tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3373649330246824979.post5722227653228666705..comments2023-04-15T05:57:49.200-05:00Comments on I'd Lather Be Soaping: Soap Seize: Keep Calm and Panic OnLatherBeSoapinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18018716091511424218noreply@blogger.comBlogger66125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3373649330246824979.post-2022898488803298142016-11-22T11:54:26.048-06:002016-11-22T11:54:26.048-06:00Hi Jenny, thank you for this post! It's lovely...Hi Jenny, thank you for this post! It's lovely that folks can take their gremlins with such good humour!<br />I just had a seize: 45% hard oils, 5,5% superfat, combined at 55° C, clay in water added, and mixed with a spoon before stick-blending. Oh, and I moved citied, so new water. Before I could blend or add my EO the lot seized - I feel like a Real Soaper now! But to avoid this happening again I need to identify the cause. Can you suggest some resources (books etc) that will help me learn how, or recommend a next step?Sunnyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11906117332747759548noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3373649330246824979.post-80970622654809763802016-09-09T16:33:52.980-05:002016-09-09T16:33:52.980-05:00Hi, Tina. It's hard to say with certainty what...Hi, Tina. It's hard to say with certainty what caused your soap to seize without more information, but a few things come to mind.<br /><br />If your soap is lye-heavy it can crumble. Too much lye can also accelerate trace and cause your soap to get very hard very quickly. I would recommend double-checking the recipe with a lye calculator like SoapCalc, and also check the soap for zap using either soapmaking pH strips/pH meter or the tongue test. <br /><br />If you are using goat's milk it could be that the soap overheated. The natural sugars in milk can cause the soap to heat up, which can cause acceleration and a super hot gel phase. I find that it helps to measure out and freeze the milk ahead of time, and then I add the lye to the frozen slushy milk to keep it from scorching. (The lye will melt the frozen milk.) I also stir my lye solution in an ice bath to keep the temps low and to cool the lye solution faster. It also helps to soap cool. I try to soap around 85-90 degrees F when using milks, beer, wine, etc. <br /><br />Ungelled soap can be crumbly if it is cut too soon, but ungelled soap is usually softer than gelled soap, and you said that your soap was rock-hard, so that may not be the case here.<br /><br />Another thing to consider is the recipe itself. If you do a steep water discount, the trace can accelerate. Your oil proportions (hard oils v.s. soft oils) could have something to do with it, too. As I already mentioned, if you use too much lye you can end up with hard, crumbly soap.<br /><br />And, of course, certain fragrance oils can cause acceleration and soap-on-a-stick.<br /><br />I'm not sure what to tell you as far as rebatching or using the soap. If the soap is lye-heavy or if you have any doubts about its safety, I would toss it.<br /><br />I hope that helps. Thanks for reading!LatherBeSoapinghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18018716091511424218noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3373649330246824979.post-14578419173821605172016-09-08T00:26:58.576-05:002016-09-08T00:26:58.576-05:00Hi. Sad to see and hear about your soap seizing bu...Hi. Sad to see and hear about your soap seizing but yet glad to get some andistanding about the whole thing. I have got soap on a stick twice the two past weeks. Everytime i used goats milk ( and fragrance oils) so i´m not sure what caused it. And when i was going to cut the soap into bars it just fell apart in small, small pieces. But there were also some big pieces, do you think i could use them after 4-6 weeks, despite the soap being as hard rock stone from the first day?<br />I also tried to rebatch some of it but that soap turned up as stonehard as the rest and with some oil floating around!!!!!!!!! yak, so boring and sadAnonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03863181041633750688noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3373649330246824979.post-62283879320956211512016-02-27T12:13:41.122-06:002016-02-27T12:13:41.122-06:00Hi, Tropical Gardener. Honestly, I really have no ...Hi, Tropical Gardener. Honestly, I really have no idea. I have never attempted anything like that. Have you tried asking your questions at an online soapmaking forum? There are many forums out there, but one that comes to mind is the Teach Soap forum. There might be people there who can better answer your questions. I'm sorry I couldn't be of more help. Best wishes to you, and thanks for reading!LatherBeSoapinghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18018716091511424218noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3373649330246824979.post-19225911587638028032016-02-24T10:10:25.837-06:002016-02-24T10:10:25.837-06:00Hi, I need to infuse oils with powdered hard spice...Hi, I need to infuse oils with powdered hard spices (that incl cinnamon & other eugenol types) in the superfat liquid fat But that liquid (caator oil) is insufficient to allow me to strain off the powder. FYI tge remainder / majority of the superfattibg is solid at room temperature & therefore unsuitable. So the castor oil creates a ball with the powder. Help! As a solution, can I increase the liquidity of the infusion with a liquid base oil, discount that base oil when emulsifyung the base oils & lye solution and then, add the infusion at light trace? Will adding the base oil so late & with a superfat alter soap qualities? If this can work, what percentage of base oils can I use? Will some liquid base oils be better than others as I use sunflower & olive oil. ... OR can I resolve this otherwise without access to liquid essential oils? Thanks.TropicalGardenerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05505749811452341458noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3373649330246824979.post-86717704964038725842016-02-24T10:08:45.990-06:002016-02-24T10:08:45.990-06:00Hi, I need to infuse oils with powdered hard spice...Hi, I need to infuse oils with powdered hard spices (that incl cinnamon & other eugenol types) in the superfat liquid fat But that liquid (caator oil) is insufficient to allow me to strain off the powder. FYI tge remainder / majority of the superfattibg is solid at room temperature & therefore unsuitable. So the castor oil creates a ball with the powder. Help! As a solution, can I increase the liquidity of the infusion with a liquid base oil, discount that base oil when emulsifyung the base oils & lye solution and then, add the infusion at light trace? Will adding the base oil so late & with a superfat alter soap qualities? If this can work, what percentage of base oils can I use? Will some liquid base oils be better than others as I use sunflower & olive oil. ... OR can I resolve this otherwise without access to liquid essential oils? Thanks.TropicalGardenerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05505749811452341458noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3373649330246824979.post-36179461577771369062016-01-15T17:05:21.032-06:002016-01-15T17:05:21.032-06:00Hi, Eleanor! I'm sorry to hear that one of you...Hi, Eleanor! I'm sorry to hear that one of your early batches went so badly! That can be discouraging for any soapmaker, but especially in the beginning stages. Don't give up - these things happen every once in a while. It does sound like maybe the fragrance oil made the trace accelerate, causing the batch to seize and go into gel phase quickly. Sounds like you did good, though, working it into the mold like that. (I assume that you checked for zap/unsaponified lye.) I'm glad that you were able to save the batch and that it wasn't a total loss! It definitely helps to know as much as possible about your fragrance oils before soaping with them. Vendors like Bramble Berry, Nature's Garden, and Elements Bath and Body - just to name a few - usually test their fragrances and make notes about how each one behaves so you know better what to expect. The good news is that this has happened to me only once in the past five years, so hopefully you just got it out of the way early! :) I hope you have better luck with your next batch. Keep soaping, and thanks for reading!LatherBeSoapinghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18018716091511424218noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3373649330246824979.post-1397522961676899262016-01-13T11:22:48.863-06:002016-01-13T11:22:48.863-06:00I'm new to soap making and made a batch this p...I'm new to soap making and made a batch this past weekend which seized on me. I got it to light trace then poured in a mica for color and a mixture of fragrance oils when bam! It started hardening and became like mashed potatoes. I quickly tried to put it in my loaf mold but it was getting harder and harder. I was pushing it with my hands (in gloves) to try to get in the corners when I noticed portions were getting extremely hot but also much softer. I believe it was entering the gel phase. So I grabbed my stick blender and started working it. The good news is that this allowed me to get it better mixed and into the corners of the mold. The top just looks like a crumb topping for a dessert. So when I cut the bars I had some small air pockets but not bad overall. I tell u though it was discouraging and made me think twice about if I can do this soap making stuff. I think the lesson is to know the source of the fragrance oils. these were a mixture from michaels someone had given me.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07689908024776244972noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3373649330246824979.post-49376564221039700532015-11-03T12:02:41.094-06:002015-11-03T12:02:41.094-06:00Thanks for the reply. I did the tongue test, and n...Thanks for the reply. I did the tongue test, and no zapping... I've also been using one of the bars to wash myself with and I haven't had any issues so I'm going to say it is okay.... Maybe I just didn't mix my essential oils in as well as I thought I did and that's why I have a cool/weird swirling pattern.<br />Thanks again!Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01331397960917766652noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3373649330246824979.post-70358559358027313552015-11-03T12:02:22.344-06:002015-11-03T12:02:22.344-06:00Thanks for the reply. I did the tongue test, and n...Thanks for the reply. I did the tongue test, and no zapping... I've also been using one of the bars to wash myself with and I haven't had any issues so I'm going to say it is okay.... Maybe I just didn't mix my essential oils in as well as I thought I did and that's why I have a cool/weird swirling pattern.<br />Thanks again!Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01331397960917766652noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3373649330246824979.post-17023281310079504892015-10-29T19:33:20.827-05:002015-10-29T19:33:20.827-05:00I've had one batch where I ended up with lye p...I've had one batch where I ended up with lye pockets. When I cut the soap, there were white spots and little holes in the bars that oozed a clear, zappy fluid. Sometimes you may get streaks of unsaponified lye in your bars, too. You can check for zap by using the tongue test or pH strips. I'm not really able to say with certainty if your soap is completely safe or not. Use your own judgment - if in doubt, throw it out!LatherBeSoapinghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18018716091511424218noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3373649330246824979.post-35993972026639843212015-10-26T21:47:55.206-05:002015-10-26T21:47:55.206-05:00I have a bar of soap that I was looking at the pic...I have a bar of soap that I was looking at the picture just now... I thought maybe, OMG i hope those aren't lye pockets... I sold one of these bars already! (i hope only one! but I actually can't remember if I made 8 bars or 10 in total). I quickly ran downstairs and grabbed a bar and started licking it all over, and i didn't get any zaps... it did taste like soap... and I did take the bar and washed my arms/hands all over with it, and no burning sensations... so am I safe?Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01331397960917766652noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3373649330246824979.post-49193585282212190602015-10-26T21:43:52.951-05:002015-10-26T21:43:52.951-05:00I feel like I'm always bothering you!
I just ...I feel like I'm always bothering you!<br /><br />I just wanted to make sure.... How do I tell if I have lye pockets in my soap? I know that I always carefully follow the measurements, so nothing is lye-heavy... but I dont know the difference between lye pockets, and a cool swirl effect in the soap...Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01331397960917766652noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3373649330246824979.post-84380890958209761082015-10-06T23:00:33.432-05:002015-10-06T23:00:33.432-05:00Hi again!
I let the beer sit out for 3 days before...Hi again!<br />I let the beer sit out for 3 days before to make sure it was flat, and then froze it before I added any lye to it. I will rebatch it within the next few days! I made sure I followed the recipe correctly, so hopefully when I rebatch it, it will be fine. :)<br />Thanks again!Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01331397960917766652noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3373649330246824979.post-27133649310796781022015-10-06T22:59:39.298-05:002015-10-06T22:59:39.298-05:00Hi again!
I let the beer sit out for 3 days before...Hi again!<br />I let the beer sit out for 3 days before to make sure it was flat, and then froze it before I added any lye to it. I will rebatch it within the next few days! I made sure I followed the recipe correctly, so hopefully when I rebatch it, it will be fine. :)<br />Thanks again!Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01331397960917766652noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3373649330246824979.post-7755675398594029782015-10-06T17:08:07.928-05:002015-10-06T17:08:07.928-05:00Hello again, Katie! Sorry to hear about your batch...Hello again, Katie! Sorry to hear about your batch going wrong! Alcohol can make soap seize. To avoid this problem, I bring the beer to a boil and let it simmer for about 10 minutes to cook off the alcohol. (Keep in mind that you will lose some liquid to evaporation, so either start with more beer than you need, or replace the evaporated liquid with water.) The sugars in beer can also lead to trace acceleration and overheating to the point of scorching or lye volcanoes. When I make beer soap, I usually simmer it the day before and then let it chill in the fridge or freezer until I'm ready to use it to keep the temperature of the lye solution down. I also soap cooler when using beer. As far as what to do about your soap, I always err on the side of caution. If the soap zaps or has lye pockets it's unsafe to use. Rebatching can salvage a batch gone wrong, particularly if you are sure that your measurements are correct. Otherwise I'd trash it if I had any doubts about its safety. I hope that helps!LatherBeSoapinghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18018716091511424218noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3373649330246824979.post-43549030217472659672015-10-04T14:42:45.683-05:002015-10-04T14:42:45.683-05:00Hi Jenny Rose!
I made my first batch of CP soap w...Hi Jenny Rose! <br />I made my first batch of CP soap with beer (Guinness)... When I poured my lye/beer solution into my oil blend, it got to trace REALLY quickly.... I think a little too quickly. It is quite lumpy looking now... Even before I had a chance to put in my essential oils and honey it looked kind of like really wet scrambled eggs. (EW)... Not sure if I should re-batch this soap, or let it be... Help please! :)Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01331397960917766652noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3373649330246824979.post-61833211890712176962015-09-24T17:51:31.964-05:002015-09-24T17:51:31.964-05:00You're welcome! Thanks for reading/watching!You're welcome! Thanks for reading/watching!LatherBeSoapinghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18018716091511424218noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3373649330246824979.post-48679450074230236032015-09-23T21:47:56.192-05:002015-09-23T21:47:56.192-05:00Thanks for the video!Thanks for the video!Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18364443586329358338noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3373649330246824979.post-48068864131188917092015-07-30T09:33:50.858-05:002015-07-30T09:33:50.858-05:00Hi, Jessica! I'm sorry to hear that your batch...Hi, Jessica! I'm sorry to hear that your batch seized. I've never soaped with fractionated coconut oil, so I don't know how it affects a batch. I hope that you can salvage the soap! Thanks for reading!LatherBeSoapinghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18018716091511424218noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3373649330246824979.post-23130162798684440452015-07-25T19:32:29.902-05:002015-07-25T19:32:29.902-05:00I just tried my first hot processed past night. Fr...I just tried my first hot processed past night. Fractionated coconut oil, evoo. Everything was going right then next thing i know it got too hard to stir couldnt figure it out. Didnt get a chance to use fragrance or color. I just scooped into mold, now praying for the best. Smells good thoughJessicahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13766717084623941832noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3373649330246824979.post-91089469213305801152015-05-20T16:18:53.238-05:002015-05-20T16:18:53.238-05:00You're welcome, Katie! Good luck with your soa...You're welcome, Katie! Good luck with your soap!LatherBeSoapinghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18018716091511424218noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3373649330246824979.post-29655833992986198912015-05-19T11:58:17.420-05:002015-05-19T11:58:17.420-05:00Okay, thanks so much! I'll remember to freeze ...Okay, thanks so much! I'll remember to freeze the milk next time I make soap. I'll rebatch the soap tonight and hopefully it turns out the way I want it to. Thanks again!Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01331397960917766652noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3373649330246824979.post-43921271703156187472015-05-12T17:27:20.901-05:002015-05-12T17:27:20.901-05:00Hi, Katie. I've never tried adding the lye to ...Hi, Katie. I've never tried adding the lye to half of the milk and then adding the other half at trace - I've always added the lye to the full liquid amount - so I don't know much about that technique from personal experience. I would think, though, that the lye solution would be stronger using only half of the liquid and that could lead to trace acceleration. It also sounds like your soap overheated. The natural sugars in milk can cause the soap to heat up and go into a super hot gel phase. I find that it helps to measure out and freeze the milk ahead of time, and then I add the lye to the frozen slushy milk to keep it from scorching. (The lye will melt the frozen milk.) I also stir my lye solution in an ice bath to keep the temps low and to cool the lye solution faster. It also helps to soap cool. I try to soap around 85 degrees F when using milks, beer, wine, etc. As far as what to do about your soap, I always err on the side of caution. If the soap zaps or has lye pockets it's unsafe to use. Rebatching can salvage a batch gone wrong, particularly if you are sure that your measurements are correct. Otherwise I'd trash it if I had any doubts about its safety. You're right, you don't want to hurt yourself or anyone else with your soap! I hope that helps. Thanks for reading!LatherBeSoapinghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18018716091511424218noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3373649330246824979.post-85923967681645418212015-05-11T21:04:45.545-05:002015-05-11T21:04:45.545-05:00Hello, I tried making my first batches of HP and C...Hello, I tried making my first batches of HP and CP soap today.. The HP one went well I believe... When I was washing out my crockpot it got all bubbly and soapy! (Yay!)... My CP soap... not sure what happened there...<br />I wanted to make a coconut milk CP soap, and I read here http://www.northcountrymercantile.com/soapmakinglibrary/tips-for-making-coconut-milk-soap/ that you replace the water in your recipe with milk, but only use half with the lye, and pour the other half in when pouring in the rest of your additives..... So this is what I did. I found a basic CP soap recipe with 3 oils I had (canola, olive, and coconut) and followed those instructions, but used half of the milk with the lye and set the other half aside for later... Everything was going great... I'm pretty sure I got to trace (pulled the stick blender out and it made a blender imprint in the mixture)... So I added the rest of the coconut milk and started stirring it in.... But then my mixture got super hot and started steaming... And then it turned into mashed potatoes! I didn't add anything else because I didn't want to waste anything, but I threw the mixture into a silicone mold and I'm letting it sit right now... Can I rebatch this soap or do I have to start all over? I believe the lye is still caustic, so I don't want to hurt anyone with my soap! Help please! And great blog, thanks!!!!Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01331397960917766652noreply@blogger.com