Post Saponification Problem

mysticAutumn · Oct 22, 2012

Hello, just joined the forum. I am working on developing several new types of CP soap and have encountered a problem that I just cannot seem to solve. Here it is: After lathering up the soap with warm water, then rinsing and drying my hands, they have that "draggy" feel. This is followed by a cooling sensation, probably due to evaporation of the last traces of water, and then smoothness returns to the skin and my hands feel conditioned. I like the conditioned feel, and the lather is great, but I want to eliminate that dragging feel on the skin. This does not seem to be formula-dependent, it seems to happen no matter which blend of oils I use. I should mention this happens when I am trying the soap within one or two days of batch make-up. I'm out of ideas as to how to solve this problem. Anyone?

Loolee · Oct 22, 2012

you need to let it cure longer. Have you zap tested it? I think its due to there being lye in your soaps still. But a zap test will tell you that.

AlchemyandAshes · Oct 22, 2012

It's okay to "test" your soap after 24-48 hours if it fully gelled, but I would do a zap test first, personally. So you Superfat your soap recipes? Are there any additives? There's so many variables that without more info its hard to help figure out. If its every recipe you use, maybe you're simply not used to the feeling of homemade soap?

new12soap · Oct 22, 2012

Reading the first half of your post I had two thoughts; one, your stearic content in your formulas may be on the high side, which can contribute to feeling some "drag" (I personally like high stearic soaps, tho, they make a nice hard longer lasting bar), and two, are you washing and rinsing in hard water? Hard water + real soap can interact and form "scum" which will leave your skin feeling a bit "draggy". Try pouring some distilled water in a bowl and wash in that and see if it is the same. There is also a lot glycerin in handmade soap, that can leave skin feeling a bit sticky or tacky for a few minutes, as Shawnee said maybe you just aren't yet used to the feeling of handmade soap.

Then when I read the rest of your post and you are basing these observations on CP soap that is only a day or two old, my first thought was "YIKES!"

I would give them at LEAST 4 weeks, then test them again. Then test again at 6 weeks, then again at 8 weeks. Keep very detailed accurate notes, I think you will be surprised if not amazed by the difference.

JM2C

mysticAutumn · Oct 22, 2012

Loolee said:
you need to let it cure longer. Have you zap tested it? I think its due to there being lye in your soaps still. But a zap test will tell you that.

Yes, I think more curing time may help. I did zap test and there was NO reaction. None. So I think the saponification was nearly complete. Thanks for your post!

mysticAutumn · Oct 22, 2012

Alchemy&Ashes said:
It's okay to "test" your soap after 24-48 hours if it fully gelled, but I would do a zap test first, personally. So you Superfat your soap recipes? Are there any additives? There's so many variables that without more info its hard to help figure out. If its every recipe you use, maybe you're simply not used to the feeling of homemade soap?

I was using a 5% lye discount, but have now increased that to 8%. My oils are Coconut, Olive, and Palm. Additives: Bentonite Clay, Essential Oil @ .9 oz/lb of oils, and Natural Vitamin E @ 1% of overall batch weight.

I have been making soap for 10 years, and I cannot remember ever having this problem before...hmmm...

mysticAutumn · Oct 22, 2012

My final thoughts on my original post are that more curing time is likely the only thing that will change the effect I have mentioned. Raw soap is raw soap, even if there is no zap reaction, and has alot more water in it than cured soap. That may be a factor. I have found the blend of oils does affect the feel on the hands somewhat. For example, Castor definitely leaves my hands stickier, even at a usage rate of only 5 %. So I eliminated that. Still have plenty of creamy lather, so no loss there. I will report my findings after 4 weeks of curing. The good news is that in all other respects, this soap has come out great, all other characteristics are right on target with what I was aiming for.