Crystals

[Megan]

Weird thing I've been coming across recently on more than one batch: crystals that look exactly like salt crystals (maybe slightly larger) inside of air pockets ( such as when the batter is too ploppy and traps an air bubble or when I'm piping and there is space between), but never on top or exposed surfaces. Soap is otherwise normal. I took the crystals themselves, a few grains, and zap tested, which they passed. Actually, they tasted very much like salt...

Recipe: 33% oo, 25% rbo, 22% co, 8%shea, 7% cocoa butter, 5% castor, and sodium lactate and kaolin clay at 1tsp ppo. I superfat at 5% and use a lye concentration of 33%. I soap around 100 degrees, but go from 90-110.

Now I'm wondering if this could just be sodium lactate crystallized somehow( I read it has a mild saline taste)? I add it to my cooled lye water, so I'm not sure how it had found its way to these pockets.

Any ideas?

 

[IrishLass]

Color me stumped! I use sodium lactate in almost every batch and have never run into the crystal formations in air pockets that you've described.

A thought just came to me....what form of sodium lactate do you use? I use the liquid form that comes in a 60% solution. I add it to my cooled-off lye water. Are you using the powdered form?


IrishLass

 

[shunt2011]

I too have used the 60% solution in every batch for years and have never encountered the effect you describe.

 

[dibbles]

How much sodium lactate are you using? I watched a video on YouTube not too long ago and the comment was made when adding SL *not too much or you can get crystals*. I was surprised because I use it in every batch with no problems, at 1 tsp PPO. I think the video was one of Ariane Arsenaut’s making soap with Zahida Map of Handmade in Florida.

 

[Megan]

How much sodium lactate are you using? I watched a video on YouTube not too long ago and the comment was made when adding SL *not too much or you can get crystals*. I was surprised because I use it in every batch with no problems, at 1 tsp PPO. I think the video was one of Ariane Arsenaut’s making soap with Zahida Map of Handmade in Florida.

I am using 1t/ppo of the 60%.

Actually, I've looked more closely and it might even be little droplets of glycerin. I was able to squish a larger piece between my fingers.