Question about superfatting

[Guest]

When superfatting your soap, how do you determine which fats will remain unsaponified? Isn't it possible that the same exact superfatted recipe can come out differently with each batch, depending on which fats the lye reacts with first? Is there a way to have more control over which fats survive saponification, thus retaining their original properties in the finished soap?

 

[jbarad]

Is there a way to have more control over which fats survive saponification, thus retaining their original properties in the finished soap?

I believe the only way to truly do this is by using the HP method of soapmaking and adding your desired superfat oils after the cook, before you mold.

 

[MikeInPdx]

I believe the only way to truly do this is by using the HP method of soapmaking and adding your desired superfat oils after the cook, before you mold.

Yepper....that's about the only way. The lye monster eats what it likes otherwise.

 

[carebear]

chomp chomp

 

[Guest]

Using CP, has anyone noticed different batches using the same recipe coming out with different results/properties? Due to varying ratios of oil saponification?

Seems like there's nothing stopping the finished soap from being more superfatted with coconut oil in one batch, shea butter in the next, and so on.

 

[carebear]

can you please rephrase your question?

 

[Guest]

can you please rephrase your question?

Sure. So you have this mixture of oils. You add the lye/water solution and the lye begins reacting with the oils. Yet there's no guarantee that the lye will react with the oils evenly, isn't it possible that a majority of one oil could be left unsaponified while a majority of another oil turns into soap?