After a failed first attempt at soap making I tried a second time just now. It managed to produce even worse results. So yes, I'm starting to feel disheartened. I want to learn to make soap but right now I feel ... blah about it.
I just spend 2 hours trying to make a CP soap. About 10 minutes in it looked to be at full trace (went very fast all of a sudden) and added the eucalyptus EO. The batch split while mixed it in and refused to retrace. My stick blender decided to go wonky on me and will have to be replaced. I knew it was possible with it being a very old one and with a non-steel ring. That ring has corroded and is now in the soap mixture.
In the end I tried rebatching my first and second attempt by mixing them together and heating it up au bain marie. I think might make it work, but I'm not sure.
Was my trace a false one, is the EO the culprit (my first batch had hardly any in it, and while looking okay when I poured it into the mold, it had split the next time I looked) or is there some wrong with my NaOH? I'm sure I followed the recipe correctly to the gram.
I just spend 2 hours trying to make a CP soap. About 10 minutes in it looked to be at full trace (went very fast all of a sudden) and added the eucalyptus EO. The batch split while mixed it in and refused to retrace. My stick blender decided to go wonky on me and will have to be replaced. I knew it was possible with it being a very old one and with a non-steel ring. That ring has corroded and is now in the soap mixture.
In the end I tried rebatching my first and second attempt by mixing them together and heating it up au bain marie. I think might make it work, but I'm not sure.
Was my trace a false one, is the EO the culprit (my first batch had hardly any in it, and while looking okay when I poured it into the mold, it had split the next time I looked) or is there some wrong with my NaOH? I'm sure I followed the recipe correctly to the gram.