This is my first post after reading many for a year or so now - I am an intermediate soaper (cp) and have ventured into my first milk soaps after reading Anne Watson's Book "Milk Soaps" - okay but by no means thorough (again like her other book). I have scoured Susan Millers book and website to no real avail but I think what I have is undissolved lye?.
Having made 2 batches of goats milk, 2 batches of "whipping" cream and 1 batch of coconut cream soap all using frozen milks/cream with no water added - the soaps look magnificent - set beautifully all different some with nothing else and some with fo's or eo's or/and honey and/or oatmeal. All put into the fridge after being poured into the moulds (middle of summer here in Aus so indoor temp was around 30Degrees Celcius or 86F). WHen I actaully cut them they looked great now a couple of days later as they change colour I have noticed white spots that are now weeping. I don't have access to a ph tester so cannot know for sure its lye but I am assuming it is undissolved Lye spots.
If this is the case given the cals are fine as is for oil & ph content would rebatching solve this and if so what would be the recommended method - crockpot, boiling water, microwave. Fortunately in all my cp soap making I have never had a batch fail/mess up so have never ahd any use for rebatching.
Any insight or advice would be greatly appreciated I have posted a pic on my website http://www.adputty.com.au/soap.html
Rachelle
PS FYI If anyone has an iphone I can recommend brambleberry's soap calaculator app for it - I checked it would work in metric being in Aus before I bought it and it does - now I have it I don't use anything else.
Having made 2 batches of goats milk, 2 batches of "whipping" cream and 1 batch of coconut cream soap all using frozen milks/cream with no water added - the soaps look magnificent - set beautifully all different some with nothing else and some with fo's or eo's or/and honey and/or oatmeal. All put into the fridge after being poured into the moulds (middle of summer here in Aus so indoor temp was around 30Degrees Celcius or 86F). WHen I actaully cut them they looked great now a couple of days later as they change colour I have noticed white spots that are now weeping. I don't have access to a ph tester so cannot know for sure its lye but I am assuming it is undissolved Lye spots.
If this is the case given the cals are fine as is for oil & ph content would rebatching solve this and if so what would be the recommended method - crockpot, boiling water, microwave. Fortunately in all my cp soap making I have never had a batch fail/mess up so have never ahd any use for rebatching.
Any insight or advice would be greatly appreciated I have posted a pic on my website http://www.adputty.com.au/soap.html
Rachelle
PS FYI If anyone has an iphone I can recommend brambleberry's soap calaculator app for it - I checked it would work in metric being in Aus before I bought it and it does - now I have it I don't use anything else.