For a year now I have been making notes and collecting wisdom from web sites, books and mostly this forum (thanks everyone). So today I decided to condense and simplify all my handwritten notes onto one page. I plan on laminating it and keeping it handy when I soap.
Please, especially check my arithmetic. Feel free to add or correct anything I got wrong (but be gentle please).
Citric Acid – A Chelator
1-2% TOW. Add 6gm extra lye for every 10gm Citric Acid. Mix with some batch water, add to lye solution.
Experienced soapers are adding 1.5%. Could see crystals on soap at around 4%. Very economical.
Multiply TOW by 0.01 or 0.02
Sodium Citrate (Na Citrate) – A Chelator
1-1.5% TOW. No changes to lye solution. Most soapers use 1%. Some use 1.5% or more. No crystals on soap.
Multiply TOW by 0.01 or 0.015
Sodium Gluconate (Na Gluconate) – A Chelator
0.5% to 1% TBW, best chelator, grabs more metals than citrates, prevents DOS. Use per Total Batch Weight, not TOW! I like 0.7%
Safe for the environment, biodegrades in 48 hours.
Multiply TBW by 0.005 or 0.01
Sugars - Enhance Bubbles And Lather
Sorbitol: Use 1-4% TOW. Reputed to give best bubbles and lather, but expensive. Buy online.
Table Sugar: Use 2-4%, very cheap and available everywhere. I like 2%.
Honey: Amount ? Can burn and discolor soap, can cause volcanoes, expensive, not vegan. Has label appeal.
Wine or Beer: Can burn, can cause volcanoes, expensive, can add/change colors. Has label appeal.
Aloe Vera Juice or Gel. Can replace all or some of the water. Prices vary. Can grow your own in the right climate.
Rosemary Olio Extract (ROE) - An Antioxidant
Add 0.02% to 0.05% to fresh containers of oil to prevent rancidity. Shake well, it settles. Is a dark green but such small amounts don’t change the color noticeably. Too much can cause DOS. Pricey but goes a long way. Read up on dilution tips for easier dosing.
Multiply the weight of oil by 0.002 to 0.005 to get amount of ROE.
Sodium Lactate - A Salt For Hardening
Add ½ to 1 teaspoon per pound of oil (PPO) Use ½ tsp if 60% or more saturated fats in recipe. Hardens soap for faster unmolding, better for fancy shapes and impressions, firmer set for soft oils, too much makes soap crumbly. I use crafters choice in liquid form for easy dosing.
Please, especially check my arithmetic. Feel free to add or correct anything I got wrong (but be gentle please).
Citric Acid – A Chelator
1-2% TOW. Add 6gm extra lye for every 10gm Citric Acid. Mix with some batch water, add to lye solution.
Experienced soapers are adding 1.5%. Could see crystals on soap at around 4%. Very economical.
Multiply TOW by 0.01 or 0.02
Sodium Citrate (Na Citrate) – A Chelator
1-1.5% TOW. No changes to lye solution. Most soapers use 1%. Some use 1.5% or more. No crystals on soap.
Multiply TOW by 0.01 or 0.015
Sodium Gluconate (Na Gluconate) – A Chelator
0.5% to 1% TBW, best chelator, grabs more metals than citrates, prevents DOS. Use per Total Batch Weight, not TOW! I like 0.7%
Safe for the environment, biodegrades in 48 hours.
Multiply TBW by 0.005 or 0.01
Sugars - Enhance Bubbles And Lather
Sorbitol: Use 1-4% TOW. Reputed to give best bubbles and lather, but expensive. Buy online.
Table Sugar: Use 2-4%, very cheap and available everywhere. I like 2%.
Honey: Amount ? Can burn and discolor soap, can cause volcanoes, expensive, not vegan. Has label appeal.
Wine or Beer: Can burn, can cause volcanoes, expensive, can add/change colors. Has label appeal.
Aloe Vera Juice or Gel. Can replace all or some of the water. Prices vary. Can grow your own in the right climate.
Rosemary Olio Extract (ROE) - An Antioxidant
Add 0.02% to 0.05% to fresh containers of oil to prevent rancidity. Shake well, it settles. Is a dark green but such small amounts don’t change the color noticeably. Too much can cause DOS. Pricey but goes a long way. Read up on dilution tips for easier dosing.
Multiply the weight of oil by 0.002 to 0.005 to get amount of ROE.
Sodium Lactate - A Salt For Hardening
Add ½ to 1 teaspoon per pound of oil (PPO) Use ½ tsp if 60% or more saturated fats in recipe. Hardens soap for faster unmolding, better for fancy shapes and impressions, firmer set for soft oils, too much makes soap crumbly. I use crafters choice in liquid form for easy dosing.
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Many thanks.
