Is it lye heavy?

[soapnut]

Hi my first few batches of soap are coming off the drying rack and they seem to be drying out my hands and finger tips a little it seems. OF course Iam my own guinea pig, I know my skin is on the sensitive side but maybe I made a mistake I did the zap test and they have been curing for 3-4 weeks. Thanks alot
4oz.coconut oil
4oz. olive
8oz.lard
6oz water
2.25oz. lye

 

[jennikate]

If you got no sting when you did the zap test lye isn't the problem. To me it looks like you are a little heavy on coconut oil that tends to be drying. I would maybe do a little more OO and lard little less Coconut oil. HTH

 

[xraygrl]

the coconut amounts to 25% of your recipe and if you have sensitive skin that just may be too much for you. I know I can only go up to about 10 or 15% with the coconut and with the later being at a 10% lye discount. hth

 

[carebear]

how accurate is your scale? I always have trouble with 1# batches.

remember, even tho it's hand crafted, it's still soap so if you tend to have dry skin...

and yea, 25% coconut can be drying so I'd bump up the superfat a bit - maybe 10%?

 

[soapnut]

how accurate is your scale? I always have trouble with 1# batches.

remember, even tho it's hand crafted, it's still soap so if you tend to have dry skin...

and yea, 25% coconut can be drying so I'd bump up the superfat a bit - maybe 10%?

Thank you for all of the replies I splurged on a new digital scale for about 10.oo I thought it would be a little more accurate. I used to order soaps from a lady who went out of business, that is what sparked my new passion for soapmaking but my fingertips are getting so dried out . Her soap is really creamy The ingredients are saponified oils Olive oil, castor vitamin e. and essential oils. I am going to try a batch of soap tomorrow \so I appreciate your help thank you thank you

 

[honor435]

if you do just oo, it will take forever to harden, i would do some co, just not alot? do you like po? i use it with co and oo and castor.

 

[carebear]

You can make an olive oil soap that hardens up fast if you use a concentrated lye solution - like say 40 - 45%, but it still does do best with a long cure period of at least 8 weeks.

Sounds like the woman was making what we call a "Bastile" soap - castile that is bastardized LOL. Typically it's 90% olive oil and 10% castor (or 95/5).

The long cure period really helps with the lather and the lastingness - if you use it too soon it's slimy and dissolves quickly. But you CAN use it sooner if you can get past that!

 

[soapnut]

if you do just oo, it will take forever to harden, i would do some co, just not alot? do you like po? i use it with co and oo and castor.

I have not been able to find alot of oils anywhere I need to order off the internet but to try I just bought oils I could find locally The health food stores had nothing I was shocked. I will get some and give it a try I have
thanks for your help

 

[soapnut]

You can make an olive oil soap that hardens up fast if you use a concentrated lye solution - like say 40 - 45%, but it still does do best with a long cure period of at least 8 weeks.

Sounds like the woman was making what we call a "Bastile" soap - castile that is bastardized LOL. Typically it's 90% olive oil and 10% castor (or 95/5).

The long cure period really helps with the lather and the lastingness - if you use it too soon it's slimy and dissolves quickly. But you CAN use it sooner if you can get past that!

Bastile I havent heard of that is it hard to do It definitely not a long lasting soap that was one thing I did not like about it so I am thrilled I enjoy making my own so much and can tweak it to my need. It is an addiction I just have to get a good recipe down pat. appreciate your help thanks for the replies!!!

 

[dagmar88]

after a looooong cure castille/bastille does last longer.
If you're not opposed to animal fat you could use lard or tallow. Crisco would be good too... Most people can find those 3 locally.

 

[soapnut]

after a looooong cure castille/bastille does last longer.
If you're not opposed to animal fat you could use lard or tallow. Crisco would be good too... Most people can find those 3 locally.

It is buck season here my husband is out hunting and I asked him for a fat one so I can give a tallow recipe a try. I am not opposed to crisco at all
I have one soap curing with all crisco it looks great and doesnt zap, its been curing about 21/2 weeks. It was however slow to come out of the mold I think I will have to get a silicone mold. Any way I have 2 cans of crisco ready I am waiting for new fragrance oils, thank you happy soaping....