First soap!

[Lidyax]

I finally made my first batch of soap! I added the lye to the oil after it reached 110 degrees but the oil is in room temperature. My Science teacher friend said it'd work. The trace happened within minutes. I cut it in less than 24 hours because I was so impatient. Lol. I used milk cartons as the mold. Never again. Unmolding it is difficult and the soap surface got scratched a lot. I have to cut the ugly sides to make them presentable. The soap balls are made from the cuts. The soap smells heavenly because I add a bit of green tea oil. I don't know if it'll last though.

Anyway, it lathers well and passes zap test. But it leaves my skin feels a bit waxy. Anyone knows why? Also, there's a white streak near the top of the soap in the second mold. What's that?

The recipe I use :

Coconut oil 300 gr
Palm oil 340 gr
Sunflower oil 260 gr
Almond oil 100 gr
Lye 144 gr
Water 380gr
Green tea oil ( I think it's green tea FO) 7 ml

Anyway, here are the pics. Sorry for the uneven cut. I'll use silicone molds next time.


Sent from my iPad using Soap Making

 

[roseb]

Congrats on your first soap! I don't have enough experience to address the white streaks, but my sister made the same comment about my soap being waxy. However she has never used a conditioning, natural soap and is used to her skin being dried out instead of moisturized at the end of her shower. Everyone else that has tried my soap has made just the opposite comment about how conditioning it is. Are you used to using natural soap and its feel?

 

[Ianto]

Take a look at the pictures in these threads:
http://www.soapmakingforum.com/showthread.php?t=32380
http://www.soapmakingforum.com/showthread.php?t=35125

Does your white streak look like those?

You mentioned that your oils were at room temperature. Did you melt the entire container of palm oil and mix it before taking out what you needed for your soap?

 

[Lidyax]

Congrats on your first soap! I don't have enough experience to address the white streaks, but my sister made the same comment about my soap being waxy. However she has never used a conditioning, natural soap and is used to her skin being dried out instead of moisturized at the end of her shower. Everyone else that has tried my soap has made just the opposite comment about how conditioning it is. Are you used to using natural soap and its feel?

Hi Rose. Yeah, I've been using handmade soap bars for years. I read Zensoap single oil soap test page and think perhaps it's the palm oil that gives it waxy feeling?


Sent from my iPad using Soap Making

 

[Lidyax]

Take a look at the pictures in these threads:
http://www.soapmakingforum.com/showthread.php?t=32380
http://www.soapmakingforum.com/showthread.php?t=35125

Does your white streak look like those?

You mentioned that your oils were at room temperature. Did you melt the entire container of palm oil and mix it before taking out what you needed for your soap?

Hi Lanto. The white streak isn't as bad as those threads, but maybe it's unsaponified oil?

I live in tropic so our room temp is higher, usually above 76. Palm oil and coconut oil is always liquid here unless we put them in fridge.


Sent from my iPad using Soap Making

 

[lsg]

It could be caused by the stearic acid in the palm. Your soaps look great for first soaps. If you intend to continue making soap, you might want to invest in some silicone molds from Wilton. These are supposed to be for muffins or cupcakes, but they work great for individual soaps and are not very expensive.

 

[PinkCupcake]

Good job! I especially like the soap balls. You have inspired me to try making some too.

 

[Lidyax]

Thanks all! I'm really excited. I'm going to make second batch tomorrow. This time I'll try palm, coconut, and rice bran oil using cake silicon mold. I try using a soap ball for shower and it works great. However, the scent doesn't stay at all.


Sent from my iPad using Soap Making