Lavender and Sage Ione Swirl

[MrsZ]

I made a triple butter soap with Cocoa butter, Mango butter and Shea butter. I used NS Lavender and sage FO. It smells amazing, Lavender and herbs. But it was so strong while I was soaping and afterward, I had to put the soap outside to set up and bleach the kitchen to try to get rid of the smell. Just too powerful for me. Smells great now though!

I attempted the Ione swirl I found in the past challenges thread. It's not quite like hers in the video, but I am pleased with it. So delicate and swirly!

 

[AliOop]

Very pretty! It almost looks like glycerin rivers in the pink swirls.

 

[MrsZ]

Very pretty! It almost looks like glycerin rivers in the pink swirls.

Thanks! I had just assumed that was where my uncolored soap batter swirled with the pink, but now I'm wondering if you might be right? I hadn't thought of glycerin rivers this time. The pink is the only part I used TD in.

 

[Cat&Oak]

So pretty! Great job!

 

[KiwiMoose]

Yup, glycerin rivers in the pink. Just ask me - I get them in every batch so i know
These look lovely @MrsZ !

 

[MrsZ]

Yup, glycerin rivers in the pink. Just ask me - I get them in every batch so i know
These look lovely @MrsZ !

Thank you! I think soap does it's own thing half the time.

Do you have any idea why the glycerin rivers happen? I like the look, but have no idea why I've never had them before. I soaped at 85 degrees F or 29C. And put the soap outside at about 100F (37C) all afternoon.

 

[AliOop]

For me it's usually high water concentration, plus they show more with TD.

 

[MrsZ]

For me it's usually high water concentration, plus they show more with TD.

Does 35% lye concentration count as high water? I always thought it was more of a medium to slightly low water concentration.

 

[AliOop]

No, that's definitely not high water. I have heard that some micas and some recipes do seem more prone to glycerine rivers. Maybe compare your recipe with the GR queen, @KiwiMoose.

 

[KiwiMoose]

I do tend to get them more when I use TD, but I still get them without. It could just be how hot your recipe gets during gel? I use 30 - 33% lye conc.

 

[Mobjack Bay]

Pretty colors and nice swirls!

It should be quite difficult to get rivers at 35% lye concentration. Was your TD in water?

 

[MrsZ]

Pretty colors and nice swirls!

It should be quite difficult to get rivers at 35% lye concentration. Was your TD in water?

Yes, it was. I didn't measure the water though. On a video I watched, they said that TD tends to accelerate, and she uses more water to compensate. So I eyeballed it and made a very thin TD/ Distilled water solution.

 

[MrsZ]

I do tend to get them more when I use TD, but I still get them without. It could just be how hot your recipe gets during gel? I use 30 - 33% lye conc.

I was bad, this is a completely new recipe I'd never tried before. And it smelled so strong that I left it completely alone until it was cool, so I didn't notice how hot it got either. I'll be interested to see if it happens again. I think the rivers are pretty.

 

[Zing]

Really, really lovely soap and great color combo!
When I use TD I soap at less than 100 degrees F. My lye to lye solution ratio is 32.5%. I don't get glycerin rivers that way. I like to avoid them -- but your soap is really beautiful.

 

[MrsZ]

Really, really lovely soap and great color combo!
When I use TD I soap at less than 100 degrees F. My lye to lye solution ratio is 32.5%. I don't get glycerin rivers that way. I like to avoid them -- but your soap is really beautiful.

What exactly do you mean by lye to lye solution ratio? I've never heard of this and am curious.

I soaped at about 85 degrees, so I'm not certain what caused it unless it was setting it outside to set up and cool. It has been pretty hot here. I wonder if that may be it, because I made a different soap, different recipe today and got mild GR in the TD part of the swirl too. Honestly, I'm happy to finally experience some of the things I've read about!

 

[AliOop]

I'm pretty sure he meant to type "water to lye solution ratio" -- but he was really referring to lye concentration. It's late where he is.

 

[lsg]

Nice swirls!

 

[MrsZ]

I'm pretty sure he meant to type "water to lye solution ratio" -- but he was really referring to lye concentration. It's late where he is.

That makes sense.