"Sliced Bread" soap

[Ruthie]

What causes this? My soap looks like sliced bread with a darker "crust" around the outside and lighter inside. I've had several batches do this. The line fades a bit over time but never goes away. The only common factor in these batches that is NOT in all other batches is patchouli. This happens with both the EO and with FO. Is patch. the culprit? And why does it do this? Thanks!

 

[LovelyMalia]

Mine does that too on occasion. I'm not sure what causes it. I've read that not mixing long enough can cause it. It only happens to me once in a while, though. Normally, its the other way around - gels in the middle and light on the edges.

 

[Sammi_552]

Interesting, looks like it's starting to gel from the outside inward. After you mold your soap are you applying any external heat such as placing it in the oven for a short time?

 

[AlchemyandAshes]

It will all even out after cutting and exposing to air...the "crust" will disappear and blend in. It's not a totally rare phenomena. I thought at one time it was due to FOs, but I only use EOs and have had it happen every now and then. I have a feeling its due to temperature changes, but that's just a guess. It would be a cool design effect if it would stay!

 

[hoegarden]

It could be not cutting the soap immediately after unmolding.. When the outside start to dry and preventing water from the inside to evaporate..

Just of the possibilities, as I am not sure when you cut it.

 

[Ruthie]

Interesting, looks like it's starting to gel from the outside inward. After you mold your soap are you applying any external heat such as placing it in the oven for a short time?

No, actually, I stick them in the refrigerator to prevent gel. As an experiment, maybe I can do an experiment and try keeping it warm.

 

[Ruthie]

It will all even out after cutting and exposing to air...the "crust" will disappear and blend in. It's not a totally rare phenomena. I thought at one time it was due to FOs, but I only use EOs and have had it happen every now and then. I have a feeling its due to temperature changes, but that's just a guess. It would be a cool design effect if it would stay!

So, it will disappear! I have some that is like 5 weeks old and it is still there. Yes, it is kind of a cool look. I do better at this than I do at swirls. :sad:

 

[Ruthie]

It could be not cutting the soap immediately after unmolding.. When the outside start to dry and preventing water from the inside to evaporate..

Just of the possibilities, as I am not sure when you cut it.

Maybe so. I make one day, unmold the next, and cut the third.

 

[AlchemyandAshes]

If its still that way after 5 weeks, it may stay that way...anytime I've seen it (in person or online) its gone within 3 days. Now you have me stumped! :think:

 

[VanessaP]

This was a soap I made late last spring. I used cocoa powder to color it just a bit, Leather FO.

I had stuck it in the freezer overnight to stop gel. Yep, light on the outside, dark on the inside, with a third color in between. The entire batch was for my friend, and she said that even after 2 months, the colors never did even out.

However, the last time I made the Shiner Bock & Kentucky Bourbon FO beer as CP, the outside was DARK brown and the inside was cream colored when I cut it. 24 hours later, it was all dark brown all the way around.

 

[marghewitt]

I think it's because it goes thru the gel stage starting in the center and works it way out but stops before reaching the outer layer. I have several that stay like that and some that eventually even all out. Gotta Love Handmade!

 

[Shannon_m]

Vanessa I think those soaps are really pretty! It's almost like you did it on purpose lol

 

[danahuff]

Hmm. When I have used chocolate, it sometimes has a dark crust, but after a while, the rest of the outside becomes the same color. The lines are so even, it almost looks like you did some sort of frame on purpose!

 

[Maythorn]

It doesn't look like it gelled. I've seen a couple of scents do that. Most evened out over time but one didn't. It stayed with this darker layer that was the top after being poured and eventhough I covered it with plastic right after pouring it still happened.

 

[hlee]

It looks neat. Like a picture frame.

 

[melstan775]

I like 'em! The fade line is so coo, I wish those would stay

 

[LovelyMalia]

This is a little off-topic for the thread MATTER, but on-topic for the thread TITLE...

I unmolded some soap today and the lines from the wax paper actually made it look like slices of bread! I should really take a picture of it...its cracking me up!