Seized Soap! Thoughts?

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draggirl

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Joined
Apr 21, 2011
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Location
Hot Springs, VA
After soaping for over a year, I just had my first batch seize. It's a tried and true recipe for me so the seizing came as a complete shock.
60% tallow
25% Coconut Oil
15% Olive Oil
5% Super Fat
Half of my liquid was water & the other half was half & half.
My lye solution was made with only the water, while the half & half chilled in the freezer.
* I did add 30 grams of sugar to the hot oil mixture for some added bubbles. It's the first time I've tried adding sugar to a recipe.

This took *forever* to come to trace. Once I reached a light trace, I poured in the chilled half & half and that's when the seizing happened. I quickly stirred in my FO and flopped it into my 6 pound log mold. It came to complete gel in less than 15 minutes. I didn't insulate this in anyway. Not even a covering of saran wrap.

I'm hoping this turns out ok because 1. I already have orders for it 2. It smells amazing & 3. I really hate having to throw out a batch of soap.

I know sugars will cause the soap to heat up more. I'm wondering if it was the combination of the sugar & the sugars in the milk that may have caused the seizing and super quick gelling. Any thoughts?
 
It sounds like it was more of a temp issue. It might not have been seizing at all, but solidifying of your oils and butters when the half & half was poured in cold.
 
When I soaped with heavy cream, I had my cream at room temperature like my lye and oils. I soap at room temperature because it is easier to not have to worry about the temps.
 
I had wondered about the temp of the half & half. I question if that was the issue since wouldn't it warm up and become more liquid like instead of the other way around? Please don't take offense, that's just me thinking out loud.

I can't believe how hot this soap got. Craziness.
 
just a thought, but seems like it's always the hottest part of summer when i tend to get seizing / ricing. our ac isn't even holding its own, and i've had more problems this summer than i ever have. have had to quickly hp a number of seized batches. arghhhh! it's the sultry heat gremlins in my house!
 
Paillo, that's something to think about. It was hot & humid today.

This is just driving me crazy because I've used this recipe, minus the added sugar, so many times without fail.
 
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