I should have known I was due for a mishap eventually, after 2 years years of smooth sailing! Plus with my preggie brain, there’s really no telling anymore...
I decided to try a brand new recipe based on Nerdy Barn Wife’s Calendula Soap
https://thenerdyfarmwife.com/calendula-soap/
I subbed out the sunflower oil for avocado oil as that is what I had on hand. Also didn’t do the tea/infused water as I just plain forgot. My olive oil had already been infusing in Calendula flowers for a month or so.
The recipe after running through SoapCal: (set at 6% superfat, water as percentage of oil weight 38%, total oils 1kg)
Olive Oil (50%) 500g
Coconut Oil (33%) 330g
Avocado Oil (12%) 120g
Castor Oil (5%) 50g
Water 380g
Lye 141g
3Tbs Calendula flowers
So obviously I decided to go big or go home with nice big batch - cos what could go wrong? [emoji38]
I did take extra care with my measurements due to preggie brain, so 97% sure that quantities were correct...
I mixed up the lye and water leaving it to cool slightly while I melted my coconut oil and mixed the rest of the oils together.
Adding everything together and mixed alternately with a SB and hand whisk for around 15 minutes... eventually it came to what I believed to be a light trace (though not sure anymore).
At this point I separated it into 2 bowls, and to 2/3 of the mix I added an additional Tbs of Calendula infused oil (as per Nerdy Farm Wife) mixed with 2 tsp turmeric powder to do a layer/swirl in the mound.
This went into the mound first and was topped with the lighter mix.
I wrapped my mould as usual in cardboard and a blanket (more for protection from nosy cats as ambient temperature is around 180°C - 27°C)
Kept peeking, but noticed no change that night. By the next day, there had been major transformation! The lovely creamy coloured top layer had turned green and translucent ( gel phase - good?!) but the whole mould appeared to be swimming in oil...
I left it for a few more days and cut a slice and did a zap test. Nothing noticeable zapwise, but texture still only slightly firmer than a butter.
Interesting, when I washed up the bowls/ utensils the next day, the remnants were still the lovely cream colour, had firmed up and created a nice lather when I scrubbed... I also tested a piece of the soap and it lathers beautifully - albeit with a bar that is mouldable in my hands
Where did I go wrong my dear soap gurus? False trace? Overheating? Does it just need more time to cure?
And most importantly - can this be fixed just be rebatching/cooking it?
( the first pic shows day 3 when I removed it from the mould, second pic a week later )
I decided to try a brand new recipe based on Nerdy Barn Wife’s Calendula Soap
https://thenerdyfarmwife.com/calendula-soap/
I subbed out the sunflower oil for avocado oil as that is what I had on hand. Also didn’t do the tea/infused water as I just plain forgot. My olive oil had already been infusing in Calendula flowers for a month or so.
The recipe after running through SoapCal: (set at 6% superfat, water as percentage of oil weight 38%, total oils 1kg)
Olive Oil (50%) 500g
Coconut Oil (33%) 330g
Avocado Oil (12%) 120g
Castor Oil (5%) 50g
Water 380g
Lye 141g
3Tbs Calendula flowers
So obviously I decided to go big or go home with nice big batch - cos what could go wrong? [emoji38]
I did take extra care with my measurements due to preggie brain, so 97% sure that quantities were correct...
I mixed up the lye and water leaving it to cool slightly while I melted my coconut oil and mixed the rest of the oils together.
Adding everything together and mixed alternately with a SB and hand whisk for around 15 minutes... eventually it came to what I believed to be a light trace (though not sure anymore).
At this point I separated it into 2 bowls, and to 2/3 of the mix I added an additional Tbs of Calendula infused oil (as per Nerdy Farm Wife) mixed with 2 tsp turmeric powder to do a layer/swirl in the mound.
This went into the mound first and was topped with the lighter mix.
I wrapped my mould as usual in cardboard and a blanket (more for protection from nosy cats as ambient temperature is around 180°C - 27°C)
Kept peeking, but noticed no change that night. By the next day, there had been major transformation! The lovely creamy coloured top layer had turned green and translucent ( gel phase - good?!) but the whole mould appeared to be swimming in oil...
I left it for a few more days and cut a slice and did a zap test. Nothing noticeable zapwise, but texture still only slightly firmer than a butter.
Interesting, when I washed up the bowls/ utensils the next day, the remnants were still the lovely cream colour, had firmed up and created a nice lather when I scrubbed... I also tested a piece of the soap and it lathers beautifully - albeit with a bar that is mouldable in my hands
Where did I go wrong my dear soap gurus? False trace? Overheating? Does it just need more time to cure?
And most importantly - can this be fixed just be rebatching/cooking it?
( the first pic shows day 3 when I removed it from the mould, second pic a week later )