Questions on First Batch

mkaiser · Nov 3, 2010

I made my first batch of soap and have a few questions.

* When I added the scent my soap became very lumpy and thicken quickly, is the okay or did I mix it too much?

* When I took the soap out of the mold it was still soft. Is this okay or should I have let it harden for another day or so?

* When will the soap be okay to use and it should lather up, correct? When I cut the soap I had some on my hands and it was just oily.

Thank you in advance for helping a first time soap maker.

cwarren · Nov 3, 2010

Much more info is needed ...
...how much F/O did you use ppo

....Recipe and how long was it in mold

Soaplady22 · Nov 3, 2010

Yes - post your recipe - sounds like you had too much oil for the lye amount. That was what the oily feeling is from.

How soft is soft? And what mold did you use?? What FO did you use? Some are more bothersome than others.

Don't be discouraged; we've all been through the mill. It take practice.

MissMori · Nov 3, 2010

If the soap mixture goes from fluid to "lumpy and thick" right after adding the fragrance, it is likely a fragrance that speeds trace. Nothing to worry about as long as you have everything (lye & oils) mixed evenly.

Soap soft out of the mold could be due to a few things: more soft oils used than hard oils, too much water, soap didn't gel, and as one responder already stated, too little lye. None of these things are inherently dangerous. Let it harden, even get a good long 4 to 6 week cure and then decide if it is too soft to your liking. Soap gets better with age.

Lather increases as soap cures. Give it a few days and then try a little slice or let it get a full cure and then try it.

mkaiser · Nov 3, 2010

Thank you for trying to help. Here is the recipe I used.

Oils by weight:
15 oz. sunflower seed oil, high oleic
15 oz. sweet almond oil
10 oz. avocado oil
10 oz. coconut oil, 76 degree
5 oz. palm oil

Lye/NaOH/Sodium Hydroxide by weight: 7.5 oz.
Milk by volume: 20 fluid ounces

The soap was able to stay together and needed to be cut with a knife but it was almost like cutting butter it was very easy to cut. It sat in the mold for 24 hours. My dad is building me 2 wood molds but for now I am using plastic containers. The one I used is very deep (when I took the soap out it looked like a fresh baked bread loaf), I think I took it out of the mold to early. (I have to admit since it was my first time I was a little impatient to see how it turned out.

cwarren · Nov 3, 2010

I think it was your F/O that speed up trace..

also looks like your recipe is a softer bar so JMO you unmolded too soon.

Just wait it may take longer to cure to harder bar..

(( I would like to know others thoughts with more expertise ))