I can't speak to the crystals on the first batch. If they don't zap, perhaps it's some form of ash.
Based on the last photo, I do believe your soap is overheating. Especially if you're using wood molds. I preheat my oven to low (170) and turn it off before I put my soap in. Even then, occasionally I get overheating, even with a silicone mold.
Regarding the bubbles, they might also be the result of overheating. If you check the sides of your soap and they look pock marked instead of smooth, it's probably the result of steam bubbles. Or, assuming your stick blender technique is good (you burp the bell, don't pick it up and put it back in), your seal may be damaged. In that case, you probably need a new one. This happened to me with a fairly pricey Cuisinart stainless steel model. I replaced it with a plastic Hamilton Beach (about $19 at KMart) and it's been going strong for at least a year.