Oops!!

[Guinevere]

ok guys in all of my fours years of making soap I had a first tonight. I was going to make a swirl soap and got all my oils measured out and my lye going. Picked out the colors then there’s where it all went amiss. I just completely forgot about the lye. So there sat my different colored oils without any lye. So I did my best to save it. I poured an “equal” amount of lye into each container of the oil/mica mixture. From the it went about as good as you can imagine. I’m just really kicking myself as this was an eight pound batch.

Guinevere

 

[Hendejm]

And? Was it just a hot mess? I will mix lye post splitting of oils if I am doing layers. I do measure for accuracy. Did you eyeball the lye for each color of oil? Or measure? It may be alright!

 

[Guinevere]

It hardened up purdy fast. In all honesty probably not the best recipe for a swirl. We live and learn. I did just eyeball it, ‍ I probably won’t make that mistake again. I will have some test strips that I’ll use on it. OMG I was so excited about the colors and layers. Ok, just going to have to take a deep breath and pray it will turn out fine.

Guinevere

 

[DWinMadison]

ok guys in all of my fours years of making soap I had a first tonight. I was going to make a swirl soap and got all my oils measured out and my lye going. Picked out the colors then there’s where it all went amiss. I just completely forgot about the lye. So there sat my different colored oils without any lye. So I did my best to save it. I poured an “equal” amount of lye into each container of the oil/mica mixture. From the it went about as good as you can imagine. I’m just really kicking myself as this was an eight pound batch.

Guinevere

You must have been super distracted. My oils look nothing like soap batter. I only make soap when the house is empty. I make soap in my kitchen, and Ive also learned not to try to make soap while I cook.

 

[Guinevere]

No that you mention it I do remember looking at the containers thinking “that’s really shiny”. So I’ll just wait and see.

 

[KiwiSoap]

It hardened up purdy fast. In all honesty probably not the best recipe for a swirl. We live and learn. I did just eyeball it, ‍ I probably won’t make that mistake again. I will have some test strips that I’ll use on it.

Sorry to hear this soaping experience didn't go as planned but I hope it turns out alright in the end. Just be aware that pH strips are not an accurate way of testing soap, the advice I've read around here is to leave it for at least a few days and then zap test it (not directly on your tongue!). Happy soaping

 

[Guinevere]

Ok so the soap turned out alright, with just a few drops of oil on it. I’ll probably leave it on the drying rack for a couple of more weeks then usual.

Guinevere

 

[Guinevere]

I was just checking out SoapQueens web site and I’d completely forgotten about this method for teasting soap, https://www.soapqueen.com/bath-and-body-tutorials/tips-and-tricks/test-ph-red-cabbage/. I also wanted to know how long the cabbage water would keep so I came across this, https://wabisabihobbies.com/2018/06/19/testing-soap-ph-with-red-cabbage/. The answer I was looking for is towards the bottom of the page, #5. Of course how long cabbage water last for you is subjective. IE how you store it and at what temp.

Guinevere