Soap Issue - lye heavy? Partial gel?

[Mphan85]

HI, I've made this recipe before just with addition if essential oils. This one I did not add. Is there reason I should be concerned? Is this a bad batch


9.2 oz water
4.37 lye
8 coconut oil
16 olive oil
4.2 shea butter
3.2 avocado butter
2 tbs kaolin clay

 

[topofmurrayhill]

HI, I've made this recipe before just with addition if essential oils. This one I did not add. Is there reason I should be concerned? Is this a bad batch

It shouldn't be lye heavy if it doesn't zap your tongue. Looks like partial gel.

 

[shunt2011]

I agree big no zap you should be fine. And it does look like you just got partial gel. It will fade some during cure

 

[regansoap]

I think it looks nice I like the partial gel

 

[penelopejane]

There are ways to avoid the partial gel in future if you think it looks ugly.

 

[DeeAnna]

With such a well-defined rectangular outline, I think this color change is caused by the outside surface of the soap drying faster than the inside. The drier rind sometimes changes color due to the lower moisture content. This can depend on the fragrances used and the recipe. I'm betting the second picture is of a freshly cut surface. If I'm right, you should see surface change to the yellow-ivory color after a few days.

The border around a partial gel usually has a round or oval shape due to the even migration of heat energy from the center of the soap toward the outer surface.

Regardless, the color difference is just a cosmetic issue.