How do you make a nice white soap

[foresthome]

OO and CO

After reading all of this, I am thinking of doing an 80% OO and 20% CO, with the TDfor colorant, when it gets here. What do you think? I usually SF 7%.

 

[Jerry S]

making a white bar....

I think that using 80 OO and 20 CO will give you a bar of pretty nice "Castile type" soap. If it were me I would go with at least 18to 10 percent Castor Oil which will give you a bubblier and frothier soap. You could still use 10 % or so CO which will help the whole bar as well. 7 % SF is ok but with that much OO you wouldn't have to go more than 5. The TD is just a whitener but your on the right track using that if that's what your after. You may have to let the soap cure for a longer period of time other that the 4 to 6 weeks for CP because using that much OO, you'll be happier waiting 3 to 4 months even better after 6. the longer "Castile" type soap cure the better they are.
Jerry S

 

[samicamp]

I have a palm, olive, avocado, shea butter soap at is REALLY close to white (with the TEENIEST green tint).

 

[foresthome]

advice

Thanks for the advice. I have more castor coming in the same order as the TD. I did a CPOP 80% OO, 10% CO, and 10% PO, about 2 weeks ago, and it is super hard already. I was shooting for an organic castile type bar, and I happened to have organic of these 3 oils. I used chamomile EO for scent and no color. They are a yellow green. My OO was organic extra virgin, but I usually use pure OO from Costco as it is cheaper. This soap has turned out to be one of my favorites for smell, but I haven't tried it in the shower yet. I am going to play with soapcalc keeping all of these suggestions in mind.

 

[Dennis]

White! Apartment white. Reminds me of the stark white so prevalent in my "apartment period". That's a whole other story. Yes, I am going to reuse the liner. Thank you BG!

 

[Bubbles Galore]

Yes, I am going to reuse the liner. Thank you BG!

Hehe, glad you're taking full advantage Dennis. That's lovely white soap.

 

[foresthome]

So Dennis, what was the trick. I want to make a white bar with a few green swirls in the center for a Mother's day soap for my mom of course. I want to add Lily of the Valley FO. But of course the first step for it all it to be able to make a nice white soap.

 

[Lynnz]

Love the soap Dennis :0) I use Olive Palm Coconut and Cocoa butter and get a near white soap with the use of TD, but I soap a fragrance from Elements called Lavender and Manuka wrap and it comes out really white. I will see if I can pull a pic for you.........the oil obviously has something to do with it as it is the whitest soap I make :shock: sounds crazy but its true :0)

 

[nattynoo]

I think alot depends on the colour of your oil and how the FO/EO affects the soap.
One of my whitest soaps to date was 100% light olive oil with no fragrance.

Nice pic Lyn.

 

[Dennis]

I added TD. The FO was honeysuckle from BB. Now that I have white! instead of white, I'm not so sure I'm all that crazy about it. I'll try the 100% OO with no FO next and see how it goes. It's golden in color - the stuff from Sam's Club. Ah, the struggles we beginner's must endure.

Gosh Lynn, that is pretty soap. The stand, lettering and photography just scream of marketing perfection. Heck, I want to buy yours instead of making mine.

 

[jadiebugs1]

I added TD. The FO was honeysuckle from BB. Now that I have white! instead of white, I'm not so sure I'm all that crazy about it. I'll try the 100% OO with no FO next and see how it goes. It's golden in color - the stuff from Sam's Club. Ah, the struggles we beginner's must endure.

Gosh Lynn, that is pretty soap. The stand, lettering and photography just scream of marketing perfection. Heck, I want to buy yours instead of making mine.

What he said! This made me chuckle, Dennis....thanks.

 

[foresthome]

Lyn,
That is gorgeous. That is what I want my soap to look like. I have only been soaping for about 6 months, and I am having trouble making a really pretty soap. You are my role model, that is what I am shooting for. Thanks for showing me what can be done.

 

[Lynnz]

Dennis thank-you for your lovely comment It so spurrs me on :0) I am wanting to build this tiny buisness and hence the new photos :0) found a great photographer so am very pleased. Some days I am so tired as primarily a Mum and work four nightshifts a week and think oh I am just going to make soap for fun again so your lovely comment spurrs me on thank-you so
Forsethome you will get there It is so a journey and you will find in time you start getting a 'look' your happy with and you just keep extending until you think yes I think that is the look I was wanting to achieve. Its a great journey and will be interesting to see where we all are in another five years from here :0)

 

[foresthome]

So I tried something today.

I tried one of Anne Watson's recipes from her Milk Soapmaking book. It is called Yogurt Parfait. I froze the yogurt and water last night. I had a thick full fat Greek style yogurt. The oils are 70% OO and 30% CO. I used the Costco pure OO that is yellow. I cooled my mold and put the soap in the fridge for 2 hours to try to prevent gel. I did a sort of Lyn top, I couldn't quite get the hang of that, I think your soap has to be the exact right thickness for this. It looks really white, and I didn't have any TD yet. I did do a little swirl of a copper color in the center and I scented it with sandalwood FO. I have to work 2 twelve hour days tomorrow and Friday so I can't unmold until Saturday. I will let you know how it turns out. Wish me luck.

 

[JackiK]

All of my uncolored soap is either a pale yellow, pale green, pale orange, or tan. How do you make a nice white bar? Can it be done without using lard?[/quote

I made some white soap today.

80% coconut oil and 20% olive oil

soften the coconut oil in amicrowave. Beat with electric whisk until thick like creamm. Carry on beating while you gradually add the olive oil.

then add COLD lye solution and keep beating (wear googles - this may splash

Then beat in your scent.

This makes beautifully white soap and apparently it will float ( I have yet to find out)

I understand also that if you use 100% coconut oil it will be thick enough to pipe in shapes onto baking trays

Because this is made with cold oil and lye, it will take longer to saponify so allow for this when curing

I'm curious as to how this soap makes your skin feel as I've heard too much coconut can be drying. I, too, am trying to find a recipe for a really white soap and this sounds good.

 

[foresthome]

CO

My favorite soap so far was when I was trying for an all organic soap. I used organic OO 80%, CO 10%, and PO 10%, no color, chamomile EO, organic chamomile tea, and ground cardamom. It is a pale yellow green, smells wonderful. I did a CPOP on it and it is very hard after only 3 weeks. I really would like to get away from PO after reading all of the ecology impact PO harveting is having. If this one comes out nice this may be my new favorite.

 

[Dennis]

Could water have an affect on color? If you're using tap (I do) instead of distilled, could differing conditions from region to region affect a difference in color with the same oils used?

Affect, effect. I need to look those up as half the time their use by me is incorrect. I am a closet word nazi and usually inflict the most pain on myself. :roll: