Making 1st hot process batch

[smeetree]

It has been cooking about 20 minutes and it hasn't separated like I see in the youtube videos. Getting a little nervous!
The temperature is only about 140 degrees. The crockpot only has warm, low, and high settings, so I guess I will just let it go on low for a while.

 

[The Efficacious Gentleman]

Aye, leave it on warm and just keep an eye on it. It can take a while, but then it should start changing at the edges which moves inwards to the centre

Eta -
Hp is like having a family - lots to read, but you have to have your own particular experience that most likely won't fit exactly in to the plan.

 

[smeetree]

Aye, leave it on warm and just keep an eye on it. It can take a while, but then it should start changing at the edges which moves inwards to the centre

Eta -
Hp is like having a family - lots to read, but you have to have your own particular experience that most likely won't fit exactly in to the plan.

As you write this, the edges are separating. Giddy up!

 

[smeetree]

This is really cool to watch.

So it is somewhere between separating oils and the applesauce phase. I just stirred it because it was just so tempting...hope that wasn't an error.

 

[The Efficacious Gentleman]

Nah, stirring just increases the chance of the hard white bits from the sides of your pot moving in to the soap itself. An aesthetic issue

 

[smeetree]

Okay cool. I am nearing the end stages. I think in 10 minutes or so it should be done, as it's at 192 degrees now.

So to add EOs, do I let it cool down first to their flash points? Rosemary is 108 (or 125? I see different charts). If I let it cool down that much, will I still be able to pour it into the mold?

 

[smeetree]

So it became kind of translucent and "vaseliney". I turned off the crock, added the superfat, and I'm letting it cool. I hope I'm right that this is the vaseline stage...it was slightly over 200F so I'm thinking yes but with no reference point this is tough.

 

[smeetree]

Ok this batch is done. I think it worked, but I won't know until it cools tomorrow. It was hard to mold it (the consistency made it hard to get a nice top). Overall this was a lot of fun, and it's nice to get over the fear of HP.

 

[The Efficacious Gentleman]

HP can be tough to get nice on top - sodium lactate helps, as does adding some milk (there was info in a recent thread about that so I won't repeat here) and adding more water. Check out the threads in the last two pages on the CP and beginner sections, it will be there.

 

[Obsidian]

I've never seen my HP go through a separating stage. It starts lifting around the edge then gets mashed potato like, a bit more cooking and its Vaseline. Its really hard to get a decent top, one of the reason I really don't like HP. Changing the default water on soapcalc to 40 and using 1%-2% sodium lactate really helps.

 

[lenarenee]

I've never seen my HP go through a separating stage. It starts lifting around the edge then gets mashed potato like, a bit more cooking and its Vaseline. Its really hard to get a decent top, one of the reason I really don't like HP. Changing the default water on soapcalc to 40 and using 1%-2% sodium lactate really helps.

I haven't either. Smee are talking about the oils separating, or the batter loosening from the walls of the crock?

Hooray! You were courageous and tackled hot process!

 

[Obsidian]

If you watch soaping101 video on HP, she talks about separating as the first stage but I didn't see the soap on her video separate so I'm not sure why she says it does.

 

[smeetree]

I haven't either. Smee are talking about the oils separating, or the batter loosening from the walls of the crock?

Hooray! You were courageous and tackled hot process!

Thanks!
Exactly what Obsidian says. Soaping101 says that, but I didn't see it. The wall area did look more oily, so maybe that's what she meant.

 

[smeetree]

Here is the final product. The scent is rosemary and lavender. Overall I'm happy with it. One weird thing: I used ~30% infused (alkanet root) olive oil, which was red after infusion, yet I hardly see any color in the bar. In the past when I used that color I got a lavender shade. The only other issue is it is very soft. I've never made a soap with so much olive oil. Will this harden over time? The tops are a little weird, so I will have to look into the recommendations on how to make them better.

 

[Obsidian]

Looks good. HP is often softer due to the high water content. It will harden up, just give it time. The only way I can think to get really nice tops is to plane them, HP just looks lumpy.

 

[Luckyone80]

When did you add the fragrance? Did you let it cool to below the flash point and then added it?

 

[smeetree]

When did you add the fragrance? Did you let it cool to below the flash point and then added it?

Around 150 degrees. I was afraid to wait any longer because I thought I wouldn't be able to poor it. I smell the lavender, but I think the rosemary is gone or maybe very faint (I had mixed the two together--does doing this average out the flash point?).

 

[xraygrl]

Embrace the bumpy tops LOL! If you prefer smoother tops, you can take something that is flat like a board/lid for the mold, lay down some freezer paper on top of the soap that has been sprayed with non stick spray. Then take the lid and push down on the soap and leave it there for a few minutes. Of course this has to be done right after you finish molding the soap. Me, I just embrace the bumpy tops. :smile:

Your soap looks good though.....very good for your first HP batch! I'm surprised your Rosemary didn't stick around. I have never had that problem with Rosemary and my hp soaps

 

[smeetree]

Embrace the bumpy tops LOL! If you prefer smoother tops, you can take something that is flat like a board/lid for the mold, lay down some freezer paper on top of the soap that has been sprayed with non stick spray. Then take the lid and push down on the soap and leave it there for a few minutes. Of course this has to be done right after you finish molding the soap. Me, I just embrace the bumpy tops. :smile:

Your soap looks good though.....very good for your first HP batch! I'm surprised your Rosemary didn't stick around. I have never had that problem with Rosemary and my hp soaps

Thanks. My gf says she smells the rosemary, so maybe it did.
I just couldn't smell it much.

 

[JustBeachy]

Yeah, for me, Rosemary sticks around like that crazy uncle that won't go home. Even in CP