tumbleweeds321
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- Jan 18, 2011
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I just made my first batch of soap a couple weeks ago (the recipe, process and picture is here: http://www.soapmakingforum.com/forum/vi ... hp?t=22421). I used the cpop method. It came out nice, hard bars with good lather...didn't smell great though. The oil blend I used just didn't smell anything like it did in the bottle, but I have much to learn.
A few days ago I read about handmilling and thought I'd give that a try as it's supposed to make a harder, longer lasting bar. I did three different batches.
I grated all my soap and the first batch I melted 12 oz soap with 9 oz water and added a cup of blended oatmeal and about 50 drops (the bottle said 5-6 drops per oz) of essential oil and used a pringles can for a mold.
The second batch I melted 12 oz soap with 9 oz water, split the batch, added a little dye and about a tsp of fragrance oil and poured it into a plastic mold.
The other half I added more dye and about a tsp of fragrance oil and poured it into a plastic mold.
I put all the molds in the freezer for about 4 hours, took them out, unmolded the soap and set the bars on a brown paper bag to harden, I've been turning them over every day.
It's been three days now, and all the bars are still super soft. Like, if I squeezed hard my fingers would go all the way through the bar. And when I flip them there are still wet spots underneath the soaps without the oatmeal. The oatmeal soaps are also very soft, but no wet spots underneath them.
Can someone please help me figure out what I did wrong? Was it too much water? Will they eventually harden given more time? Should I bake them on low heat? Should I just throw them out?
Any advice would be much appreciated! Thank you.
These are the re-batched bars:
A few days ago I read about handmilling and thought I'd give that a try as it's supposed to make a harder, longer lasting bar. I did three different batches.
I grated all my soap and the first batch I melted 12 oz soap with 9 oz water and added a cup of blended oatmeal and about 50 drops (the bottle said 5-6 drops per oz) of essential oil and used a pringles can for a mold.
The second batch I melted 12 oz soap with 9 oz water, split the batch, added a little dye and about a tsp of fragrance oil and poured it into a plastic mold.
The other half I added more dye and about a tsp of fragrance oil and poured it into a plastic mold.
I put all the molds in the freezer for about 4 hours, took them out, unmolded the soap and set the bars on a brown paper bag to harden, I've been turning them over every day.
It's been three days now, and all the bars are still super soft. Like, if I squeezed hard my fingers would go all the way through the bar. And when I flip them there are still wet spots underneath the soaps without the oatmeal. The oatmeal soaps are also very soft, but no wet spots underneath them.
Can someone please help me figure out what I did wrong? Was it too much water? Will they eventually harden given more time? Should I bake them on low heat? Should I just throw them out?
Any advice would be much appreciated! Thank you.
These are the re-batched bars: