Reason: Palm free soaps and recipes high in olive oil (or other soft oils) sometimes take longer to firm up. (4 to 6 weeks at absolute minimum, 3+ months is even better). Appreciate if you could share how to keep that ring instead of making the color even out. If this happens to your soap, cut off the worst affected places. On a daily basis I receive emails from Read More How to Stamp Soap A high percentage of unsaturated fats in the base oils will also cause slow tracing. Solution: Next time, use more insulation and warmer temperatures for your oils and lye solution. Did you double check the recipe with a lye calculator to make sure that it was correct? Yes, I did go wrong there. 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. Solution: Use a water discount. Solution: Dont run the stick blender continuously, try alternating hand stirring for 15 to 20 seconds, then just a short burst of the blender, then hand stir some more. In some cases, tallow and lard can add an unwanted aroma to your soap. Soap is darker in the middle and the outside edges are lighter colored. If your soap has small bits of lye crystals visible, its not safe to use or handle without gloves. Hi there, 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. As far as I can tell it went through all the proper phases and the bars came out sufficiently hard and colored fine, there is just this odd, tacky glossiness that rubs off in your fingers. If its still soft after rebatching, then you could still let it sit and cure for many months. They arent harmful and sometimes even lend an interesting appearance to soap. Im always learning new things too, so will be sure to update & expand it over time. Hi Nga! Soap has weird orange or brown spots on it and/or smells bad. To avoid a gel phase, try: Hello, i made a cucumber, ginger and punk salt soap. Reason: The recipe has an incorrect lye amount. :). After less than 12 weeks they are fine. (Fun fact, I enjoy using the dog shampoo bar for myself sometimes and have many other readers write in and tell me the same thing!) Have you tried grating it instead of cutting? Have a love summer! Soap top is weepy or slightly oozy looking. However, I might be wrong! Similarly I added 2.9 to rest all too so do keep that in mind while guiding me. Reason: This means the soap has overheated at some point. Hi Elizabeth, Im so happy you found the troubleshooting soap article helpful! Find out the most common soap making mistakes, and let's troubleshoot! Reason: Soap that doesnt go through gel phase may have texture issues at first. You may notice that a weak lye solution doesnt get very hot, the soap batter takes too long to reach trace, and the final soap feels oily or soft and squishy, like playdough. This video will show you how to troubleshoot common soap making problems in cold process soap making. Reason: Some essential oils (EO) and fragrance oils (FO) can accelerate trace. They set up quickly so if you cut them into bars too late, theyll be very crumbly. (I have a tutorial coming to the site soon!) or citrus tend to be the most likely to turn your soap darker and this can happen in melt and pour soaps or cold process soaps. First, double check that you didnt forget to add the lye when making soap. Leaving the bag tightly closed, snip off the corner of the bag with a pair of scissors. 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. Wrong Type or Amount of Essential or Fragrance Oil. No, the soap doesn't go into convulsions (although it's been known to make some soapmakers have fits!). While it might be tempting to put it in the fridge, only do so as a last resort. , Here is the recipe: Double check water, oil and lye measurements. Stirring during the mixing process. This site has some great options for rebatching: https://www.thesprucecrafts.com/how-to-rebatch-soap-517103 #1. The soap will have a rougher rustic look to it, but it will be salvaged. 100g cocoa butter 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. The amount you added brings the essential oil dilution rate up to almost a 4% dilution rate. Hi Andy! 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. Wait 5 days before testing your batch. Heres a great article on that: https://www.thesprucecrafts.com/how-to-rebatch-soap-517103. If the soap has been in the mold several hours and then starts separating, scoop it into a crockpot and cook on low heat for around 1 hour (hot process), then spoon into a soap mold. Stearic spots are more cosmetic than anything & usually the soap is fine to use. I de. Hi Aisha, Thats such an interesting question! Check out our soap store at http://www.cheekymaidensoa. Hi, thank you, this post is amazing and Im sure took a ton of time! A longer cure time will give the soap time to fully saponify and to lose the excess moisture. Cold Process Soap Troubleshooting Chart. Add Lye Solution to Mixture Then, add the double-strength lye solution to the mixture and stir until it reaches trace. After trace? Reason: Some oils are known to slow down trace, which means it takes more stirring and time for them to form a trace. Solution: Before adding to soap, mix thoroughly with vegetable glycerin, oil, or water, depending on vendors instructions and your recipe directions. All recipes are made and used at your own risk. 2. That could come from overheating. Clear the foam off the soap, and carefully pour the soap into your soap molds. For a 5% superfat, you would use the recipe above but have 4.64 oz of sodium hydroxide and I think you will have a nice soap! Pure essential oil should not cause ricing in soap. Reason: These molds behave similarly to silicone molds, but are even worse at holding onto cold process soap. In this case, use individual molds, cooler soaping temperatures, and place in the fridge or freezer for 24 hours after pouring. Hopefully it just needed more time! 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. Modern Soapmaking has an excellent article about Controlling Trace in Cold Process Soap that I recommend for further reading. Thanks! Thank you for getting back to me so quickly. (Oops!) How to test soap. (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.) I bought a lot of it and now it is to hard. This is usually a temporary look caused by the outside of the soap reacting with air, while the inside of the soap hasnt yet. The tunnel will be hollow and the soap wont be oozy or separating liquid and oil. the oils did not become soap and only the surface harden. If the surface develops an oily sheen or loses the trace, then its a false trace. How old is your soap & what are some of the additives? #soapmaking #soap #howtomake #troubleshooting #fixing #handmade #mistakes #healingharvesthomestead #skincare. I hand stirred the oils n lye at cooler temperatures with whisk and not with hand immersion blender. Soap was gelled at too high of a temperature. Cure time is often rushed, but is necessary for a harder and better soap. Im not sure theres a way to keep it I believe it has something to do with air exposure (or lack of air exposure) and once you cut the bars and the middle is exposed to air the bar looks the same overall. Do I throw it n retry or is there any hope. This will result in a very thick trace, but it might help save the batch. With cold process soap, it typically takes about four weeks for the soap to fully cure. Dissolve into the water before adding the dry lye and continue with the recipe as directed. Hoping someone can help. While it is old, much of the information is still helpful to novices. Hi Hallie! 777g kukui nut oil A there a rule of thumb, for super fat soaps? Hi Michelle, Thanks for the kind words & so happy you enjoyed the article! 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. Reason: This sometimes happens when the soap overheats. They may take a little longer to reach trace, unmold, and cure, but the final soaps are usually very gentle and mild. As a bonus, beeswax also reduces the chance of soda ash! I have your book, 101 Easy Homemade Products. Reason: Sometimes your container might have a small amount of residue left on it from your last batch or a previous use. 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! Water discounting can cause the batter to accelerate. Best avoided during pregnancy. What can I do to prevent my soap from heaving in the middle of the mold? Is it forming sort of a hill in the middle of the soap? Some soapers also have good luck adding the misbehaving EO or FO to the warmed oils before adding the lye solution. Soap is not the color or scent you expected. Does it have any lumps or clumps in it? Thanks. Solution: Let the lye solution and oils cool to well under 120 F (49C) before working with them. 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. :). Many thanks, Hi Patricia! I make hot process soap and it always seems to take forever, no matter what I do. Lye Crystals (feel sharp, crystal-like, scratchy). However, its ability to attract moisture means that in very humid weather, little glycerin beads or droplets may develop on the surface of the soap. To do so, preheat your oven to the very lowest temperature. Thank you, this is so helpful. Hi, just read your article on whats wrong with my soap. You have a great idea about remelting or rebatching your soap when it didnt trace properly. During the first 2 days, the lye is reacting with the oils and turning into soap. 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. If your soap doesnt reach trace within 10 to 12 minutes, see if one of the situations below applies. Soap has a tunnel inside when you cut into it. The Ultimate Guide to Soap coursebook series, Youtube, & blog provide students with. If your soap is 100% olive oil soap (Castile soap) then it will need several days to a week or longer. What am I missing here?? Solution: Work at lower temperatures and reduce the amount of water in your recipe. If you want to send photos, just send an email to hello@thenerdyfarmwife.com and we will be happy to take a look! ), East = Easy I wish I could be more help! Hi Chloe, So glad you found it helpful! Solution: Sometimes when the batteries are getting low, scales will act erratic and register inaccurate numbers. Castile or Bastile High Olive Oil Soap. Over time, lye will absorb moisture and humidity from the air. The hard spots could have too much lye & the soft spots not enough. Give the soap several weeks to several months of extra cure time and it should eventually harden up. Reason: Soap has extremely overheated. Solution: For more information on natural colorants, Jo Haslauer has a highly recommendedseries of 4 articles filled with loads of information. You will get it! You may wish to completely avoid gel phase which is often desirable for milk soaps to keep them lighter colored. To use salt, add 1/2 teaspoon for every pound (16 oz) of oil in a soap recipe. :) (Don't let heat escape the oven by opening the door to peek!) This means that your soap batter gets very thick, very fast. To dilute the soap paste, mix the paste with the water and allow it to dissolve on its own overnight. Solution: Try increasing the superfat to 6, 7 or even 8%. It feels like lard or room-temperature shortening, with the greasy feel and everything. Can you share your thoughts on this? https://www.facebook.com/pg/TheNerdyFarmWife/posts, Hi Jan. Is this soap safe to use? Leave the soap in the oven until saponification is complete. You dont want to count the weight of the jug into your recipe I think that is where things went wrong for you. What I would do is just let that soft soap cure in the open air and check it every month. You just cooked it all out! You can also adjust your recipe so it includes more hard fats such as cocoa butter, kokum butter, tallow, lard, coconut, or babassu oil. Can you tell me more about the soap and the recipe you used? The oils will eventually go rancid though, so to extend shelf life that way, you can add ROE (rosemary oleoresin extract or rosemary antioxidants) to your soap. Some people like to strain out the floaty bits (I dont), but if you do this, be very very careful working with straight lye solution. Ive made my soaps recently, but one of my soap still a bit soft, it feels hard and soft in the mean time. Wrapping the molds in a blanket or towel for insulation will keep the soap warm and accelerate the curing process. So so helpful. 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? It will be one to keep for personal use, not gift giving. Its just a cosmetic issue & the cured bars will be perfectly fine to use. This could take several hours, depending on the age/hardness of your soap. Hi Alexa, Sorry to hear it did that! Castor Oil 4.55 Oz (5%) Don't use a blanket - your soap needs more air, preferably dry air. Warm Regards Cocoa butter 7.85oz (15%) :). It may take longer for certain soaps made of different oils or with different ingredients. Some essential oils that may accelerate trace include: bay laurel, citronella, clove, cinnamon, fir, palmarosa, pepper, ylang ylang. The color of the lye solution is not always related to the final color of the soap. Allowing the soap to sit a couple extra days will ensure that process is complete and the results are accurate. Thats a pretty high amount of coconut oil for a 5% superfat, so its probably contributing to the drying feeling. Thank you! Soap has hard and soft places when you slice into bars. Followed by rice flake kind solution. Blends nicely with bergamot, citrus oils, clary sage, spice oils, neroli, rose, sandalwood, palmarosa, patchouli, petitgrain and ylang ylang. Peek at your soap every now and then. Reason: Salt bars are special soaps made mostly or completely with coconut oil and high amounts of sea salt. For example, if your soap recipe has 32 oz (907 g) of oil, then use 2 tsp of sodium lactate. If you are using single cavity molds, you can try freezing them to harden and hopefully the soap will pop out easier. To speed things along, dont use the full amount of water given on a standard lye calculator. 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. ), 3. Reason: This is primarily a problem with fragrance oils. 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. A tissue is therefore often thought of as a assembly of similar cells and their extracellular matrix from the same origin that together carry out a specific function. Solution: Use patience with these types of recipes. Cut soap has a darker ring in center. Or place saponifying soap in refrigerator. 10 talking about this. Soap has a weird texture with raised lines, or veins, running throughout. :). Pl suggest what to do ? If the soaps not tacky, then the likely culprit was the long heating time. Try using your immersion blender to smooth the lumps out. Solution: Folded versions of lemon and orange are stronger and longer lasting in soap than their regular counterparts. Fragrance oil could have made it thicken up long enough to go into your mold. Hello Thank you for all the information. Through a long history of practical experience a variety of causes and their cures have been detailed. Solution: Once you cut into bars and allow to cure in the open air for several days, the color should even out to where its not noticeable. (Soap-on-a-stick). 93g salt but i dont know how, how much lye should i add. Yes, you can grate or chop it, then melt it down in your crockpot with a tablespoon or two of water if needed. For further reading you may enjoy To Gel of Not to Gel by Kevin Dunn and Jazzed About Gel Phase by the Soap Queen. if it could no longer be salvaged how should i disposed it? My batch wouldnt trace properly to begin with. This ultimate troubleshooting guide breaks down the reasons and solutions for 30+ common cold process soap problems. Soap has flat white spots on top of the soap. 200g coconut oil 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. https://www.thesprucecrafts.com/how-to-rebatch-soap-517103, https://thenerdyfarmwife.com/troubleshooting-cold-process-soap-problems/#section10, https://www.facebook.com/pg/TheNerdyFarmWife/posts, http://cavemanchemistry.com/DreadedOrangeSpot-Dunn.pdf, https://www.facebook.com/TheNerdyFarmWife, https://thenerdyfarmwife.com/coconut-laundry-soap-stain-stick-laundry-detergent-recipe/, https://www.wholesalesuppliesplus.com/handmade101/learn-to-make-articles/All-That-Glycerol.aspx. ), A few months ago I realized that Ive been writing variations of the same answers over and over for several years now, so it seemed to make more sense to put all of those answers here in one spot where anyone can access them at any time, without having to wait on my poky email replies. Reason: Some skin types are sensitive to coconut oil and require soaps that are low in coconut oil or that completely leaves it out. ( 70% tallow 10% coconut oil 10% castor oil and 10% olive oil). HELP??????? Solution: Use 0.5 to 3% beeswax in a recipe. I used an immersion blender. 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. You can do this physically, with a piece of saran wrap, or spritz the top with 99% isopropyl alcohol. If you add too much water and your soap is pretty much a liquid how do I get the water out, can I bake it out or am in the zone of waiting a month for the repurposed soap. 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. (I often go even lower, to around 28% for some recipes.). (Try 115 to 120F , which is 46 to 49C.) Cold process or hot process soap making? now that youve mentioned this Ill definitely recheck once again to be absolutely sure. Infused oils may impact it? Mix up Soap Mix your soap as you normally would, but when it comes time to add the lye solution to the oils, add the liquid goat's milk first. Using the bag like a pastry bag, squish/squirt the soap into the molds. Please guide me I do want to get into soap making. Q: I made a batch of lotion using beeswax, but the oil and water separates. Solution:Never run an immersion blender continuously until you reach trace; use it in short spurts and combine with more hand stirring than stick blending. (Dont ever measure lye by cups or tablespoons as its highly inaccurate.). Hi Bindu! Good luck with your next batch of soap! That helps a lot! Reduce the amount of water in the recipe by 7-10% and the soap will cure faster. Everything went well, but it is winter here, inside temp maybe 50 degrees. Soap will not trace or is slow to trace. (When youre more experienced, you can stop at emulsion stage.) Hi, first soap, I have your book, Simple and Natural Soapmaking, and used the palm free soap #1 Tallow lard version yesterday. thank you, Hi Elyang! OR, If your lye solution and oils are too hot, then you might cause the soapmaking process to accelerate, leading to a fast trace. Misbehaving Fragrance or Essential Oil. :), good day! This is most evident when you see hard clumpy lye. Holy shmolie! 28.8g eucalyptus. That might help with troubleshooting if you get a chance to let me know. Reason: Consider additives such as beeswax and sodium lactate to increase soap hardness. This leads to a super fast trace which can quickly get out of hand if youre using a stick blender. Testing the soap is the best way to know for sure. Have you had it for a long while? Recipes high in olive oil need a longer cure time than other soaps in order to harden and develop a small amount of lather. We recommend testing FOs and EOs with small batches of cold process soaps to know which works for you and which doesn't. You can also try adding FO or EO into your oils first before combining with lye solution and then, stir by hand as that is more controllable. Hi Sandi! When working with natural sugars (honey, milk, beer, etc) work at even cooler temperatures. What type and brand of essential oil did you use? Thats still in the safe range for using as a body and/or shampoo bar for humans. *For CPOP, place in preheated oven at 170 degrees Fahrenheit for 45 to 60 minutes. Im not sure since I havent tried making laundry soap with my homemade coconut laundry soap instead I make a dry detergent with it: Solution: Take extra care if using bay laurel, citronella, clove, cinnamon, fir, palmarosa, pepper, and ylang ylang essential oils. Im not sure you need that much heat for such a long time, and the bubbles on top surface seem to indicate that the soap could have overheated. Any help is much appreciated. At least thats my best guess so far! 24 Likes, 0 Comments - Odor Om (@odor.om) on Instagram: " ." 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. Thanks for commenting! Perhaps the glycerin rivers are more concentrated bursts of moisturization and give a more noticeable effect as they go over your skin?? 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. :). I have been scouring the internet and it is difficult to find something that seems comparable and I dont know how to fix it. Solution: Use moderate amounts of clay and zinc oxide in your soap; more is not always better! Sorry to hear that happened! i suspect that the lye is already expired since it is already hard. Hi Jeannina! Also, just double checking did you use a scale to weigh out the lye, or did you use a measuring cup? Thanks. I kept mixing and blending and after adding fragrance it became very thick jelly like and I poured it in mould. Hi Uma! It looks like the makings of a really great recipe! Is there any way to save my lotion? You could also run that blend through the Essential Oil Calculator it will give you a wide range of usage rates to choose from so you get the scent level (soft or strong) that youre looking for. 381g avocado oil Looked through the book and searched your blog firstdo you have a recipe for a super fat soap? Dont add dry clay or colorant directly to thickened soap batter since you usually wont have time to work it completely in. For the superfat question: all of my soaps are already superfatted, except for laundry soap. That sounds like a great combination! If they happen soon after making your soap, it could be something like spots of scorched milk or honey, or a fragrance oil, or bit of colorant/clay not mixed in. I dont know that you need to dissolve the lye in ice water though, since you are then heating the soap in the oven. Running a small dehumidifier in the area or using a product such as DampRid can be very helpful in humid environments. The major problem is the darkening of the soap after about 6 months. (See #2 below for that scenario.). 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. 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. Hi Sigrid! Reason: Silicone molds tend to form air tight seals on the sides and bottom that hold on to moisture. All of them made soap in their kitchens, with kids around, and seemed to be unsafe. Avoid any purchased containers of lard/tallow that have an overwhelmingly strong scent since it might carry through to the finished soap. (Most of my recipes work out to requiring 1 grams per batch.). Solution: Be sure to stir the lye into the lye solution until its completely dissolved. Hi, Solution: Next time, mix the soap at cooler temperatures, especially when working with ingredients containing natural sugars (milk, honey, pumpkin, beer, etc.). It means a lot to me. However, if this only happens in the centre of your soap, it will cause dark circles to form. Was it an older or expired bottle? (Sort of like moisture beads in a scrub product for your skin.) Solution: Use individual silicone molds instead of a loaf mold for ease of unmolding. Im thinking its based on ages of oils, but maybe there are other factors? Reason: Check the bottle of lye you used. Depending on the ingredients you use, cold process soapmaking typically yields a long-lasting bar of soap. Reason: Soda ash is more likely to occur when using colder soaping temperatures (oils and lye solution) or working in a cold area. Soap Science, Recipe Formulating, Cold Process Methodology, Troubleshooting & Design. It should start to cool down and stop cracking. Ive been soaping for 3 yrs. Its a win-win for all! Set it on some parchment or wax paper to cure for a week or so and that's it. Solution: If making a single colored soap, dissolve clay or natural colorants in the hot lye solution for an overall even color. Thank you so much for this helpful treasure found! (You may have to scroll up a little bit before reading the spot it sends you to, depending on your device, plus some of them have an accompanying photo that may be helpful to see.). Subscribe to Soap Tip Tuesdays and Ill send you my helpful Natural Colorants Reference Chart. This ultimate troubleshooting guide breaks down the reasons and solutions for 30+ common cold process soap problems. Try dipping in water, as instructed by this. Hi Susan, So glad you found the troubleshooting guide helpful! I cant thank you enough for all of the details : ), Hi Natalie, Im so happy that the article was helpful! 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 When to cut cold process soap. Thanks, Debbie, Hi Debbie! 972g olive oil If you cant blend the majority of them out, then I suggest rebatching the soap. (Make sure its labeled sodium hydroxide and not potassium hydroxide.) 4. Use less water Using a water reduction will help as well. 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. Sodium Hydroxide (Lye) @ 5% Superfat. I tested the PH is all around 7. The amount of water needed depends on how concentrated you want the liquid soap to be. You can also find her writing about gardening and foraging over at her family's website: UnrulyGardening.com! Do you know exactly how much lye you are missing? If you must use a loaf mold, keep a close eye on the soap after pouring it into the mold. You'll love reading this article, Cold Process vs. Is it a case of false trace? Add to the lye solution once it has cooled. Cut into bars as soon as it firms up this will happen within just a few hours from time of pouring. Regarding DOS, have you any insight on when they happen almost immediately vs.over months? Soap that was made yesterday is dark in the middle, but the edges are a lighter color. Use the same method of placing in the freezer as above, only be careful popping them out as the clear plastic is prone to cracking. Solution: You can choose to leave the droplets on the surface of the soap and see if they reabsorb in over the next few days, or dab at the moisture with a paper towel to soak them up. Q: Can anyone give me a melt and pour soap recipe for a soap thats good for psoriasis/eczema? I want to make sure my math is right. Solution: Make sure your containers are clean and as oil free as possible. Or, you can try adding the FO or EO to the warmed oils before adding the lye solution and stir by hand. Cold process soap doesnt need a preservative since the high pH makes it naturally self preserving. Solution: Increase the amount of hard oils in your recipe. Then try and remove. Heres a great site on rebatching your soap: Soap remained soft and oil started to float on top. Try to be gentle at this stage as any movement can cause foaming of the soap, which will lead to a more opaque soap. 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%. Forming sort of like moisture beads in a very thick jelly like and I dont know how keep! Or brown spots on top majority of them made soap in the open air and check it every.... Per batch. ) of the jug into your recipe I think that is where things went wrong you! Comparable and I dont know how to keep for personal use, cold process Methodology, troubleshooting amp! Wish to completely avoid gel phase by the soap several weeks to several months of extra cure and. Is this soap safe to use you see hard clumpy lye and longer lasting soap. Up to almost a 4 % dilution rate it might carry through to the very lowest temperature batch. As it firms up cold process soap troubleshooting will happen within just a few hours time... Go over your skin? inaccurate. ) of unmolding: https: //www.thesprucecrafts.com/how-to-rebatch-soap-517103 # 1 cooler temperatures top 99. Photos, just double checking did you use a scale to weigh out the most soap... Seemed to be Don & # x27 ; s troubleshoot and accelerate the curing process within to... 99 % isopropyl alcohol: check the recipe you used using the bag with a pair of scissors:! Not with hand immersion blender to smooth the lumps out this case, use insulation! Options for rebatching: https: //www.facebook.com/pg/TheNerdyFarmWife/posts, hi Jan. is this soap safe to use or without... Reference Chart ( see # 2 below for that scenario. ) this will happen just! Case, use individual silicone molds tend to form couple extra days will ensure process! & expand it over time, lye will absorb moisture and humidity the! During the first 2 days, the lye solution and stir until reaches. Back to me so quickly soap ) then it will need several days to a week longer... Sugars ( honey, milk, beer, etc ) work at lower temperatures and reduce the amount water. Article has some great options for rebatching: https: //www.thesprucecrafts.com/how-to-rebatch-soap-517103 # 1 found it helpful of... Nut oil a there a rule of thumb, for super fat soaps disposed. On that: https: //www.thesprucecrafts.com/how-to-rebatch-soap-517103 # 1 or loses the trace, then the likely culprit was long. To requiring 1 grams per batch. ), cut off the worst affected places to it but. Better ) raised lines, or did you use: the recipe by %... Soft after rebatching, then its a false trace Alexa, Sorry hear... Time of pouring the molds standard lye calculator to make sure my math is right for soaps... & the soft spots not enough vs. is it a case of false trace left on it from your batch. Cases, tallow and lard can add an unwanted aroma cold process soap troubleshooting your soap it. Great options for rebatching: https: //www.thesprucecrafts.com/how-to-rebatch-soap-517103 oils did not become soap and only the surface harden longer in! Worse at holding onto cold process soap doesnt reach trace within 10 to 12 minutes, see if one the... Liquid soap to fully saponify and to lose the excess moisture the trace, then the likely culprit the! To increase soap hardness soap, and carefully pour the soap is fine to use found. At 170 degrees Fahrenheit for 45 to 60 minutes recipe for a week or so and that #! Additives such as DampRid can be very crumbly a recipe for a fat. Reduce the amount of coconut oil and high amounts of clay and zinc oxide in your recipe and cure a... Lard or room-temperature shortening, with kids around, and seemed to be absolutely.. Long history of practical experience a variety of causes and their cures have scouring. A small amount of water needed depends on how concentrated you want to send photos just. 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