My First Ever Batch of Soap

[Goldsmith]

My first batch
Lard
Canola oil
Olive Oil
Coconut Oil

Lab Colors (Hyacinth)
Lavender scent

Even managed to get it to take my homemade wax seal stamp :grin:

 

[RocknRoll]

love the lavender color and the stamp is awesome! I'm working on a stamp myself. Good job, looks better than my first batch lol!

 

[2lilboots]

Beautiful soap! I haven't gotten into stamping soaps yet. I must say your stamped soap looks great.

 

[Goldsmith]

Thanks !
Hoping to do more :razz:

 

[pjfan74]

I agree on all counts! I love the color...and looks way better than my first batch did...or second batch...

 

[Marilyna]

Very pretty!

 

[chicklet]

Very pretty color and I love the stamp!

 

[ZandarKoad]

Your making us look bad here! Very very nice for a first batch.

 

[dianne70]

Wow...sure its your first batch? Love the colour...looks really good

 

[melstan775]

This is your first batch? It came out lovely for a first try, I think you're in for a great soap career!

 

[KrisAnt]

I can almost smell the lavender.... beautiful soap!!

 

[SpiralTouch]

Love it! I'd like to try stamping in the future, looks great

 

[Sinny]

I wish my first batch had looked that good! Look forward to seeing more of your creations.

 

[Goldsmith]

Thanks for all the compliments and encouragement.
This formula took and hour and a half to start thickening. I was really a worried for some time that it wasn't going to trace.
I guess it was the olive oil in it that was slowing it down

 

[ZandarKoad]

Thanks for all the compliments and encouragement.
This formula took and hour and a half to start thickening. I was really a worried for some time that it wasn't going to trace.
I guess it was the olive oil in it that was slowing it down

Yes yes and yes. Especially if it's Extra Virgin Olive Oil. All three of my batches so far have taken take 2-4 hours to trace, and they are all extra virgin olive oil heavy. It really is disconcerting at first, when all tutorials tell you it will trace in less than an hour if stirring by hand, and in a few minutes with powered stirring. I like to think my soaps are special because not many others would be willing to wait for so long to reach trace, so they just use pomace olive oil instead. I like the longer trace time, it gives me more time to prepare the molds, add smells and spells (after a light trace), etc. I feel like it's lower pressure. I don't kill myself either by trying to mix it for 3 hours straight. I just mix for 5 to 10 minutes, then let it sit for an hour, then mix again for a few minutes, and repeat.

 

[Goldsmith]

Yes yes and yes. Especially if it's Extra Virgin Olive Oil. All three of my batches so far have taken take 2-4 hours to trace, and they are all extra virgin olive oil heavy. It really is disconcerting at first, when all tutorials tell you it will trace in less than an hour if stirring by hand, and in a few minutes with powered stirring. I like to think my soaps are special because not many others would be willing to wait for so long to reach trace, so they just use pomace olive oil instead. I like the longer trace time, it gives me more time to prepare the molds, add smells and spells (after a light trace), etc. I feel like it's lower pressure. I don't kill myself either by trying to mix it for 3 hours straight. I just mix for 5 to 10 minutes, then let it sit for an hour, then mix again for a few minutes, and repeat.

Golly, thanks for the insight into the olive oil worry
Now I know for sure what was going on
And it was indeed Extra Virgin Olive oil

 

[lizflowers42]

Those look amazing!!

 

[Goldsmith]

Can anybody tell me why it frosted on the top ?

 

[Genny]

Can anybody tell me why it frosted on the top ?

It's just soda ash. It's from the lye reacting with the air.
Covering your soap with plastic wrap can help prevent it or spraying your soap with rubbing alcohol right after you pour the soap in the mold can help as well.

With lavender fo's & eo, I tend to get ash no matter what I do.

But, it's completely harmless and since it's already on your soap, you can steam it off if it bugs you. Just boil some water on the stove and hold your soap over the steam.

 

[ZandarKoad]

Can anybody tell me why it frosted on the top ?

I believe the correct answer would be, that it looks better that way and you did it on purpose.