with lavender or something lemony...call it Lemon Meringue!!

 

[Backyard Buddies]

Quote:
Yes, I did gel. I definitely suspect it is the vanilla that caused this problem, tho I'm not ruling out the possibility that the struggles with the stick blender may have contributed.

I did NOT get the rind with in the grapefruit soap batch even though it was the same recipe. Every review I've read about this fragrance is that it's supposed to be a dark fudge color. Clearly it didn't do that in my recipe and I'm not sure why.

I read a rebatching success story on the Miller's site where she said she can actually pour the soap into a loaf mold and cut it normally afterwards. If I can, I'd like to try to do mine so that I can cut it normally.

Do you think I need to rebatch the whole thing or only the ones with the pockets? The problem was confined to one area of the soap, probably where a bit of fragrance wasn't stirred well enough. The picture I posted was the worst one. Most of them have streaks and only a few have the actual holes. I'll take more pix.

 

[Backyard Buddies]

Here's another picture. Most of the soap looks like the left soap on the first picture I posted. Of the problem ones, the majority look like the bottom two in the following photo, with streaks but no holes. The top one is one of about 4 or so with the holes. The worst one was the right one in the previous photo.

 

[ninjapoodles]

It is kind of a pain, but nothing near what a lot of people make it out to be. The grating is the hardest part, and if you have a food processor, that's a cakewalk. I don't spend hours over it like a lot of folks do, either. All it is, is melting and reshaping.

Oh, and it won't melt all gooey...it has this weird "dry" surface area that will throw you off at first, but it's totally normal. Just never. Stop. Stirring. Stirring and scraping.

No problem at all waiting a day or two--you might even cover it so it doesn't lose any more moisture than necessary.

 

[Morgaine]

I found another place for lye

http://www.essentialdepot.com/servlet/the-Sodium-dsh-Hydroxide-dsh-Lye-dsh-Tech-dsh-Grade/Categories

 

[cheeptrick]

Quote:
Did it zap?? I'd rebatch the whole thing...just in case.

 

[Morgaine]

Quote:
Did it zap?? I'd rebatch the whole thing...just in case.

I agree, I would rebatch the whole thing just in case. It's not that bad and you can always consider it a learning experience. Although I kinda think the rind and swirl make for a cool looking soap.

 

[Backyard Buddies]

Quote:
Did it zap?? I'd rebatch the whole thing...just in case.

I agree, I would rebatch the whole thing just in case. It's not that bad and you can always consider it a learning experience. Although I kinda think the rind and swirl make for a cool looking soap.

I didn't taste the ones with the pockets, but the normal looking ones aren't zapping any more than the previous recipe that turned out fine.

They have now darkened considerably from what they looked like yesterday.

Have any of you tried the rebatching technique listed at the Miller site?
http://www.millersoap.com/trouble.html
It's further down the page, titled "a remelting testimonial" and was posted last month so it's relatively new. If I can pull that off, I like the sounds of doing it that way because it appears she's able to pour this soap after remelting rather than having to push it down. The difference between her original recipe and mine is that hers was milk based rather than water based. I'm doing more reading right now to see if I can find further info on this.

 

[Morgaine]

When I rebatched I poured/glopped it in without any problems. I just pushed with the back of my spoon to make sure it was even and banged on the ground. I had one corner that wasn't smooth.

I say give it a try, you don't know till you try sometimes.

Did you use a water discount? If you took a steep one you can add a little more water to make it thinner. And the food processor makes it worth the clean up.