Help - white flecks in CP soap

[Brandon]

I have white flecks in one of my projects, and I suspect poorly mixed TD but would like 2nd, 3rd opinions...

Oils 95 - lye at 85 degrees
7.2oz Olive
7.2oz Coconut
4.2oz Canola
2.4oz Cocoa butter
2.4oz Castor
9.12oz water
3.39oz Lye
1.2oz Lavender FO from BB

I only see the white flecks in the 'white' sections or along the edge of the pink and purple. So, what do you think, poor TD mixing or something else? Thanks in advance for any feedback!

Assuming TD is the issue, would pearl white mica be a solution for 'white' soap? I have seen quite a few threads for mixing TD, but I'd be curious if there are simple and reliable alternatives for white coloring...

 

[Curlysoaps]

It’s hard to see clearly but looks like it could be TD? Am sure people here will be able to tell you! I initially had a lot of problems with TD. Mine was from brambleberry and was oil and water soluble. I was dissolving it in oil but I always got flecks. I switched to water and never had any problems again. Now I use a different make of TD, it doesn’t dissolve as nicely in water, I have to mix it a lot more, but so far no issues.

Look to see if yours is oil or water soluble and if you are dissolving it in the correct substance? I tried a white pearl mica, it came out really pretty, but did not give the same clear flat white of TD, but I dont know if that was due to the mica or how I swirled. Good luck I love your swirl, your soaps are beautiful!

 

[Terri E]

Yes, TD but the design is very nice! I use water based TD as well. I add it to the lye water and strain it as it goes into the oil

 

[Brandon]

My TD is oil soluble (from NaturesGarden). I went with oil soluble because I thought it would be easier when I only wanted a portion of my soap to be white. If I go water based then you would mix in with your lye water right? If that is correct, does that cause you problems when you divide the batch to mix in other colors, or is that really not an issue? It is also possible I don't understand how to use water based TD... Thanks for the feedback, and I appreciate the compliments on this soap. It is about my 6th batch ever and is by far my best (although not the Taiwan swirl I was going for).

 

[lsg]

I don't know that I would switch, if you already have oil soluble TD. Just take a tablespoon or so oil from your batch and mix with the TD. I use a little milk frother. You can get one for $6.99 at Amazon.com

 

[mommycarlson]

Brandon, your swirls are beautiful! I use water soluable TD, mix it with just a couple tsp of distilled water and either add it to my oils before my lye and mix it, or if I only want white in some of it, I pour in my lye, mix my batter to desired consistency and then pour off what I do not want white in, then add the TD to that, so far I have had no issues, but I do have to give the white portion a couple pulses with the SB to mix it in well. I have not found just stirring it with a scraper to be reliable, it doesn't want to incorporate. YMMV with oil soluable.

 

[Brandon]

I have such a tendency to over mix, I try not to use the SB when mixing color, but I may try doing it for the TD.

I do have a frother on order - hopefully mixing it better before incorporating it with the soap will eliminate the need for stick blending, but I may try both. I did also order some water soluble TD to see if it works better for me.

Thank you all so much for your help. Glad to know is is a TD mixing problem and not something more mysterious!

 

[DeeAnna]

I agree with the others that it's TD flecks. It looks like you added TD to only the white? If this was a case of "stearic spots", they would probably be scattered throughout the soap, not just in the white portions.

 

[earlene]

From here it looks like TD spots are smearing as you cut the soap. If you can smear it with your finger, that should pretty much confirm your diagnosis. It's not as well mixed as it should be to prevent the tiny spots.

Perhaps you could try a mixing ball in a squirt bottle, or a mini-mixer, or a tiny whisk. All seem to work with TD, I think, but time is also helpful. The longer it has to dilute and the periodic mixing seems to be the better way to go to get a fully homogeneous mix.

 

[Brandon]

It absolutely smears. My mini mixer showed up today so that will help. I usually mix my micas and TD with oil while oil and Lye water are cooling, but maybe I'll start mixing the TD before anything else to give it more time to mix / dilute. Thanks for the tip and diagnosis!

 

[penelopejane]

I have TD that says mix with oil on the label but I tried it and it also mixes (better) with water. I’d try yours.

I am finicky so if I took 1 tbsp of oil or water reserved from the batch for the white section I’d also take it from the coloured sections. If a section is uncoloured I will add the plain water or oil back into the oils for that section.

You have to mix at least 1:1 water:lye you can use the remaining water from the recipe any way you wish. But it has to be put back in proportion to the different parts of your soap or your soap may be soft in sections.

If you use glycerin to mix your colours or additives you don’t have to worry about proportions because it won’t effect the soap in small amounts.

 

[SoaperForLife]

Ultramarine lavender pigment for soap is the same way - needs to be mixed with water or you get purple specks in your soap. I just weigh out my lye water and separate a small amount to mix with the pigment. I don't measure or weigh the water that gets taken out of the lye pitcher but I use full water.