Rebatching ash

[Cashie]

Hi all~

I have saved all of the ash I shaved off my first batches of soap because I thought that I read in this forum that some of you re-purpose ash into sugar or salt scrubs. Is that right? The ash is not pretty but it smells lovely and the soap it came from is a basic vegie oil conditioning recipe.

What do you do with ash (although I know most of you are most likely too experienced to get much ash anymore)?

 

[Guest]

I have a question on the ash topic since my soaps never get ash. Does the ash come from letting soap go into gel?

 

[Cashie]

I have a question on the ash topic since my soaps never get ash. Does the ash come from letting soap go into gel?

I can't speak for the answers here, but I learned a lot about soapmaking from about dot com before I found this forum (and this forum has been a Godsend, thank you everyone!).

Here's a link about an explanation for ash:

http://candleandsoap.about.com/od/coldp ... n-Soap.htm

 

[Guest]

I have a question on the ash topic since my soaps never get ash. Does the ash come from letting soap go into gel?

I can't speak for the answers here, but I learned a lot about soapmaking from about dot com before I found this forum (and this forum has been a Godsend, thank you everyone!).

Here's a link about an explanation for ash:

http://candleandsoap.about.com/od/coldp ... n-Soap.htm

Thanks for link!

 

[busymakinsoap!]

I *think* ash has something to do with the moisture in the air, I not sure if it has anything to do with gel. But I guess if it gels and sweats it may.

There is a post on here and agriffin explains it really well, sorry I cant find it but it wasnt long ago - just search under ash.

I spritz with alcohol to prevent it, and cover with saran wrap. I think the alcohol adds a barrier, and the wrap protects it from the moisture too.

Sometimes I will get it regardless, so there must be other contributing factors. I never cut it off though, I either embrace it, or try and clean it up. You can use the alcohol spray to buff the ash off, or as Agriffin explains, ash is actually more soluble in water, so can be removed that way.

You will be surprised at how many people like the effect of ash - they think its deliberate :wink:

 

[Guest]

I *think* ash has something to do with the moisture in the air, I not sure if it has anything to do with gel. But I guess if it gels and sweats it may.

There is a post on here and agriffin explains it really well, sorry I cant find it but it wasnt long ago - just search under ash.

I spritz with alcohol to prevent it, and cover with saran wrap. I think the alcohol adds a barrier, and the wrap protects it from the moisture too.

Sometimes I will get it regardless, so there must be other contributing factors. I never cut it off though, I either embrace it, or try and clean it up. You can use the alcohol spray to buff the ash off, or as Agriffin explains, ash is actually more soluble in water, so can be removed that way.

You will be surprised at how many people like the effect of ash - they think its deliberate :wink:

Thanks for the info. I went and looked up the previous posted to get details and am still not sure what causes it. I live in a hot location with very high humidity and would think my soap would be subject to ash since I do not gel and never cover them. Weird!