First Batch of Soap - Soap Refuses to Harden!!!

[Arynnah]

Hello everyone,

I was wondering if someone might be able to figure out what I did wrong and if there's a way to fix what I did!! I'm so disappointed my first batch of soap went wrong.

I used the following recipe:

52 oz olive oil
7 oz lye
20 oz cold water

I followed the directions very closely, I measured extremely carefully and all by weight (not volume).

I waited until both the lye water and the oil were 100 deg. F. and mixed the two together.

I then proceeded to mix the two together- I mixed by hand for an HOUR until I saw what I thought might be trailings (The book said that if I had stirred an hour and still hadn't seen trailings to just pour it into the primary mold so I did)

It's been 48 hour and I keep stirring every 12 hrs per instructions as there's a layer of oil that collects ontop.

There has been NO changes in consistency it's not hardening AT ALL! It's a creamy white color which is the only major change and when I washed the soap utensils in cold water a soapy creamy substance developed so I THINK it's turning into soap..

I also didn't notice the soap holding it's heat very long or creating it's own heat during the saponification process I've read about...

I think I used too much water or too little lye I'm not sure- I googled the book I used "The Complete Soapmaker" by Norma Coney and it got horrible reviews so I'm sure the recipe is incorrect.

I was wondering if anyone could point out what I did wrong and if there's a way to save my soap??

I welcome any advice or tips in general- I'm eager to learn and try again!!

Thank you very much!!

**UPDATE**

After leaving the soap alone for several days now, it has progressed to a thick smooth pudding like texture that has a definite trace. Curiosity got the better of me and although I know this is never recommended, I touched the soap mixture and it didn't hurt AT ALL- I immediately washed it off and it was slippery and soapy.

With all that said- is it necessary to rebatch it? or did it reach trace and is slowly on its way to hardening into a bar? Also since it's still liquidy and puddingy can I add some EO fragrance or has that ship sailed?


*****UPDATE******

It's been like weeks since making the soap, it's hardened but it is SO disgustingly slimy it's like taking a bath with snot....

Also I tried shredding the soap and mixing the soap flakes with water and EO's for some dish soap and its acquired this... ammonia like smell to it...

What in the WORLD is going on? Should I just pitch it??

 

[RockinRodeoChick]

Hmm, it looks to me like you have a lot of water there. I ran your recipe through soap calc and it told me you should only have 13.587oz water and 6.692oz of lye.

I think it should set up ok, but it's probably going to take a while. You could maybe rebatch it. I'd wait for someone with a little more experience to chime in though. Hope I helped a little anyway.

Good luck.

 

[tamarajane]

All OO soaps take a long time to set up. It also sounds like it didn't reach trace. I agree w/Chick too-too much water. I always run my recipe through soapcalc, even if it's one I've made before. OO is famous for taking along time to trace and to set up and cure. Be patient for a day or so (maybe more) It may be OK!

 

[Arynnah]

Is it possible that it won't set up? No matter how long I let it set??

 

[Bukawww]

I think eventually it will set up - just going to have to wait for good old mother nature to help that water evaporate. You could always stick your mold in the oven at a low temp (if its heat safe)...but I am also a noob so verify that info before taking my word at it.

Did you stir with a spoon for an hour or use a stick blender? I imagine stirring with a spoon for one hour would not be sufficient time for trace considering the high olive oil content.

This expereince was not wasted though! You will learn so much from this forum and personal adventure what not to do next time - you might even discover an innovative way to soap! Hang in there - learning is most of the fun!

 

[jadiebugs1]

I think eventually it will set up - just going to have to wait for good old mother nature to help that water evaporate. You could always stick your mold in the oven at a low temp (if its heat safe)...but I am also a noob so verify that info before taking my word at it.

Did you stir with a spoon for an hour or use a stick blender? I imagine stirring with a spoon for one hour would not be sufficient time for trace considering the high olive oil content.

This expereince was not wasted though! You will learn so much from this forum and personal adventure what not to do next time - you might even discover an innovative way to soap! Hang in there - learning is most of the fun!

YES! I second this!

 

[karajan]

Pure OO will take a long time to trace. My took me 3 hours with a hand held mixer.

Since you mentioned that there's still oil on top after pouring into your mould, my guess is that the oo and lye solution is not fully mix yet. I suppose rebatch will be the way to save it, but will leave it to the expert to correct me if I am wrong.

 

[IanT]

Give it at least 48 hours. I haven had soaps with high olive oil percentages that literally were like jello for 2 to 3 weeks. But I just left it in a cool dark place to set and it was one of my favorite soaps to date!

So don't worry. I'm sure it'll be fine, if it doesn't you could always melt it down and rebatch!

 

[Arynnah]

I hope you're right!! If not what a waste of OO

 

[Arynnah]

Update posted above---^

Heeelp

 

[Healinya]

I wouldn't throw it away. It took my 100% olive oil bars at least six months before I started liking it - at a year old now they are even better. Your superfat was low (according to soapcalc) and your water was on the higher side, so I would expect it to still feel slimey within the first couple months. I say to tuck it away for another month, then another, etc until it feels the way you like.

ETA: the ammonia like smell would make me question it a little, maybe someone else knows more. Soap calc says it's just a hare under 1%

 

[honor435]

never heard of stirring after 48 hrs? ive never made 100% oo, but i use double the lye of water, like 4.3 lye, id use 8.6 water, it will harden faster. Maybe add some co next time? castor makes some nice bubbles.

 

[Deda]

I think most 100% OO feels like snot.
Super slimey, some love it, but not for me.

 

[IanT]

I like it But I add sugar at like 2tbsp ppo and it helps add more bubbles

 

[MorpheusPA]

**UPDATE**

After leaving the soap alone for several days now, it has progressed to a thick smooth pudding like texture that has a definite trace. Curiosity got the better of me and although I know this is never recommended, I touched the soap mixture and it didn't hurt AT ALL- I immediately washed it off and it was slippery and soapy.

With all that said- is it necessary to rebatch it? or did it reach trace and is slowly on its way to hardening into a bar? Also since it's still liquidy and puddingy can I add some EO fragrance or has that ship sailed?

*****UPDATE******

It's been like weeks since making the soap, it's hardened but it is SO disgustingly slimy it's like taking a bath with snot....

Also I tried shredding the soap and mixing the soap flakes with water and EO's for some dish soap and its acquired this... ammonia like smell to it...

What in the WORLD is going on? Should I just pitch it??

With that much water setup is going to be very, very slow. Patience will be required, and a cure time of...months? Possibly. Pure castille is better the longer it cures.

The snot is pretty normal, and the reason I don't like pure castille soap. Some people like it, but I want a soap that washes off without leaving me coated with goo...

When I run that recipe I get a zero percent superfat. Have you zap tested the soap? On the up side, the ammonia smell shouldn't be rancidity with a zero percent superfat (olive isn't known for that anyway, not at any reasonable superfat percentage). On the down side, you run the risk of being lye heavy.

Alcohols sometimes generate an ammonia smell in soaps and that fades over time. You didn't use any, so I can't see where it's coming from. There's plenty of nitrogen in the oil and hydrogen in the water, but they shouldn't be combining on you. Hopefully somebody else can chime in.

 

[Arynnah]

Wow thanks for the replies!! This has shed some light on the matter.

I've been monitoring my soap for the orange spots and non so far- hopefully it does just take ages to cure- I probably jumped the gun and began rebatching too soon- I'll just leave it alone.


Well now that I know better, AND I got a brand new digital scale for my birthday!!!! I think my soap has better chances of being nice haha!