The amazing cracking soap

[AmyW]

Slightly irritated! Using the same recipe as I use for my other soaps, all my wedding soaps are being major PITA while the normal batches come out fine. I'm cursed. If this is any indication of my wedding day, I'm afraid!

Anyway, I made the soap and put it in my very cool laundry room to try to prevent gel and started on my next batch for my sister. I wanted that one to gel so I put it in the oven (heated up to 150ish then turned off, I have an old oven that the lowest temp is 250 and have to use an oven thermo to make sure it heats right) and peeked at my other soap. Both have big cracks the whole length of the top and they're obviously gelling. So I stuck them in the oven as well because they don't look like they're gelling completely.

But cracking is from overheating, or can it also be caused by something else? I don't get why this batch overheated when none of my other 25+ batches did. Boo.

http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=8 ... =529342663

http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=8 ... =529342663

 

[Bean13]

Ok so I read in your other post you pushed it together. Good idea I would say. You can always pipe some soap on top to hide it or you can maybe rub some mica or sparkles on top to disguise it. I think your soap did over heat. Maybe your cool room is a bit warmer today? IDK.

 

[AmyW]

I read both your posts, thanks for the help I think cut and cleaned up they might be ok:

http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=8 ... =529342663

http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=8 ... =529342663

 

[Bean13]

Stunning colours Amy. What did you do here? ITP swirl?

 

[AmyW]

Thanks! My first ITP swirl, half the batch plain, half with cocoa powder. As afraid as I was of this being a huge flop, I'm really happy with it! I think I figured out why it overheated, I tried soaping at 115-120F this time, instead of 105-110F. I need to leave the experimenting to batches that aren't "needed" LOL.

Cut pic:
http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=8 ... =529342663

 

[Bean13]

Excellent job. You did wonderful. How are the cracks looking now? Still gonna cut them off?

 

[AmyW]

I think I can leave the tops as they are. They aren't perfect but it seems to be working for the whole look.

 

[judymoody]

What fragrance did you use? Some can make soap overheat really fast.

 

[AmyW]

Its one I've used a couple times before with no heating issues, but I did soap those batches about 10 degrees cooler. WSP Coffee Mocha.

 

[Dragonkaz]

Amy I think your finished bars look fantastic! Congrats!

 

[krissy]

did you use plain cocoa powder or mix? if it was a mix with sugar and milk in it, that may be why it overheated...