Another "Is this normal" question

[dwolanin]

Hi y'all,
I did my first mango juice soap and put it in the freezer to stop gelling. I took it out and it has been sitting for about 24 hours. It's kind of soft and has dampness on it. When I touch the damp part and wash my hands it is soapy. Also it is starting to look ashy on all sides.
Will it dry out? Will it get firmer? I don't want to cut it now the way it's soft like it is.
So is this normal when you freeze a log?
I replaced the water with frozen mango 100%.

Thanks for your help!

 

[cmzaha]

When you freeze a log of soap it will normally form condensation on the top with thawing. Some take them from freezer to refrigerator to help deter the condensation I do not, it will absorb in or just dry. I find freezing or spritzing with alcohol will not stop ash. Soap that does not gel can take a while longer to unmold, depending on your recipe and water/juice percentage.

 

[IrishLass]

Don't worry, Dwolanin, all will be well. It all sounds pretty normal, based on all the soaps I have frozen to prevent gel. I normally gel all my batches, but I like to pour off some of my batter into individual molds to leave un-gelled for observational purposes, and like Carolyn said, the moisture is from the normal condensation of thawing, and will either absorb or dry up over time.

It will also firm up enough to cut. Just give it time. The softness is from having prevented gelling the soap.

If it helps, my own un-gelled soaps remain as soft as cream cheese for at least 3 days to a week, depending on my formula and how much water I used, but they cure out nice and firm.

I can't speak for everyone else, but it is also very typical for my un-gelled soaps to get ashy, sometimes quite thickly, which is one of the reasons I don't like to prevent gel in my main amount of soap batter.


IrishLass