Ricing?

[clbutler]

Hi there, I'm new to the world of soap making and I have a few questions. I made a batch of hot process soap and ended up with a little bit of ricing--looks like there are little bits of rice in the batch. For the life of me I can't find any information on what causes it, how to prevent it, etc. I know I heard the term before, but now I can't find it anywhere.

Is this the correct term? Is it mainly an ascetic issue? How do I prevent it in the future?

Other than that the batch turned out fantastic! Great scent (lavender and rosemary), and is sitting out to dry more.

Thanks so much!


CB

 

[ChrissyB]

At what stage did you add the fragrance?
Generally, ricing occurs when you add a fragrance oil to a batch of raw soap (cold process). It usually won't occur with HP but I guess that depends on when you added the fragrance, before or after the cook.
I've only done a few batches of HP, so hopefully someone with a bit more experience will come along and help you.

 

[clbutler]

I added the EOs after cooking, and just before I put in the mold. I was whisking it to incorporate through the batch, and it was then that I noticed the ricing. I put in lavender EO, lemon EO and rosemary EO. I'm not sure if they are the cause or not.

I'm still pleased with the batch, and it has a great feel when washing your hands. Yay!

 

[ChrissyB]

You could wisk the fragrance in a batch of HP after the cook?
Hmm I'm confuzzled.

 

[Lindy]

clbutler - maybe you could take us through your process so we can better understand what you did. Usually when you hot process a soap it finishes as a gel that all you can basically do is stir your additives to and put into a mold - it isn't usually thin enough to whisk...

Thanks!

Lindy

 

[clbutler]

You could wisk the fragrance in a batch of HP after the cook?
Hmm I'm confuzzled.

Yes you would as the heat would evaporate the EOs. You put them after cooking to ensure they don't disappear. The nice thing about HP is that you don't have use as much EO as in CP, but it's a little tricky to getting them in when the batch is cool enough but not so that it starts to set up.

 

[Dixie]

You can't let the soap cool too much. But I don't really think that is your problem this time, I'm wondering if it is the EO's....I'm totally not familiar with EO's I only use FO's.
I do hp quite a bit and I add mine in right after the cook....it's still pretty hot. I shouldn't. I should take the temp. first but I don't. But I don't see how on earth you would get the fo in if you let it cool.

Anyway, I forgot to welcome you to the board and the world of addiction....soaping

 

[ChrissyB]

cbutler, I know what you're saying about putting the fragrance in after the cook, I was confused that you could actually whisk the fragrance in, usually after the cook the soap is globby and jellyish, and quite thick.

 

[vivcarm]

The HP soap I made recently went like that before adding FO, but I am sure that might have been because of the milk and honey, sperated badly, but I rebatched in the slow cooker and it turned out lovely, and smooth. I reckon (this is my opinion only as I don't know a lot about HP) that if you don't want the little rice effect pop it in in the slow cooker on low for a few hours and then it should be alright. Anybody with more experience in this area, feel free to shoot me down in flames!

 

[Guest]

The HP soap I made recently went like that before adding FO, but I am sure that might have been because of the milk and honey, sperated badly, but I rebatched in the slow cooker and it turned out lovely, and smooth. I reckon (this is my opinion only as I don't know a lot about HP) that if you don't want the little rice effect pop it in in the slow cooker on low for a few hours and then it should be alright. Anybody with more experience in this area, feel free to shoot me down in flames!

thats exactly what I did with my cp that riced up, it took 2 hours in the crock pot with a 50% new soap mix

 

[vivcarm]

I didn't add any new soap to mine, it is now rock hard and STILL smells like choc biccies!

 

[honor435]

I donr know what ricing is, but i do hp alot and after you add fo or eo it makes it thicken up fast, so add eo and mix then get into mold fast, my hp often has a marbly look to it, dont worry its fine.

 

[valor]

I know that with my CP, it rices for a minute if my lye is hotter than my oils.

But I am super new to HP and I don't know if I could identify ricing in the cook.
Like someone else said, if you walk us thru the steps, it might be easier to see and it might help us new-comers to cphp...