ring around my soap

[emi]

So, I made a soap using a high amount of cocoa butter, (and as some of you know) I am experimenting to see how it behaves as a sub for palm and animal fats. I ended up with this thin ring around the rim. I put it in a cube mold and all 6 surfaced had a solid cream color. But when I cut into it the inside was a pale pink. It's quite pretty actually, but just wondering if that outer layer is still "soap". I used rice bran oil instead of olive because I didn't have any and hoped it could serve as a substitute. I waited about 30 hours to unmold and it was super hard. You might see in the picture the little fragment bits that broke off. This is what "brittle" is I'm guessing? After pouring, I put saran wrap over the top and wrapped it in a towel. I felt heat generated several hours later. So I think it "gelled". Here's my recipe.

cocoa butter 46% 102g
rice bran 34% 138g
coconut oil 20% 60g
water 75.45g
lye 40.63g
lye concentration 35%
titatium dioxide 3/5 tsp
fragrance 9.3g (white tea and ginger FO 5g and lavender EO 4.3g)
temp when combined: 90 degrees for both oils and lye solution
total oils 300g (I know that's a small batch, but this was an experiment and cocoa butter is expensive! I measured very carefully with a scale that measures to the tenth of a gram.)

 

[Susie]

Sounds like partial gel to me. Without a pic to verify, mind you, but sounds like it for sure.

 

[navigator9]

Sometimes, after cutting a loaf of soap, it may look like what I call a "cheese rind" around the very outer edge. As the soap cures, the inner part of the soap eventually darkens to the color of the outer "rind". I've had it happen occasionally, but never paid enough attention to track it down to a specific recipe or conditions. It's perfectly fine, and yes, the outer edge is soap.

 

[emi]

ok thanks! you did see the picture I posted of it though right?? Did you scroll all the way down to the pic? Is it not showing?

I'm just asking because Susie, you said "without a pic to verify" and navigator9, the outer rind is white and the inner is pink, so it's not darker on the outside. But I'm not worried. I'll let it cure and see if it changes. Thanks for your replies!

 

[Primrose]

Emi, your picture isn't showing up

 

[emi]

oh no. ok, how's this. can you see it now??
soap.jpg

 

[DeeAnna]

Your soap is doing what Navigator is talking about. Your soap is fine. The inner pinkish soap will change color to match the "rind." Give it a few days.

 

[Soapprentice]

Yup, we can see it now and I agree with navigator. It happened to my 50% Shea soap but not so defined and do post your review of the soap.. lather and stuff.ok?

 

[emi]

Oh ok great! Thanks so much! I'd never seen this and was afraid it was some kind of weird separation. I'm really looking forward to trying out this soap. Waiting for curing is the WORST part about soap making! I was told to cure longer for cocoa butter. Do you think 6 weeks would be enough?

 

[emi]

Yup, we can see it now and I agree with navigator. It happened to my 50% Shea soap but not so defined and do post your review of the soap.. lather and stuff.ok?

Oh really? 50% Shea, how did that turn out? If this batch turns out well, I was going to try doing the same recipe but with Shea instead of cocoa. Did you use any tallow/lard or palm? And sure, I'll post the results when I get there!

 

[Soapprentice]

Oh really? 50% Shea, how did that turn out? If this batch turns out well, I was going to try doing the same recipe but with Shea instead of cocoa. Did you use any tallow/lard or palm? And sure, I'll post the results when I get there!

Nope, no palm or animal fats, .. Shea-50, OO-35, Avocado oil-10, castor 5.. added colloidal oatmeal as additive and cut it at 24 hrs.. it was soft when I cut it but hardened in the next 2 days.

 

[dixiedragon]

I did a 50% shea batch and mine was not pink. Soap is so fascinating! I can't remember if I used raw or refined, might make a difference.

 

[emi]

Sometimes, after cutting a loaf of soap, it may look like what I call a "cheese rind" around the very outer edge. As the soap cures, the inner part of the soap eventually darkens to the color of the outer "rind". I've had it happen occasionally, but never paid enough attention to track it down to a specific recipe or conditions. It's perfectly fine, and yes, the outer edge is soap.

you are absolutely right!! The pink is completely gone and turned the same color as the "rind"! Wow what a transformation!

Save​

 

[Susie]

Soap is fun that way...unexpected results that change over time.