My soap isn't ruined- but why?

[Ugeauxgirl]

I made an absolutely gorgeous batch of soap. When I was transferring the recipe from the lye calculator to my notebook, I realized that I forgot to add the castor oil- 5%. The superfat was 3%. I figured that the lye isn't 100% pure as the calculator assumes, so I subtracted a percent for that. That still gives me slightly (-1) lye heavy soap. I did use a little oil to disperse the oxide colorants, but there was a lot of uncolored batter. And of course Fragrance oil. I zap tested it (on the uncolored batter and it's fine). Any guesses as to what saved it?

 

[Tara_H]

How long ago was it made? I understand a slightly lye heavy soap will become neutral over time as the excess lye reacts with the site, but I get the impression that happens over a timeframe of weeks, so if you've just made this then maybe the lye was even less pure than you thought?

 

[kafm73]

also, doesn't the superfat help mitigate some of that? Since the Castor oil was only 5% (and not a butter or oil that would have taken up say 35%).

 

[kafm73]

BTW, the soap is gorgeous!

 

[AliOop]

All the factors you mentioned - including lye purity, superfat, and oils for dispersing colorant - probably kept your soap from being lye-heavy. Hooray!! It is very pretty.

 

[Ugeauxgirl]

How long ago was it made? I understand a slightly lye heavy soap will become neutral over time as the excess lye reacts with the site, but I get the impression that happens over a timeframe of weeks, so if you've just made this then maybe the lye was even less pure than you thought?

Made it 2 days ago. Could be right about the lye.

 

[Ugeauxgirl]

Thanks all. I'm so glad it's not zappy. My husband's niece asked for a couple of batches for wedding favors. I didn't have time to do it again- cause my WSP order, .