Orange Chamomile

[Deda]

I love looking at all of your pictures, so I thought I would post this of todays batch.

It's Orange Chamomile

The soap is Coconut, RBO, Palm and Olive.
I used a blend of Sweet Orange, Blood Orange, Ginger and Jasmine EOs.
Added about 1Tbsp of Chamomile Flower Powder.
Then some Carrot Powder for color.

I don't want this to gel, so I snapped the pic and tossed it in the fridge.

 

[orangeblossom]

Looks fabulous!
How do you get them so evenly distributed with no mess on top?

And why I'm asking, why would you want a soap to gel or not gel?
Thanks for sharing!

 

[Deda]

Thank you so much!

I use Kelsei Molds, I love them. (pretty sure DH got me a couple more for under the Yule Tree!) The dividers go in after the soap is poured, then pull out - with pliers - after a day or so. No cutting. Great for Salt Bars, too.

As for gel, it's more personal preference. I like the paler, truer colors and the creamier texture I can achieve with un-gelled soap.

 

[heartsong]

soap

so pretty!

i do rtcp-my soap warms a bit in the molds but does not gel or become translucent like regular c/p. i intrigued about the fridge method. the soap stays absoloutely cold and still reaches saponification?

 

[Deda]

The soap is still saponified, it just never gels.

Gel is the exothermic reaction to saponification, keeping the soap cold doesn't stop saponification, it just prevents or lessens the gel stage.

Preventing gel allows for the more delicate notes of your essential oils to remain, they aren't burned off by the high heat during the gel phase. It also allows for paler milk soaps as it prevents the heating of the milk, same for honey - no more volcanoes.

 

[heartsong]

soap

that is simply amazing! you know this completely changes the rules of soapmaking for me!

it's like changing the laws of physics! i've got to get home and try this out. thanks for sharing-i'm so excited!

i have some delicate f/o's that weenie-out on me-perhaps this will help.

everytime i'm here i learn something new! you guys are great!

 

[heartsong]

soap

one last question: how long must it stay in the fridge? how do you know it wont heat up again?

 

[Deda]

I let it sit about 12 hours. Never had a batch heat up. The gel is from the friction - exothermic - once the initial heating phase is complete it's not going to reheat itself. Not without a catalyst.

 

[ChrissyB]

That looks sooo creamy, I love it.
Whenever I do sweet orange or blood orange, because of the gel phase, it ends up looking like marmalade.

 

[topcat]

Deda, they are gorgeous!!! Such a lovely colour...

Love your mould and thank you for the info on gelling....I have been preferring to gel because...well... the soap seems to want to anyway, so I have been perfecting getting a full gel. Now that I know why my EOs won't really stick in my soap, I will use your fridge method for EO scented soap from now on.

I am learning something new every time I log on here - soaping is so much fun! :wink:

Tanya

 

[kellistarr]

To think I thought I was one of few who didn't prefer the gel stage. It happened by accident that I had to use individual molds for extra soap batter and I noticed that the individual molds didn't gel and looked better, whiter, creamier. Since they didn't gel, the color stayed true, yet saponification did occur. So, yes, I know what you mean.

 

[wonderland]

wow! i love that mold and your soap is beautiful. i bet they smell wonderful. i'm a huge fan of orange and chamomile.

will you post some 'after' pics for us, please?

i'll have to try the fridge method too. do you cover them while they're in there?

 

[Deda]

wow! i love that mold and your soap is beautiful. i bet they smell wonderful. i'm a huge fan of orange and chamomile.

will you post some 'after' pics for us, please?

i'll have to try the fridge method too. do you cover them while they're in there?

I don't cover, I don't want any heat buildup.

One thing I forgot to mention about this method is the near total absence of ash!

 

[heartsong]

s

omg! no ash! happy days!! now i can texture the tops of soap with no fear.

my only fear of putting things in the fridge is DH-a few months ago i had my mango butter blocks in there and he fried potatoes thinking it was butter! now, when i'm home, he asks me "is this food?" if he can't readily identify it. LOL!

i'll have to clean out our "spare" fridge out in the garage.

thanks, deda!

 

[Deda]

Re: s

omg! no ash! happy days!! now i can texture the tops of soap with no fear.

my only fear of putting things in the fridge is DH-a few months ago i had my mango butter blocks in there and he fried potatoes thinking it was butter! now, when i'm home, he asks me "is this food?" if he can't readily identify it. LOL!

i'll have to clean out our "spare" fridge out in the garage.

thanks, deda!

You should test to make sure the no ash part works for you, I don't know if I get no ash because of the temperature, my additives or my recipe. I just know that I almost never get it anymore. Not complaining, just not sure why.

 

[heartsong]

s

since my soap never really warms up, perhaps a piece of plastic wrap first, then go from there. will procede cautiously.

 

[Lindy]

Deda those are wonderful! I envy you those molds maybe one of these days!.....sigh

I've been playing with HP and once it's ready to pour putting my spices in so the soap stays quite creamy in colour and my adds don't seem to lose as much or bleed as much. Plus the scent from the spices which are delicate to start with remain a little stronger.

I'm going to have to play with this method now too - oh I love this forum for all the different ideas and methods that are shared here.

Cheers

 

[digit]

Oh...la........la!!!!!! They look and sound soooooo yummy!!!!

Digit