I ran out of Sodium Lactate...

[KiwiMoose]

...about two months ago and didn't replace it because I was watching my pennies at the time. I can honestly say I do not miss it one little bit! I even made some soap in rose-shaped cavity molds (which is when I would certainly always want to include it to help unmolding) and it didn't make any difference.

Thank you - that's one less thing that I will have to spend money on in future.

 

[Mobjack Bay]

Under most circumstances, I don’t think it makes a difference if the recipe is high in palmitic and stearic FAs. I use it when I’m making soap in super intricate molds because the occasional bit of soap was getting stuck in small crevices when I left it out.

 

[dmcgee5034]

Oh, this is good to know! Although I just got a new bottle…. But next year when I need more, I’ll know

 

[MelissaG]

Yeah, I got some because it seems to take forever for my soap to harden enough to get it out of the mold. Not sure it's doing anything.

 

[Catscankim]

For me, it depends on the season. In the winter I can get away with no SL. In the humid summer I can't get the soap out of the mold cleanly without it.

I posted a while back about how I was "giving up" SL because it wasn't making a difference in my unmolding experience and not worth the extra cost. But then it became summer and all of my corners were sticking inside the molds, so I went back to using it. Now I just use it all the time because I don't want to change labels depending on the season lol.

But if I happen to run out I don't fret about it, I just omit it. It is nice to have but not devastating if I am out.

 

[KiwiMoose]

For me, it depends on the season. In the winter I can get away with no SL. In the humid summer I can't get the soap out of the mold cleanly without it.

I posted a while back about how I was "giving up" SL because it wasn't making a difference in my unmolding experience and not worth the extra cost. But then it became summer and all of my corners were sticking inside the molds, so I went back to using it. Now I just use it all the time because I don't want to change labels depending on the season lol.

But if I happen to run out I don't fret about it, I just omit it. It is nice to have but not devastating if I am out.

That's a good point - I ran out at the end of summer.

 

[AliOop]

I stopped using SL bc it was creating chalky corners and edges. With my recipe (high P + S, and high lye concentration), I can usually unmold pretty quickly and cleanly anyway.

I still keep it around as a key ingredient for LS, certain B&B recipes, and the occasional batch of fluid HP.

 

[BritS]

I, too, stopped using it with my shea and palm soap. I do have to keep using that or salt for my high olive, though.

 

[AliOop]

I, too, stopped using it with my shea and palm soap. I do have to keep using that or salt for my high olive, though.

Agreed with salt for high OO recipes.

 

[Georgeandstella]

I stopped using SL bc it was creating chalky corners and edges. With my recipe (high P + S, and high lye concentration), I can usually unmold pretty quickly and cleanly anyway.

I still keep it around as a key ingredient for LS, certain B&B recipes, and the occasional batch of fluid HP.

Thank you for this, I’ve been finding the same-chalky corners, etc and was wondering where they were coming from I’ll check my P and S levels.

 

[KiwiMoose]

Thank you for this, I’ve been finding the same-chalky corners, etc and was wondering where they were coming from I’ll check my P and S levels.

I get chalky corners if I don't gel - and also when i use cocoa butter in my recipe.

 

[MichaelP]

Hi All, I realize this thread is a few months old but am wondering what P and S levels are. As a new comer I am constantly referring to the acronyms posted in the beginner forum but I didn't see anything for just P and S. Thanks!

 

[artemis]

Hi All, I realize this thread is a few months old but am wondering what P and S levels are. As a new comer I am constantly referring to the acronyms posted in the beginner forum but I didn't see anything for just P and S. Thanks!

In this case, Palmitic and Steric

 

[MichaelP]

Ah! Thank you for that Artemis!!! Much appreciated!

 

[KiwiMoose]

Pepper and Salt silly!

 

[MichaelP]

Of course!!! What was I thinking!!!