CP vs. HP - Do I have this right?

[MsBien]

I have always done CP, but I am interesting in trying HP. Do you basically do CP, but then continue with HP by cooking the soap and then add EO and color? (I realize that there are other differences like not waiting for the lye to cool, etc. but just looking at the big picture.)

Also, is there a difference in the end product? Is the texture the same? I've read that the EOs will not lose as much of their fragrance, right? Why else do you like HP?

Lots of questions, sorry.

Thanks!
Stacie :wink:

 

[carebear]

You pretty much have the process right - you mix the oils and lye solution and then instead of waiting for the reaction to continue at its own (relatively slow) pace you speed things up with the application of heat.

There ARE differences in the final product in my experience. I don't get as smooth a result as with CP, and swirls are... different.

Some EOs will hold up better, others aren't stable anyway.

Why else do I like HP? I don't. I don't like the look, I don't like the texture, and I don't like the cleanup, the time involved, the extra electricity... I don't like HP.

This said, there are folks who like it and have success with it - so I leave HP to them.

 

[Soapmomma]

And I'm totally opposite, I don't care for cp. And the main reason I don't is because I'm impatient as all get out! I do like the "rougher" look of hp, makes it look more homemade to me, and in my rural neighborhood (population 700) it goes over well due to the homemade look.
Carebear is right about the swirls, hp looks more marbled then swirled but you can get some very pretty bars with this method and a little practice.

Cleanup is not bad, you have saponified soap after all so if you wash right away and don't let the stuff dry hard it's a snap. Yes there are more to wash, your crockpot or oven pan etc. that you wouldn't have with cp, but to me it's worth it to have soap that's virtually ready to use right away. It is still best to let it "cure" to get the excess water out.

It's a matter of preference, try it and choose what's right for you

Oh and there is a tutorial on here for hp I think.

HTH

Edit: here's a simple crockpot one-- http://gracefruit.blogspot.com/2006/01/ ... orial.html

There's also oven hp but I haven't done it that way so can't help there.

Rissa

 

[honor435]

I have always done CP, but I am interesting in trying HP. Do you basically do CP, but then continue with HP by cooking the soap and then add EO and color? (I realize that there are other differences like not waiting for the lye to cool, etc. but just looking at the big picture.)

Also, is there a difference in the end product? Is the texture the same? I've read that the EOs will not lose as much of their fragrance, right? Why else do you like HP?

Lots of questions, sorry.

Thanks!
Stacie :wink:

I do both and like things about each.
Hp- throw everything in crock and cook, no checking any temps, uses less fragrance, but in cute molds and they come out if you spray w pam

cp- smooth bars! but hate waiting the cure timem more fragrance.

 

[kellistarr]

What I like about HP is that I add my lye solution to the oils in a stainless steel pot, blend it together and then stick it in the oven. I don't bother with bringing it to trace. Or, I pour it in my crockpot (don't bother bringing it to trace) and leave it alone for awhile. I can then prepare my mold and additives etc... The process offers a bit more hands-on. I like that. I like doing it so much that my final soaps are quite smooth. I did a CP and HP in the same day and when I cut them, you couldn't tell them apart, except my HP tops are never as creamy smooth as CP tops. HP always manages to have a slight homemade crust ( I call it the rustic look). I like this look, but if it's not appealing you can always just slice it off.

I like to superfat with luxurious (sometimes expensive) oils and I save them for HP. I like scenting HP because I do use less EO/FO but still get a good scent, Although, as stated, sometimes the scent just fades no matter what you do. Last, but not least, I love that the liquid evaporates out of the bars right off and I can use my soap sooner. This is really great if I'm gifting the soap. I believe that cured soap is better soap, but if I can't wait, then HP is the way to go!

 

[kaseencook]

I love HP too! I can't stand the wait for CP. I do oven HP, 100C for 1 hour with a stir at 30min.

I don't find there is any extra clean up compared to CP because I bake the soap in the same pot I mix in, and I feel better washing up a pot that is not covered in lye heavy soap. I just put a bit of water in my pot and come back in a few hours and it's all dissolved and I just give it a quick rinse.

It's nice to work with. I chuck my EO's and chunks when still hot and mix in quickly, then mould imidiately while still hot and fluid. About a minute after chucking in the mould it devolopes a non-sticky skin and I can pat down the soap with a flat object and get a nice smooth surface. I also don't have to line my wood moulds because HP is too thick to leak (so long as the wood pores are filled with epoxy or oil to prevent water from the soap getting into the wood).

 

[Maria]

I sell my soaps and I couldn't keep up doing CP. I had soap drying all over the place and I was always out of one scent or another because something needed to cure for weeks.
HP has a more attractive look, kind of a glossy marbled effect. I use less scent and less of the choice stuff I superfat with. Whatever I make during the week is wrapped on Friday for the Saturday market. People comment on how different the soap looks and once they try it, how it feels.

 

[honor435]

I sell my soaps and I couldn't keep up doing CP. I had soap drying all over the place and I was always out of one scent or another because something needed to cure for weeks.
HP has a more attractive look, kind of a glossy marbled effect. I use less scent and less of the choice stuff I superfat with. Whatever I make during the week is wrapped on Friday for the Saturday market. People comment on how different the soap looks and once they try it, how it feels.

people seem to feel strongly about what they like, iam addicted to both hp & cp! Its so fun and glad i can chat with people ere.

 

[MsBien]

Thanks, this is so helpful. It's just exactly the kind of information I needed!

 

[carebear]

I wouldn't sell HP if it didn't have at least a 2 week cure period. Otherwise instead of shrinking on my rack it'll shrink in the consumers' home, and if wrapped in plastic it'l be DOS prone.

 

[Maria]

I haven't had DOS in any HP and only once in a CP recipe I no longer use. As far as shrinkage, it is not an problem. Occasionally, I have to tighten bands or replace a label for bars that do not sell as quick as others. My bars are a generous size and there has never been one complaint or question on shrinkage. The majority of my regular customers purchase 4 or more bars at a time.
If someone is having this problem, try reducing the amount of liquid and or cooking a bit longer. I also run a dehumidifier in the soap room which probably helps.

 

[MikeInPdx]

I started out with CP.....did a brief run with CPHP, and now I'm thoroughly into the OHP.

I like the fact that I can make a great big batch in my soap pot, and divide it and scent it as I like. I also like that I can decide what oil my superfat is going to be, since I add it after the cook.

No, the texture isn't as pretty as CP, but everyone seems to love the rustic look.....and I'm not into the swirlies as much as some people so that's not an issue.

 

[Maria]

I'm not crafty at all and am just happy to ge the bars cut reasonably straight. I think with HP, I have a better chance of making a soap that may have therapeutic benefits because the important stuff goes in after the lye has done it's job.

 

[Jeremy]

I've only made on batch of HP but I found it to be hard to work with because of the consistency. The soap came out fine but I tried a swirl and it looked more like a gloop. I am going to try another HP soon but no swirl this time just scent and exfoliant.

 

[Lindy]

I use both methods depending on what I'm looking for and what I need. I love the texture of CP, I love the swirls I can do with it too. HP is effective when I need a soap quickly and don't have time to wait for the cure. I use the oven process so since I mix everything is a stainless pot I just put it into the oven and let it do it's thing.

 

[kaseencook]

DOS is due to the oxidation of oils in the soap, and will happen with or without a wrapper, and it not affected by water. Actually, contact with water can reduce DOS, because oxidation only occurs when exposed to free oxygen in the air and can be accelerated by heat and UV (as weak double bonds in the oils are broken).

I would be more worried about mold or bacteria, but even those need something to grow on and water that is available (my husband is a microbiologist and we were talking one day about the likely hood of mold and bacteria growing on soap, and he said that although water may be present if there is soap particles "binding up" the water, it may not be available for bacterial or fungal growth Ex. honey, salt brine (pickles, olives) - contain water, but it is not avalible for bacterial growth). But I suppose if you had organic bits in your soap they would be a good breeding spot, an oasis in the soap for fungi and bacteria.

Like Maria said, discount water to help shrinkage and shorten dry time.
I used to use too much water in my soap and they warped and shrank badly, but after reducing the water they remained about the same size. Battery dieing....No..... :shock:

 

[LomondSoap]

I'm another who loves both CP & HP. I use HP for a "natural" range where I superfat with nice oils and butters, use natural clays, herbs and only EO's or unscented.
I seem to get the same dense & smooth consistency with my HP soap as I do with CP. I use extra water (41% on soapcalc) and sodium lactate in every batch. Works for me :wink: (I made some last week, it's on my blog if you want to see it)
I haven't tried to swirl colours in HP and am not interested in doing so, I leave that for my CP soap.
In my soapy world there's plenty room for both!

 

[carebear]

high humidity conditions can promote oxidation and thus DOS. and moisture trapped in plastic would be a lovely example of high humidity conditions.

 

[surf girl]

Hey Lomond - nice soap!

Can any of you other HPers post photos of the more "rustic" type HP soap?