Can I add glycerin into oil when making CP Soap
- Thread starter fnddoctor
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akseattle
Well-Known Member
@fnddoctor I can't tell you how to add glycerin to your CP soap as I've never done that.
Can I ask why you'd like to do this? Is it that that your hoping it will result in a more transparent soap?
Out of curiosity, I read some old threads on this forum where the addition of glycerin was discussed. Other than one person saying that they mixed their colors (micas?? clays??) in a small amount of glycerin, most other posts were pretty lukewarm on the idea- and commented adding too much could give the soap a sticky feel. Apparently, glycerin is created during the saponification process, with your finished bar of soap containing 7-10% glycerin.
So, anyway, I'm wondering why you want to add the glycerin. Maybe that would determine WHEN or how you might add the glycerin,
Can I ask why you'd like to do this? Is it that that your hoping it will result in a more transparent soap?
Out of curiosity, I read some old threads on this forum where the addition of glycerin was discussed. Other than one person saying that they mixed their colors (micas?? clays??) in a small amount of glycerin, most other posts were pretty lukewarm on the idea- and commented adding too much could give the soap a sticky feel. Apparently, glycerin is created during the saponification process, with your finished bar of soap containing 7-10% glycerin.
So, anyway, I'm wondering why you want to add the glycerin. Maybe that would determine WHEN or how you might add the glycerin,
When I was mixing oxide colors with glycerin, it was a lot harder to get the colors to blend with the oils.
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squidstings
Active Member
I'm aware of 2 methods for CP/HP(non M&P) glycerine soap.
1. Lye+water+glycerine mixed before adding to oils
2. Add lye to heated (check for temperature requirements. 230F I think), undiluted glycerine. The mixture will remain stable once cooled as far as I've been told.
Haven't attempted my glycerine recipe yet. No experience to speak of. Just the 2 methods my research has turned up.
1. Lye+water+glycerine mixed before adding to oils
2. Add lye to heated (check for temperature requirements. 230F I think), undiluted glycerine. The mixture will remain stable once cooled as far as I've been told.
Haven't attempted my glycerine recipe yet. No experience to speak of. Just the 2 methods my research has turned up.
For bar (NaOH) soap, just add the glycerin to the water or other water-soluble liquids in your recipe. Glycerin is water soluble, not fat soluble. That said, I'm not sure why you would want to do this unless you're making transparent soap.
Regular types of bar soap contain 7-10% glycerin that's naturally produced during saponification. Adding more glycerin to this soap carries a risk of the soap becoming overly soft and unpleasantly wet during humid weather.
For liquid (KOH) soap, dissolve the KOH in an equal weight of water and then add glycerin to the KOH and water mixture.
Do NOT try to heat glycerin up and dissolve dry alkali in the hot glycerin. While I know in theory that this can be done, I also know it's risky in practice, and this method doesn't offer any benefits that warrant the added risk.
Just dissolve the alkali in at least an equal weight of water -- much safer and faster -- and then add glycerin to the alkali and water mixture.
squidstings
Active Member
"Theory"? You can watch it on Youtube.
"risky" We're already using pure lye! Which will heat simple water up past "be careful" all by itself. Not to mention the burns it alone can cause Why not just advise OP to stick to melt and pour?
Mixing the lye into hot glycerine will create it's own characteristic. I plan to use it for a KOH liquid soap recipe (next project) because it makes a thicker LS with the same amount of water. But I haven't looked into other characteristics yet.
I have heard that as a humectant, Glycerine, can both give AND strip moisture from the skin.
Don't let someone who's never walked the grass prevent you from attempting your goals. Sometimes you aim for the moon and land on mars!
If you stick with lye soaps, DO, be careful though! Hot KOH water doesn't feel good lol Burn doesn't look anything like fight club says. And a couple years later, the brown spot is almost gone
But be careful!
@squidstings it sounds like you are unaware that DeeAnna has a PhD in chemistry - which is why most of us here on SMF take her advice quite seriously.
Just because someone else has done it on YouTube doesn't make it safe or advisable. You won't land on the moon or Mars, but more likely in the hospital emergency room if you try combining lye with hot glycerin without knowing the significant risks thereof, and the serious precautions that must be observed.
squidstings
Active Member
What specific kind of chemistry PHD?
I've spoken to a few PHD types. Even a professor who teaches them. All clueless about explaining, or even discussing my experience.
If someone on Youtube did it, is it a mere "theory" ad miss PHD chose to state?
If a PHD doesn't know it's an actual chemical process that works..... creates a credibility issue for me. But I'm pedantic. I don't live in the world where I care to know what others meant. If you're gonna teach/share, inaccuracy is unintelligent. at best.
Is a thicker LS not a desirable characteristic? Op may be working on a bar, but to state, with a PHD behind you, that there's nothing desirable to be gained from that process if incredibly arrogant.
At least answer OPs actual question before trying to scare them away from a little extra safety precaution.
I've spoken to a few PHD types. Even a professor who teaches them. All clueless about explaining, or even discussing my experience.
If someone on Youtube did it, is it a mere "theory" ad miss PHD chose to state?
If a PHD doesn't know it's an actual chemical process that works..... creates a credibility issue for me. But I'm pedantic. I don't live in the world where I care to know what others meant. If you're gonna teach/share, inaccuracy is unintelligent. at best.
Is a thicker LS not a desirable characteristic? Op may be working on a bar, but to state, with a PHD behind you, that there's nothing desirable to be gained from that process if incredibly arrogant.
At least answer OPs actual question before trying to scare them away from a little extra safety precaution.
She does know the procedure, and she never said that it didn't work. She said there were safety concerns that outweighed the minimal benefits (if any) to doing as described in the video.
She also provided a perfectly acceptable alternative procedure that avoids the safety risks while still garnering all the benefits of using glycerin. I am so grateful to have learned this alternative procedure from her and use it reguarly - works great!
She also provided a perfectly acceptable alternative procedure that avoids the safety risks while still garnering all the benefits of using glycerin. I am so grateful to have learned this alternative procedure from her and use it reguarly - works great!
squidstings
Active Member
I assume that you've done HP lye soaps before Alioop. You're prepared for the chemicals and temperatures already. If you're new, there's no other PPE required.
Propane is explosive, so no BBQs
People drown in water, so don't swim!
A plane once fell out of the sky, onto someone's house while they were sleeping. sleep underground!
Hot sugar burns, don't heat your glycerine
LYE causes chemical burns...
stick to melt and pour!
Ever made a meatloaf or sugar glazed ham? We cook with sugar at far higher temperatures every single day. Do we max out on PPE? NO! 1 maybe 2 oven mits then we stick our bare face as close to the scalding sugar meal as we can to smell it. What's the fear of a little heated glycerine in a hobby that's already dealing with caustic lye as well as the every day hot sugar?
Propane is explosive, so no BBQs
People drown in water, so don't swim!
A plane once fell out of the sky, onto someone's house while they were sleeping. sleep underground!
Hot sugar burns, don't heat your glycerine
LYE causes chemical burns...
stick to melt and pour!
Ever made a meatloaf or sugar glazed ham? We cook with sugar at far higher temperatures every single day. Do we max out on PPE? NO! 1 maybe 2 oven mits then we stick our bare face as close to the scalding sugar meal as we can to smell it. What's the fear of a little heated glycerine in a hobby that's already dealing with caustic lye as well as the every day hot sugar?
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@squidstrings The OP is very new to soap making and is asking how to add glycerin to CP bar soap. DeeAnna offered advice about how to do that, but questioned the reason why as that can result in a soap with undesirable characteristics. As OP is new to soap making, the safety warnings about adding lye to hot glycerin are warranted. I remember when I was just starting to make soap and I didn't know what I didn't know - and didn't even think about.
You are telling the OP to try adding lye to glycerin heated to 230F, but haven't done so yourself, so you aren't speaking from experience. If you do decide to try it, I would be interested to see what you learned and how you liked the end result.
You are telling the OP to try adding lye to glycerin heated to 230F, but haven't done so yourself, so you aren't speaking from experience. If you do decide to try it, I would be interested to see what you learned and how you liked the end result.
squidstings
Active Member
I answered OP's actual question, pedantically and completely! As my experience allows.
I assume they're capable of choosing their own path. I'm not inclined to decide, for others, what's not acceptable or, especially, desirable.
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