question on my 2nd batch

[mmonette100]

Hi All,

I just made my 2nd batch of soap - I did another charcoal soap and this time changed the recipe and added some black australian clay. I have a question I am hoping someone will be able to answer.

My recipe was

Olive 30%
Palm 25%
Coconut 25%
Shea Butter 15%
Castor oil 5%
1TBSP charcoal
1TBSP black clay
50ml anise EO

Mixed ingredients at 110F

Poured in my wooden loaf mold and put a saran wrap on top before the lid went on. Covered it for 24hrs. Just took off the Saran Wrap and cut my soap. It looks great but my question is...

This time when I pulled the saran warp, there is a very thin layer of what looks like clear vaseline or glycerin (very thin). Only in spots. The soap is pure black exept for this thin layer on top where the saran was. It is hard (solidified) to touch it even though it looks wet. The soap is perfect exept for this very thin layer. I just wanted to know if anyone knows what would cause this as I am still very much in the learning process and would like to know how to avoid this. Your help is greatly appreciated.

Here is a pic of them.... notice the problem on the soap that is standing up...
I have a feeling this has o do with using the saran wrap and perhaps this is more noticeable since the soap is black??

I am hoping this might go away as it cures?

http://www.flickr.com/photos/30603716@N02/2978852155/

Also, you can see in the pic some little white streaks in the soap which happened on both of my batches so far. I can;t imagine this being from not stirring enough as I used my stick blender thoroughly.

Mike

 

[digit]

I do not have an answer for you, but I like the white "veins". They look cool.

Digit

 

[mmonette100]

Thanks Digit!!

I don't think the veins are what is bothering me the most but actually the problem on top kind of is connected to the veins. I have a feeling now that this might be hardened EO oil - I used Anise. When adding EO, should you blend right at the end or at a light Trace and blend with the stick blender thoroughly? I blended it alot but perhaps the gelling phase created these lines and areas on top of Anise EO?

I am hoping sopmeone will know how to avoid these...

Mike

 

[cdwinsby]

I usually add my eo's at a light trace and use a whisk to mix it in. Sounds like you had some sort of seperation but I'm not familiar with it...sorry.

Your oils do seem to add up to 130% but I'm assuming that is a typo!

 

[carebear]

how big was your batch? that's an awful lot of black stuff...

 

[mmonette100]

Thanks for your replies! Oops castor oil was 5% not 30% sorry that was a typo.

I used 2.6 lbs of oils.

Mike