canoecove
Member
Hi All! I have just made three batches in a row, each with their own problems. Based on reading other forums I think I have identified what the problems are and possibly why, but would love some confirmation and ideas on what I might be doing wrong. Picture below.
My recipe is: Coconut Oil 29%, Palm Oil 29.00%, Olive Oil 29.00%, Shea butter 4.83%, Castor 4.83%, Sweet Almond Oil 3.33%. Lye 4.29 Oz, Water 11.40oz. I added micas and 2oz fragrance oil. My ingredients are new and not expired.
These are my first batches with Shea, so I am wondering if that is the problem. I have made palm/olive/coconut batches in the past with success, and have successfully included mango butter. But suddenly I am having problems.
Batch 1: Noticed stearic spots. I soaped around 120F (lye and oils), but I think I didnt heat my oils enough before mixing, they may have only been around 120. I also mixed hard and soft oils together. I read that the melt point of stearic acid is about 170F so if the oils don't get hot enough it will solidify. So I resolved to heat them more next time. I have used the FO in this batch before, no issues.
Batch 2: Heated hard oils first and made sure I exceeded 180F. Added in soft oils and soaped when temps reached 130F for oils and lye. Insulated in a towel. I am not surprised about the glycerin rivers as I was told that can happen at high temps with TD. Have never experienced oil leaking before. Used a new FO I havent used before.
Batch 3: Same process as batch 2, my FO accelerated trace and made it gross and clumpy to pour. I think I mixed my TD poorly as well since I see some flecks of white.
So my question is... how would you suggest improvement? Do I just have to find the "sweet spot" with temperature? Is it bad technique? Do I give up on Shea (but it feels so nice!!).
My recipe is: Coconut Oil 29%, Palm Oil 29.00%, Olive Oil 29.00%, Shea butter 4.83%, Castor 4.83%, Sweet Almond Oil 3.33%. Lye 4.29 Oz, Water 11.40oz. I added micas and 2oz fragrance oil. My ingredients are new and not expired.
These are my first batches with Shea, so I am wondering if that is the problem. I have made palm/olive/coconut batches in the past with success, and have successfully included mango butter. But suddenly I am having problems.
Batch 1: Noticed stearic spots. I soaped around 120F (lye and oils), but I think I didnt heat my oils enough before mixing, they may have only been around 120. I also mixed hard and soft oils together. I read that the melt point of stearic acid is about 170F so if the oils don't get hot enough it will solidify. So I resolved to heat them more next time. I have used the FO in this batch before, no issues.
Batch 2: Heated hard oils first and made sure I exceeded 180F. Added in soft oils and soaped when temps reached 130F for oils and lye. Insulated in a towel. I am not surprised about the glycerin rivers as I was told that can happen at high temps with TD. Have never experienced oil leaking before. Used a new FO I havent used before.
Batch 3: Same process as batch 2, my FO accelerated trace and made it gross and clumpy to pour. I think I mixed my TD poorly as well since I see some flecks of white.
So my question is... how would you suggest improvement? Do I just have to find the "sweet spot" with temperature? Is it bad technique? Do I give up on Shea (but it feels so nice!!).