Dispersing clay in milk

[ackosel]

While making buffalo plaid soap for the recent October challenge, I used Moroccan red clay as a colorant. I usually disperse clay in distilled water, but since all my soap is made with fresh goat milk, I decided to disperse 1/2 tsp. of clay in milk instead of water. I prepped all my essential oils and colorants the night before making the soap, so I refrigerated the milk/clay solution overnight.

When I made the soap the next morning, I was surprised by the color of the finished soap. Instead of the light brick red color I was expecting, the soap turned grayish purple! Since that color didn't work for my plaid design, I made another batch with the same amount of clay in the same soap recipe, but this time I dispersed the clay in distilled water. This time, the color turned out as expected. Now I need to experiment with different color clays and see what colors come from dispersing the clay in milk vs distilled water.

Just thought I would share this accidental experiment for anyone else who might want to alternate liquids for dispersing colorants.

Left: clay dispersed in milk
Right: clay dispersed in distilled water

Edited to correct pregnancy brain mistake...

 

[LidiaG]

Just thought I would share this accidental experiment for anyone else who might want to alternate liquids for dispersing colorants.

Left: clay dispersed in milk
Right: clay dispersed in milk

Wow! Thank you for sharing! That's a big difference in color

 

[AliOop]

I'm a little confused; your description just above the picture says both bars are clay dispersed in milk... but from what you said above that, I think the one on the left should be labeled as clay dispersed in distilled water. Is that correct?

In any event, that's a very interesting difference, and thank you for sharing it!

 

[ackosel]

I'm a little confused; your description just above the picture says both bars are clay dispersed in milk... but from what you said above that, I think the one on the left should be labeled as clay dispersed in distilled water. Is that correct?

In any event, that's a very interesting difference, and thank you for sharing it!

Oops! That's what I get for trying to post about soap while making applesauce! Thanks for catching that!

I'll edit the original post to be correct:

Left: clay dispersed in milk
Right: clay dispersed in distilled water

 

[Nona'sFarm]

Interesting, had no idea it would make a difference.

 

[Ekuzo]

Nice. Curious if someone will come up with an explanation. Probably got something to do with the way clay absorbs water, and that milk has less water than 'real' water (lol)

Edit: Also curious if one of them will change color significantly over time, maybe they won't be that different in a while?

 

[AliOop]

Nice. Curious if someone will come up with an explanation. Probably got something to do with the way clay absorbs water, and that milk has less water than 'real' water (lol)

Edit: Also curious if one of them will change color significantly over time, maybe they won't be that different in a while?

I was thinking it could be the acidity in the milk, or perhaps a reaction the one of the milk proteins (an “allergy” haha).

 

[Ekuzo]

or perhaps a reaction the one of the milk proteins (an “allergy” haha).

Someone give the soap some meds before it turns into Regan MacNeil