I just made my first two batches of HP soap. The first batch I did water at 30%, and it cooked and set up like the videos I watched. It turned into mashed potatoes, slowly becoming translucent.
My second batch scared me. I doubled the recipe (up to 4 lb.), increased the water to 38%, and added 1.5 oz of powdered goats milk to the oils prior to mixing in my lye water. Not sure if it was the extra water or the goats milk, but the whole thing looked beautiful until about 15 minutes into the cook. The entire batch separated into a mass of oil and curdled mess. Every time I stirred, more oil would float to the surface. I really panicked, thinking that I just lost all those ingredients, but then I tried to salvage it by whipping the heck out of it with my spoon. As soon as it looked somewhat cohesive, I added my oatmeal, honey and FO. It wasn't at all thick like my first batch, and looked like a grainy, soupy mess. To my surprise it hardened within a few hours. I unmolded and cut without difficulty, and no zap. Phew! Saved!
Not really sure what I think about HP yet, but I'm going to try another batch tomorrow.