Softness issue...please look.

[LJA]

I'm trying out a new recipe and I've made two loaves with it so far. I think I'm going to love the end result, but 15-18 hours post-pour, it's very soft and still uncuttable. The corners can literally be smeared like a cream. The inside would just stick to the knife, but not smearable. Now, I know it's early...I just have always been able to cut my other recipe(s) this soon with almost no trouble. I put a STUPID amount of butters in this recipe. 9 oz. total. Cocoa is one of them and that contributes somewhat to hardness so I'm not worried about that one so much.

I'm taking the long way around here, but my questions are these....

1.) Is this fine 15-18 hours in? Should I just wait to cut it at 24-48 hours and not worry about it?

2.) Will my soap be more prone to DOS because it's softer? I've been making soap with a higher coconut content, and dropped it with this recipe, down to about 18-19%.

You can see what I'm talking about in these pix. The first one is a pic of the soft corners. It's been 15 hours, and I didn't gel. I pulled it out of the fridge an hour ago.

The second pic shows that, otherwise, the soap looks fine.
What do you guys think? Thanks for lookin'.

 

[Dixie]

You never know LJA. I had one do this and it turned out fine after a couple of days and is still fine 3 mo. after. So maybe it will be ok, I hope so it it very pretty soap uncut!

 

[cleanwater]

I'm fairly new to this, but I've had similar issues since I started using shea butter. I have let mine sit for up to 4 days before cutting and that helped. It will firm up eventually. I have not run into DOS yet (knock wood). It looks great, those are gorgeous colors. What did you use for the orange? And how did you get the color distribution that way? Fantastic!

 

[Guest]

I would leave it sit and check it every so often .It will be fine , I have had the same thing happen with ungelled soap . It takes a little longer on the drying rack too , to harden up. No DOS here.

BTW that soap log looks gorgeous
Looking forward to seeing the cut soap :wink:

Kitn

 

[LJA]

Hmm. Thanks for the input, guys. I hope you're right. I guess I'll wait a bit to cut it and see how it goes. The one I did before this hardened up nice two days later, but had the same sooooft corners. I might just have to wait longer to cut it. I just don't want DOS issues.

Cleanwater, thanks. It's just a funnel swirl. The colors are both LabColors dye (orange and red and plain soap, with titanium dioxide in the oils also for softer colors.) It actually smells great. Oranges, raspberries and vanilla. Kinda like a creamsicle with a smidge of tartness.

 

[reallyrita]

Softness Issue...please look

Your soap looks really good....I am sure it will harden up. I have made many batches that looked like this 15-18 hours out. When I don't gel, I also put my soap in the fridge for about that amount of time. I would not be able to unmold and cut it after just one hour out of the fridge...it would be too gooey. You might want to let it sit out and come to room temp slowly. Don't put it where it will warm up too quickly. Even doing this, I usually just put my mold out of sight(so I won't be tempted) and let it sit for a day or even two days. Then I unmold, and even then sometimes I have to put the log on the cure rack for a few days more until it feels hard and not tacky to the touch before cutting. Takes patience which we soapers don't have in abundance! Gelled soaps can usually unmold and be cut after 24 hours or less if the gel is complete and the soap has lightened up again. I usually am too scary-d cat to water discount but my last two ungelled soaps I did take a modest water discount (that scary-d cat thing) and I could unmold and cut somewhat sooner. Made a difference!

 

[reallyrita]

Softness Issue...please look

Your soap looks really good....I am sure it will harden up. I have made many batches that looked like this 15-18 hours out. When I don't gel, I also put my soap in the fridge for about that amount of time. I would not be able to unmold and cut it after just one hour out of the fridge...it would be too gooey. You might want to let it sit out and come to room temp slowly. Don't put it where it will warm up too quickly. Even doing this, I usually just put my mold out of sight(so I won't be tempted) and let it sit for a day or even two days. Then I unmold, and even then sometimes I have to put the log on the cure rack for a few days more until it feels hard and not tacky to the touch before cutting. Takes patience which we soapers don't have in abundance! Gelled soaps can usually unmold and be cut after 24 hours or less if the gel is complete and the soap has lightened up again. I usually am too scary-d cat to water discount but my last two ungelled soaps I did take a modest water discount (that scary-d cat thing) and I could unmold and cut somewhat sooner. Made a difference!

 

[Jeremy]

I'm not experienced enough to help yet, but just wanted to say that is some crazy looking soap. Love the colours, are you using micas?

 

[7053joanne]

I would let it sit for a while longer. I generally don't think about cutting any time before 24 hours. But I have also had soaps that needed 2-3 days to harden enough to cut. Hang in there I'm sure it will be fine.

p.s. Very pretty soapies!

 

[LJA]

I'm not experienced enough to help yet, but just wanted to say that is some crazy looking soap. Love the colours, are you using micas?

LOL!! Thanks Jeremy. Those are LabColors colorants. If you're interested in trying them, here's some info to checkout. I like 'em a lot, though I'm pretty new to them. So far, it's been a good experience.
http://www.brambleberry.com/Basic12.aspx

 

[AshleyR]

Do you normally gel your soaps? I've found with ones that I've prevented gel in, they've taken A LOT longer to harden up. I've cut them as late as 3 days after pouring them because they were so soft. I wonder if that's your problem!

 

[SimplyE]

I don't gel and use a lot of soft oils, shea, avocado, RB, etc. I tend to have pretty soft bars in general anyway, but they do harden up. I think you will be fine.

Love the colors!

 

[LJA]

Now you guys have me wondering if it's not the oils, but the no gelling. (Ashley, I'm just starting to play with not gelling - usually I do) Hmmm. I smell an experiment coming on. :wink:
Thanks for all the great input.

E, this one's probably yours if it ever hardens up. lol.

 

[LJA]

RB, etc.

Ok, I'm sure this is obvious but my brain isn't processing it. RB?

EDIT: Nervermind. Rice Bran. Got it. (sheesh). I just had another thought. I used that vanilla stabilizer in this soap. You use equal parts FO and stabilizer, so that means I have an extra 3 oz. of liquid in there, in addition to my usual liquid. Should I have discounted my water to accomodate the extra vanilla stabilizer liquid?

If my normal liquid amount is 18 ounces but have to add 3 oz. of stabilizer, should I have used 15 ounces of water??
Anyone have any experience with this? (Hello, 5th grade math story problem...lol...."If Timmy was on a train, traveling at 90 miles an hour....) :wink:

 

[Lindy]

If you're going to avoid gel maybe take your lye solution to at least 35% which should help it harden up a bit quicker. You could even take it to 40% if you wanted.

It will harden you just need to give it enough time to do so.

 

[ChrissyB]

I think you've nailed it, the extra liquid from the vanilla stabiliser, yes I would have discounted this from my original liquid amount, and the no gelling, this will definitely contribute to softer soap, for a little while at least. Give it an extra day or even two, it will harden up.
And cocoa butter definitely contributes to hardness, so no worries there.

 

[LJA]

I think you've nailed it, the extra liquid from the vanilla stabiliser, yes I would have discounted this from my original liquid amount, and the no gelling, this will definitely contribute to softer soap, for a little while at least. Give it an extra day or even two, it will harden up.
And cocoa butter definitely contributes to hardness, so no worries there.

Ahhhh. Thanks ChrissyB. Mystery solved. I'll know for the next time.

 

[SimplyE]

"If Timmy was on a train, traveling at 90 miles an hour....) :wink:

He would be having more fun than me!

 

[ChrissyB]

That's what makes soaping so much fun, learning new things from every batch!

 

[Milla]

I just LOVE those colors! Reminds me of my wedding day. Corals, pinks and peaches! Can't wait to see it cut!