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[Gothtink4151]

I used a recipe of 30% coconut oil 30% grape seed oil 30% sweet almond oil and 10% shea butter. I divided it into two batches colored one with cappuccino mica and the other with titanium dioxide. The half colored with titanium dioxide has now turned orange. Why?

 

[akseattle]

@Gothtink4151 , did you use an essential oil or fragrance oil that has orange tendencies? Like orange essential oil? or some other EO or FO that is not quite so obvious? the cappuccino mica is probably dark enough that a hint of orange from an FO would not be noticeable. Anyway, that is the only thing that comes to my mind. I've never used grape seed oil or sweet almond oil, so I'm not familiar with what those two oils might do.

 

[Gothtink4151]

@Gothtink4151 , did you use an essential oil or fragrance oil that has orange tendencies? Like orange essential oil? or some other EO or FO that is not quite so obvious? the cappuccino mica is probably dark enough that a hint of orange from an FO would not be noticeable. Anyway, that is the only thing that comes to my mind. I've never used grape seed oil or sweet almond oil, so I'm not familiar with what those two oils might do.

No I used a dark coffee roast fragrance oil I have no idea where this orange color is coming from

 

[lsg]

Many times a fragrance oil will discolor soap, especially if it contains vanillin.

 

[Gothtink4151]

Many times a fragrance oil will discolor soap, especially if it contains vanillin.

I think that might be it. It does have vanillin in it and it says it causes dark brown discoloration which since the soap itself was a pale
Yellow when I added it might have gone to an oramge

 

[bookworm42]

How long has it been since you made it? Vanillin can take a few weeks to finish discoloring.
Also SAO and GO are pretty yellow so combine that with a a darkening FO and I'm not too surprised it turned orange. It will maybe, eventually, turn brown? Let us know, I'm curious.

 

[Gothtink4151]

How long has it been since you made it? Vanillin can take a few weeks to finish discoloring.
Also SAO and GO are pretty yellow so combine that with a a darkening FO and I'm not too surprised it turned orange. It will maybe, eventually, turn brown? Let us know, I'm curious.

Just a day but it has turned very orange

 

[akseattle]

@Gothtink4151 , I think you found your culprit.

 

[bookworm42]

Just a day but it has turned very orange

My guess is it's due the FO. I bet it continues to get darker as time goes on. It'd be interesting to see what color it ends up in a couple of weeks.

 

[Gothtink4151]

My guess is it's due the FO. I bet it continues to get darker as time goes on. It'd be interesting to see what color it ends up in a couple of weeks.

Well it’ll be in the mold till Monday then I’ll uold and cut it it’ll be interesting to see what color it eventually turns

 

[bookworm42]

Please take pics. I love seeing things like this. Plus it'll be a good reference to see the discoloration in a couple of weeks.

 

[akseattle]

@Gothtink4151 , I usually unmold after about 24 hours and cut at that time. My very last batch for some reason was soft and I should have waited longer. I knew it when I touched the top and pulled away the sides but then got impatient.

I really admire your patience!!! I could have used some of that last week
But, I am wondering, is there a reason you are waiting another couple days? Today is Friday where I live.

For other more experienced soapers, I have a question: Is it possible to wait too long before unmolding and cutting? Can the loaf get too hard?

 

[bookworm42]

@akseattle You bring up a good point. I think it depends on your recipe and how you are cutting it. Salt soaps made in a loaf need to be cut after a few hours otherwise they get way too hard to cut and tend to crumble. Ask me how I know . High or pure olive oil soaps (not ZNSC) for me have to sit for a week before you can unmold them. Otherwise they dent super easy. (It was one of my first recipes 100% OO)

I unmold and cut most of my soaps around 18-24 hrs. Much longer and my wire cutter doesn't like it. But I can go up to 48 hrs with a knife.

@Gothtink4151 after 24 hrs if you can pull the sides away from the soap and they are clean you should be able to unmold. If you're still unsure you could always wait another 24 hrs or pop the mold in the fridge or freezer for about 30 minutes before you unmold. I've done that when my soap only partially gels.