Bunny's Castile Questions

[AlicesWonderhands]

What's the super fat?
When I run the oz through the soap calc I get different water and lye ratios, so I imagine I am not calculating that correctly.

I plan to HP it. How long will it take to cure?

 

[The Efficacious Gentleman]

x Oz of olive oil should always give the same lye amount. I think most people superfat their Castiles at 5% and leave it for at least 6-months, if not 12. Mine is over 14 months old and still not fab - but that is the nature of 100% OO soaps.

ETA - okay, I see that this isn't actually a Castile at all, but a bastile.

Bastiles still need a long old cure, generally reducing as the OO amount reduces but also bearing in mind the other ingredients - so 70% OO will need less than 80% when the other 30% or 20% are made up a mix of similar oils

 

[Seawolfe]

Are you talking about this commercial soap?

http://www.bunnysbath.com/category/Castile-Olive-Oil-Bars-56

Thats not a Castile soap, its just your basic OO/CO/PO soap

Ingredients
Saponified Oils of Olive, Coconut, and Palm

I would guess 5% Superfat would be fine unless your CO is over 15-20%

HP cure takes just as long as CP cure really, 4-6 weeks - more if olive oil is more than 50%

 

[AlicesWonderhands]

I am talking about this:
http://www.soapdisharchives.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=29369
VERSION 1:
32 oz olive oil
1 oz castor oil
4.25 oz lye
10 oz distilled water

VERSION 2:
32 oz. olive
3 oz. castor
4.5 oz. lye
12 oz. water

VERSION 3:
95% olive oil
5% castor oil

I want to make a baby soap, very mild and creamy. I thought this recipe with oat flour and honey would be nice for baby and momma.

I also considered adding a touch of coconut oil to add to the hardness of the bar( I really dont have time for a 12-14 month cure. One of the reasons I want to HP it.) but not too much to become harsh for baby....

 

[Susie]

And it says castor oil, also.

My guess is this:

OO 45-50%
CO 20-25%
Palm 20%
Castor 5%

I would stick with superfat 5% if you use CO 20%, and superfat 8% if you use CO 25%.

However, that is not how I would make soap using those ingredients. I would use higher palm and less OO to cure faster than 6 months.

ETA-I just saw your proposed recipes. Those recipes are going to take a very long time to cure.

I would probably use a high lard soap: Lard 80%, CO 15%, Castor Oil 5%. Lard is incredibly conditioning.

 

[The Efficacious Gentleman]

HP does not reduce the need for cure - it is SAFE as soon as the cook is done, but is far from READY.

Has the particular mother and baby involved given any hints as to what they want in a soap?

 

[IrishLass]

I remember Bunny! I loved reading her posts when I first started soaping. She was always so kind and generous. I hope she's still around somewhere.

For version one, this is what I came up with on SoapCalc using Bunny's ingredient amounts:

96.97% Olive Oil (32 oz.)
3.03% Castor oil (1 oz.)
29.82% lye concentration/or 30.3% water as % of oils (10 oz. water)
4.8% S/F (4.25oz. lye)

For version 2:

91.43% Olive oil (32 oz.)
8.57 Castor oil (3 oz.)
27.28% lye concentration/or 34.3% water as % of oils (12oz water)
4.6% S/F (4.5oz. lye)

If I were making either one of those recipes using CP, I would use much less water than Bunny since olive oil takes forever to come to trace and set up at those particular levels. If doing HP, however, the water amount is fine 'as is'. (For CP, I would personally use a 33% lye concentration for either recipe, and I'd let it cure for at least 3 months on the low end, and 6 months to a year at the high end. But that's just me. ).

As for superfat, I'd use at least 5% superfat, but that's just me, too.

I've never HP'd high % olive oil soap, so I'm not sure what it would feel like or how it would perform if the cure time were any shorter than what I mentioned above. You'll definitely want it to cure for at least 4 to 6 weeks, though, even if HP'd. HP needs a good cure just like CP, possibly even longer because of the extra water.

IrishLass

 

[AlicesWonderhands]

And it says castor oil, also.

My guess is this:

OO 45-50%
CO 20-25%
Palm 20%
Castor 5%

I would stick with superfat 5% if you use CO 20%, and superfat 8% if you use CO 25%.

However, that is not how I would make soap using those ingredients. I would use higher palm and less OO to cure faster than 6 months.

ETA-I just saw your proposed recipes. Those recipes are going to take a very long time to cure.

I would probably use a high lard soap: Lard 80%, CO 15%, Castor Oil 5%. Lard is incredibly conditioning.

Ty for your help and input, but out of respect for the planet we do not use palm oil.

 

[AlicesWonderhands]

HP does not reduce the need for cure - it is SAFE as soon as the cook is done, but is far from READY.

Has the particular mother and baby involved given any hints as to what they want in a soap?

no one specific but myself and some other close birthing mommas. I want to make a soap that is very mild and looks/feels creamy.

 

[AlicesWonderhands]

I remember Bunny! I loved reading her posts when I first started soaping. She was always so kind and generous. I hope she's still around somewhere.

For version one, this is what I came up with on SoapCalc using Bunny's ingredient amounts:

96.97% Olive Oil (32 oz.)
3.03% Castor oil (1 oz.)
29.82% lye concentration/or 30.3% water as % of oils (10 oz. water)
4.8% S/F (4.25oz. lye)

For version 2:

91.43% Olive oil (32 oz.)
8.57 Castor oil (3 oz.)
27.28% lye concentration/or 34.3% water as % of oils (12oz water)
4.6% S/F (4.5oz. lye)

If I were making either one of those recipes using CP, I would use much less water than Bunny since olive oil takes forever to come to trace and set up at those particular levels. If doing HP, however, the water amount is fine 'as is'. (For CP, I would personally use a 33% lye concentration for either recipe, and I'd let it cure for at least 3 months on the low end, and 6 months to a year at the high end. But that's just me. ).

As for superfat, I'd use at least 5% superfat, but that's just me, too.

I've never HP'd high % olive oil soap, so I'm not sure what it would feel like or how it would perform if the cure time were any shorter than what I mentioned above. You'll definitely want it to cure for at least 4 to 6 weeks, though, even if HP'd. HP needs a good cure just like CP, possibly even longer because of the extra water.

IrishLass

THANK YOU!!! what do you think if I added a 10% coconut oil to this?

 

[IrishLass]

THANK YOU!!! what do you think if I added a 10% coconut oil to this?

My pleasure!

Personally, adjusting things to add in 10% coconut would make it even lovelier if you ask me, but then again I do love my bubbles!

Just make sure to run the new amounts through a soap calculator.


IrishLass

 

[Rowan]

I made Bunny's castille which was posted on the lathering forum and add honey and either oats or oatmilk. It's an awesome soap and I don't usually like high Olive Oil Soaps. The lather is bubbly and not slimy and my friends keep asking for more, they use it for their kids and as a facial soap. Surprisingly it cures quicker than usual Castille soaps. My batches have been mild and lovely to use at 4 months, which is the same amount of time I cure my CP soaps! I'm wondering if that's due to starch from the oats.

Just a quick tip - add the honey, oats or oatmilk after its cooked and not before, don't ask me how I know It only takes me 45 mins from start to finish to HP.

I used 91percent Olive Oil
9percent Castor Oil

I've just made a batch CP with oatmilk, using the 50percent split method (adding oatmilk to the oils). It traced within a few minutes and was ready to cut in 24 hours. It's only a few days old, but so far looks really good.

 

[AlicesWonderhands]

I made Bunny's castille which was posted on the lathering forum and add honey and either oats or oatmilk. It's an awesome soap and I don't usually like high Olive Oil Soaps. The lather is bubbly and not slimy and my friends keep asking for more, they use it for their kids and as a facial soap. Surprisingly it cures quicker than usual Castille soaps. My batches have been mild and lovely to use at 4 months, which is the same amount of time I cure my CP soaps! I'm wondering if that's due to starch from the oats.

Just a quick tip - add the honey, oats or oatmilk after its cooked and not before, don't ask me how I know It only takes me 45 mins from start to finish to HP.

I used 91percent Olive Oil
9percent Castor Oil

I've just made a batch CP with oatmilk, using the 50percent split method (adding oatmilk to the oils). It traced within a few minutes and was ready to cut in 24 hours. It's only a few days old, but so far looks really good.

This is what I was considering as well. I was going to freeze the oat milk and use it for the water...

 

[AlicesWonderhands]

My pleasure!

Personally, adjusting things to add in 10% coconut would make it even lovelier if you ask me, but then again I do love my bubbles!

Just make sure to run the new amounts through a soap calculator.


IrishLass

I am hoping it adds a bit to the hardness of the bar as well! I just <3 coconut oil in soap!

 

[Rowan]

This is what I was considering as well. I was going to freeze the oat milk and use it for the water...

the beauty of the 50percent split method is that you don't need to freeze the milk. You use 50percent water to dissolve the lye, then add the oatmilk to the oils. It worked perfectly. I tried freezing the oatmilk and adding lye to it but it goes like thick lumpy porridge and I was worried that the lye hadn't fully dissolved without straining!

I'll try and post some photos, including the bubbles I get with the HP Olive Oil, castor oil, oats and honey.

The first is the CP oatmilk. I used sugar rather than honey for this one as I wanted to add lavender and lavender and honey didn't quite work last time!

The second picture is the HP oats, milk and honey, showing the bubbles! Good luck with whichever recipe you choose. I'm sure it will be an awesome soap whatever you do. Just to add , I used a 5percent superfat.

P.s. Thanks TEG for moving the photos into one post. I can't seem to upload more than one image at a time!

 

[Obsidian]

There is no reason to add coconut to castle in order to harden it, it will be plenty hard on its own. I also wouldn't want coconut in a baby soap, even a little could cause issues with delicate skin.
I honestly don't know why people are hung up on castile for babies. A 100% lard soap is just as mild, cures faster and has a much nicer lather.

 

[Rowan]

I agree with obsidian, there are other recipes that are just as mild. It's good to try a few and find what works best for you. Personally, I used just water for my babies, until about 18 months old. Sorry I didn't see that you were making the soap for babies too. I just wanted to comment on my results for Bunny's Castille!

 

[Chefmom]

I made Bunny's castille which was posted on the lathering forum and add honey and either oats or oatmilk. It's an awesome soap and I don't usually like high Olive Oil Soaps. The lather is bubbly and not slimy and my friends keep asking for more, they use it for their kids and as a facial soap. Surprisingly it cures quicker than usual Castille soaps. My batches have been mild and lovely to use at 4 months, which is the same amount of time I cure my CP soaps! I'm wondering if that's due to starch from the oats.

Just a quick tip - add the honey, oats or oatmilk after its cooked and not before, don't ask me how I know It only takes me 45 mins from start to finish to HP.

I used 91percent Olive Oil
9percent Castor Oil

I've just made a batch CP with oatmilk, using the 50percent split method (adding oatmilk to the oils). It traced within a few minutes and was ready to cut in 24 hours. It's only a few days old, but so far looks really good.

Rowan, how do you make your oatmilk?

http://www.soapmakingforum.com//www.pinterest.com/pin/create/extension/

 

[Rowan]

I soak my oats in distilled water for a few hours (sometimes overnight, if I'm organised the night before) and then strain it. I used about 3-4 heaped tablespoons in approximately 150mls of water. I could have used a finer strainer, there's a couple of specks of very fine oats in the bars but I'm ok with that.

 

[Chefmom]

I soak my oats in distilled water for a few hours (sometimes overnight, if I'm organised the night before) and then strain it. I used about 3-4 heaped tablespoons in approximately 150mls of water. I could have used a finer strainer, there's a couple of specks of very fine oats in the bars but I'm ok with that.

Thank you! I googled it, and found descriptions about blending it and then "milking" it through a special grain milking bag....it put me off just a little.

If I don't mind wee bits of oats in the final soap...can I just use it as is, soaked and blended instead of straining it?