Hi everyone. Been trying my hand at soapmaking for a few months now, with generally very good results. Have learned a lot, but still have a ways to go.
Made my biggest batch to date yesterday - about 15 pounds total. The batch was poured into a few different molds.
Most of the batch went into a twin 5-lb silicone loaf mold (10 lbs total) with excellent insulation. Then a large amount went into a standard Crafter's Choice 2-lb silicone loaf, which was also well-insulated. A small bit of remaining batter was put into a 10" square silicone mold, and it was barely insulated.
Overall the batch seems to have worked pretty well. The soap in the twin molds appears to have gone through a complete gel phase - it's not ready to come out yet though. The 2lb loaf went about 99% through gel, with just a few edges and corners not quite getting there.
The square mold went through a partial gel phase - to be expected due to the small amount of soap in the mold and the lack of insulation.
Now here comes the problem - the soap from the square mold has developed a pink hue along the edge/corners of 2 opposite sides. Most of it looks fine. Photos attached.
I don't think this is DOS, because all of my oils are recently purchased and well within date. From what I understand, DOS shouldn't show up in 24 hours of making the batch, and it would also be spotted. This coloring is also decidedly pink, not orange, and also not spotted.
This was a fairly low-ingredient recipe, consisting of Olive Oil, Coconut Oil, and Soybean Oil. Lye solution concentration was 2.5:1 with purified water and I used Crafter's Choice Oatmeal & Honey FO, as well as some Oat Bran for exfoliation. No colors/micas/clays.
Since the majority of the batch looks totally fine (the 2lb loaf has also been unmolded, and shows no sign of anything pink) my best guess is that it's some kind of reaction between the soaps and this particular square mold? It's the first time I've used the square mold, so I don't have any other batches that have gone into it to compare against.
Any thoughts are very much appreciated!
Made my biggest batch to date yesterday - about 15 pounds total. The batch was poured into a few different molds.
Most of the batch went into a twin 5-lb silicone loaf mold (10 lbs total) with excellent insulation. Then a large amount went into a standard Crafter's Choice 2-lb silicone loaf, which was also well-insulated. A small bit of remaining batter was put into a 10" square silicone mold, and it was barely insulated.
Overall the batch seems to have worked pretty well. The soap in the twin molds appears to have gone through a complete gel phase - it's not ready to come out yet though. The 2lb loaf went about 99% through gel, with just a few edges and corners not quite getting there.
The square mold went through a partial gel phase - to be expected due to the small amount of soap in the mold and the lack of insulation.
Now here comes the problem - the soap from the square mold has developed a pink hue along the edge/corners of 2 opposite sides. Most of it looks fine. Photos attached.
I don't think this is DOS, because all of my oils are recently purchased and well within date. From what I understand, DOS shouldn't show up in 24 hours of making the batch, and it would also be spotted. This coloring is also decidedly pink, not orange, and also not spotted.
This was a fairly low-ingredient recipe, consisting of Olive Oil, Coconut Oil, and Soybean Oil. Lye solution concentration was 2.5:1 with purified water and I used Crafter's Choice Oatmeal & Honey FO, as well as some Oat Bran for exfoliation. No colors/micas/clays.
Since the majority of the batch looks totally fine (the 2lb loaf has also been unmolded, and shows no sign of anything pink) my best guess is that it's some kind of reaction between the soaps and this particular square mold? It's the first time I've used the square mold, so I don't have any other batches that have gone into it to compare against.
Any thoughts are very much appreciated!
