Additives in HP Soap

[quita]

When do you add things like honey, clay or colloidal oatmeal to the hot process soap? At trace or after? Also with the honey do you use powder or fresh raw local honey?

 

[galaxyMLP]

It depends on the look I'm going for with honey, if I want some major darkening/caramelization, I add it at trace but if I want it to stay a bit lighter I add it after the cook and the batter has cooled some. I use fresh honey.

For good incorporation, I would add the clay or Oatmeal at trace. That way it's all mixed as long as its going to be in the entire recipe.

 

[quita]

Thanks!

 

[The Efficacious Gentleman]

I add my exfoliating additives after the cook - no point them sitting in all the heat and active lye when they don't actually need to do so

 

[shunt2011]

I too have added them after the cook. I don't do much HP though. Mostly just shave soap now.

 

[quita]

I think I may try it both ways but it may be easier to incorporate the oatmeal throughout during trace, no?

 

[The Efficacious Gentleman]

Depends on how thick your soap is at the end. If you are mixing in your scent after the cook (which you really should do with hp) then you need to get that fully incorporated too, so you're giving it a good stir anyway