Lye Heavy?

[Country Gal 78]

Hello,

I made a batch of coffee ground soap using the following:

12 oz cold coffee
4.8 oz lye
1 pound 5 oz olive oil
10.5 oz coconut oil
1 tbsp of grapeseed oil
Added dry coffee grounds at trace

I neglected to wrap a towel around my mold to keep it warm, and last night I realized that I probably should have used 2 tbsp of the grapeseed oil for superfatting.

I've attached a photo of the soap - there is a strange creamy colored layer across the soap at what would have been the top of the mold, and there is a color difference along the edge of the soap. Any thoughts on this? I've tried searching the internet for photos of "lye heavy" soap and "soap dust" so I could see the difference, but haven't had any luck...




Uploaded with ImageShack.us


Thanks!
Kelly

 

[dubnica]

THAT LOOKS LIKE ASH TO ME.....

 

[krissy]

yep, i agree, it looks like ash. you can carve it off with a potato peeler or just embrace it. i used to never get ash but the moment it got cooler outside all of my soaps have begun to get it, even though i spray with alcohol. i have embraced it and find that the look is growing on me.

 

[soapbuddy]

Looks like ash to me as well. There is no need to add any superfat oil at trace. Add everything right up front. The lye is still quite active at trace and it will take whatever it wants. There is no guarantee that your grapeseed oil will end up as your superfat, unless you hot process the soap. Then add your superfatting oil after the cook.

 

[judymoody]

Yes, ash.

And the color ring around the edge, kind of like a rind, is probably incomplete gel. The contrast may fade as the soap cures.

 

[Country Gal 78]

Thank you all for the quick responses!!!