Adding infused oil after lye water

[Sonya-m]

I plan on using some infused OO in a soap tonight and am not sure of the best way. My recipe is:

55% beef tallow
20% CO
20% OO
5% castor

Probably going to use full water to slow trace and will also be adding sugar, salt and sodium citrate

As I want to use my infused OO in one half I was planning on mixing my lye water with the other 3 oils then splitting into 2 and adding half the quantity of OO to each batch (one lot of OO will be infused).

My question is will adding my lye water to the reduced volume of oils (missing the OO) cause this mixture to trace too fast to be able to then add the OO?

Would adding my FO to the 2 lots of OO help?

Or am I better off having 2 lots of all oils (1 with the infusion) and 2 lots of lye water?

 

[DeeAnna]

I haven't seen that to be true for the batches I've done like this. I mix to stable emulsion (not quite trace), split at that point, and add the reserved portion of oils -- just like what you're describing, I think.

If anything, adding the extra oil after emulsion/trace tends to slow the rate of saponification. If I want to slow trace, I will melt my solid oils, add the lye solution to them, bring the batter to emulsion or very light trace, then add the liquid oils.

 

[Sonya-m]

Thank you DeeAnna I will do it as I thought and how you do it by splitting at emulsion

 

[DeeAnna]

I hope it works well for you, Sonya! Let me know what you think after you try it.

I did this split method with annatto infused olive oil -- I wanted a white and yellow pattern in the bar. Unfortunately, I didn't take into account the contribution from the fragrance oil I was using -- I plain forgot it discolors to a pale tan. On its own, pale tan is fine, but pale tan swirled with a yellow accent ... not so good. Oh, well, I'll know better next time....

 

[Sonya-m]

Well my FO caused issues so didn't go to plan!! Nevermind, there's always next time!