Second soap attempt.

[penelopejane]

Per soap calc I needed 380g of water. So I added 38g of honey and 342g of distilled water.

I always use raw honey. I use 20g of honey for 1700 g of oils.
My soap is a pale milk coffee colour.

 

[James Handley]

I've never had honey beeswax soap be that color. But I've never soaped with raw honey. But I don't think the raw honey should make THAT much difference. I'm inclined to think that is contamination from a container. Your lye water pitcher, mixing bowl, pot, spoon, mold - anything that touches your soap - can you say what materials they are?

I use stainless steel hand mixer. Stainless steel spoon. Crockpot. And I have used glass, wood and non-stick pans for molds. Lye water mixed in plastic bowl.

 

[James Handley]

I always use raw honey. I use 20g of honey for 1700 g of oils.
My soap is a pale milk coffee colour.

Well this was 38g in 500g of oils. So maybe I am just too honey heavy.

 

[dixiedragon]

What color is the soap before you pour it in the mold? Is it refried bean color? Glass wouldn't leech into the soap, but possibly the non-stick pan coating would. But still...that refried bean color is just so strange!

 

[jackznanakin]

Just yesterday I was in a Super Walmart in Houston, TX and they had NO stick blenders! I was so surprised! The last one I bought was for $13 at a Walmart, so when my DIL said she wanted one, I went looking. That wasn't the only product I can normally find in a Walmart that this one didn't carry. It's so annoying that Walmart does not maintain a common standard for products that they carry in their various stores. I guess I'll try to find a Target next, as I know they are usually pretty good at carrying the same products in their stores. (Or I could be wrong and just hope that is true.)

James, it's so nice that your soap turned out so satisfying. I've not experienced re-fried beans colored soap yet, but brown soap made with coffee for my husband might be somewhat close. He was afraid I would hate the drippings on the shower as regards to cleaning, but it is not a problem. Good luck with your future tweaks of your recipe.

I wasn't able to find a stick blender in my Wal Mart either but they had them online so I ordered and picked it up in my store.

 

[dixiedragon]

I don't think it's the volume of honey. Looks like you used about 1.75 tablespoons of honey in a 1-lb batch. I am assuming you used 500 g of oils, not 500 g total (oils + lye water)? Here's a soap I did that's 10% beeswax and used 4 Tablespoons honey in 40 oz of soap:
https://www.soapmakingforum.com/threads/hot-process-honey-soap-experiment.57877/
So, that's 1133 g of oils and 84 g of honey. Plus mine got pretty hot since I hot processed!

Not refried bean color!

Can you post a pic of all of your equipment? Are any of your oils a reddish color?

 

[James Handley]

What color is the soap before you pour it in the mold? Is it refried bean color? Glass wouldn't leech into the soap, but possibly the non-stick pan coating would. But still...that refried bean color is just so strange!

It is dark brown well before placing into the mold.

 

[James Handley]

Can you post a pic of all of your equipment? Are any of your oils a reddish color?

That is my equipment basically. The bucket is some crystallized spring honey from 2017 harvest I never canned or bottled for sale.

Oils I am using are are clear clean oils. Once all melted together they are see through and pale yellow.

 

[James Handley]

Cleaned bees wax from my hives I am using as well.