First batch is disappointing :/

[goji_fries]

I do the same thing as pamielynn. I add my EO's/FO's to my oils and stick blend well before adding my lye mixture. I find it also give me a bit more time to work with it if it's a fast mover.

Hey shunt, :-D

I had read so many times before to add the EOs at the last step aka after trace. Is there any real benefit to that? Makes sense to add with oils then blend with lye monster. :think:

 

[shunt2011]

Hey shunt, :-D

I had read so many times before to add the EOs at the last step aka after trace. Is there any real benefit to that? Makes sense to add with oils then blend with lye monster. :think:

Some think that it may make the scent weaker so add it at trace. However, I've not found that to be the case. I figure it's still going through the soponification phase either way.

 

[The Efficacious Gentleman]

Some think that it may make the scent weaker so add it at trace. However, I've not found that to be the case. I figure it's still going through the soponification phase either way.

Aye - when we think that saponification (talking cp here) lasts for about 24 hours at least, keeping the eo out of the lye for 30 minutes (not a slow or particularly speedy trace) is equal to a mere 1/48th of the total time that there is active lye. That is not going to make much of a difference from my thinking.

But if by adding it in earlier we can avoid some issues, I think it might be worth it.

 

[pamielynn]

I think that "add at trace" might be another misnomer left over from the days of hand-mixing soap. You'd want to make sure your emulsion is stable before adding scents. But with the SB, I don't that's applicable anymore.

I do it my way because when I've added finicky scents to traced batter, I didn't feel like the scent could get distributed evenly - especially when it seized so bad I could barely get it in the mold. Yep. Been there; done that

 

[JustBeachy]

You know it's funny I never even thought about adding fragrance before the lye. It actually makes sense from a mixing perspective and maybe not speeding up an already quickly tracing batter. Definitely falls into the category of "because that's how I've always done it". Gonna feel pretty silly if it solves some of the trickier fragrance problems.

I'll try it in the batches this weekend. Making a repeat of a salt soap I always make, that goes pretty quick and the scent never seems to help.

 

[cmzaha]

I also add my eo's and fo's to my oils and sb before slowly adding in my lye. At least if it accelerates I have had time to get the fragrance blended into the oils. Also I agree extra water helps when using super crank fo. I also stay away from milks especially coconut milk when I know I have a crank pot and use just water

 

[dwolanin]

I got a yellow plastic miter box this morning for the first batch. When I unwrapped it there was a bit of Soda Ash on it. But not to bad. It unmolded beautifully and cut really well. I'm going to use it after it has cured.
I'd like you to see it but I don't know how to use flickr :/
Made a second batch today, it came out much better than this green one

Thanks y'all

 

[TeresaT]

my sb does the same too (suctioning). next time you might want to just hand stir the EO.

Mine does the same thing, as well. My stick blender has a flat bottom, does yours? I've noticed in many of the videos I've watched, the stick blenders have a serrated bottom and they don't seem to do the suctioning thing. I've been thinking of getting a new one because of that. But then I think maybe I just don't know how to use it. If I hold it at a little bit of an angle, the soap flies all over.


BTW: that's a pretty green soap, dwolanin!!

 

[rbecca74]

OMG.. what did you use to get that color??? (ok, I admit.. I didn't read through all 3 pages of responses... but I'm curious)