pigment issues

[BettyF]

I do not know if any of you have experienced this but I have noticed that several different batches are turning white weeks after curing. In am noticing it in the green oxides and lavender mineral pigments. The discoloration is whitish and not affecting all the bars in the batch. These mineral pigments are from different suppliers and use different essential oils. I cannot think of anything unusual I did during the process, temps around 110 and everything seemed fine during pouring and even cutting.
Any insight you experienced soapers can give would be so very helpful!!! Thanks so much!!

 

[Genny]

The discoloration is whitish and not affecting all the bars in the batch. These mineral pigments are from different suppliers and use different essential oils.

What do you mean by the pigments use different essential oils? Or do you mean you used different essential oils?

The white discoloration, is it ash?

 

[BettyF]

definitely not ash. the soap has a slightly grainy look. When I thin slice the section off it still appears underneath.
Regarding the essential oils, one batch is made with lavender and lemon essential oils. The other is rosemary, lavender with a bit of litsea.

 

[Genny]

Oh!! I thought you meant that there was essential oils in your pigments LOL

I get some white spottiness with lavender fo's & eo's. I've heard other soapers complain about the same thing with lavender. Then some soapers don't have that problem at all with lavender.

 

[BettyF]

So maybe this is an essential oil issue and not the pigments? I had not considered that.