Some advice please

[Cherrydene soapy]

Please could you lovely people have a look at this soap for me, I think it has glycerin rivers in the top half and white dots in the lower half. Do you think that 1. the dots are because I didn’t mix the lye in enough? and 2. the glycerin rivers is that because it got too hot? I cover it with a cardboard lid , then some packaging that my new soap cutter came in, then 2 towels or could it have been the FO cucumber and melon from the SoapKitchen?
I am really pleased with how it turned out I used poppy seeds for the first time and I used my new soap cutter.
I am really enjoying practicing with my soap, every one here is so encouraging and full of excellent tips. In advance thank you

 

[KiwiMoose]

All I can say is GOOORGEOUS! Not sure about the white dots - but the top is glycerin rivers. They can happen when gelling esp. if using TD.

 

[Cellador]

Yup, I believe the top is glycerin rivers probably due to TD or a high water content. The bottom spots are probably stearic spots and or cutter bubbles ( did you get a wire cutter?).

 

[Zing]

Great colors! Looks like you are no longer "practicing."

 

[Cherrydene soapy]

Yup, I believe the top is glycerin rivers probably due to TD or a high water content. The bottom spots are probably stearic spots and or cutter bubbles ( did you get a wire cutter?).

Yes a new one x

Great colors! Looks like you are no longer "practicing."

No definitely still practicing xx thank you xx

 

[lsg]

It may be glycerine rivers, but it looks like part of a swirl design. Great-looking soap.

 

[Misschief]

That turned out great, @Cherrydene soapy!

 

[dibbles]

I'd say glycerin rivers as well, probably because it got too hot. I had a cucumber fragrance that was a fast mover/heater so your FO may well have contributed. At any rate, the rivers just add to the design in this soap - it's very pretty.

I don't know about the white dots, but if it were lye it seems like all the batter would have them, not just the bottom. I'm assuming your lye solution was clear when you added it to the oils.

 

[Meena]

No definitely still practicing xx thank you xx

Ahem! What @Zing said!! Those soaps are fabulous! Love your color scheme and the look of the seeds. <3

 

[KiwiMoose]

View attachment 36580
Yes a new one x

Gee that's a bit flash! I use a kitchen knife.

 

[Cherrydene soapy]

I'd say glycerin rivers as well, probably because it got too hot. I had a cucumber fragrance that was a fast mover/heater so your FO may well have contributed. At any rate, the rivers just add to the design in this soap - it's very pretty.

I don't know about the white dots, but if it were lye it seems like all the batter would have them, not just the bottom. I'm assuming your lye solution was clear when you added it to the oils.

Yep but I mixed at a lower temperature lye was 99f and oils were 106f so I don’t know if that had anything to do with it?x

Gee that's a bit flash! I use a kitchen knife.

I did some private work so I thought, dam it I am going to spend the money on a soap cutter x

 

[penelopejane]

Yep but I mixed at a lower temperature lye was 99f and oils were 106f so I don’t know if that had anything to do with it?x

Depending on your recipe that might not be warm enough.
The white dots are stearic spots. They will go if you mix oils and lye together at 110*F.

The photo isn’t really clear so I’m not sure those are glycerin rivers. It could possibly be that that layer wasn’t mixed enough.
If it is glycerin rivers they will go if you use lye concentration of 30% or above. Look for lye concentration (not lye as % of oils) in soap calc.

Nice looking soap. Love the green!

 

[Cherrydene soapy]

Depending being on your recipe that might not be warm enough.
The white dots are stearic spots. They will go if you mix oils and lye together at 110*F.

The glycerine rivers will go if you use lye concentration of 30% or above. Look for lye concentration (not lye as % of oils) in soap calc.

This is the recipe I used I think I mixed with too low temperatures, any thoughts on the recipe? X

 

[Rogue-Soaper]

View attachment 36569 Please could you lovely people have a look at this soap for me, I think it has glycerin rivers in the top half and white dots in the lower half. Do you think that 1. the dots are because I didn’t mix the lye in enough? and 2. the glycerin rivers is that because it got too hot? I cover it with a cardboard lid , then some packaging that my new soap cutter came in, then 2 towels or could it have been the FO cucumber and melon from the SoapKitchen?
I am really pleased with how it turned out I used poppy seeds for the first time and I used my new soap cutter.
I am really enjoying practicing with my soap, every one here is so encouraging and full of excellent tips. In advance thank you

Your soap is beautiful.. If you soaped at 99 degrees, it could by bits of oils or butters that are solidified.

 

[Cherrydene soapy]

Your soap is beautiful.. If you soaped at 99 degrees, it could by bits of oils or butters that are solidified.

Thank you I am not going to mix at that temperature again x

 

[Dawni]

Love the colors! Very pretty design work.. Good job!

 

[shunt2011]

Very pretty soap. I agree with the glycerin rivers and stearic spots. I have still gotten rivers soaping at 33% when I used a new FO that ended up being a heater. Though they fade somewhat with cure. Yours looks nice in the design.

 

[Marilyn Norgart]

I love your color combos and the design

 

[penelopejane]

I’d drop your castor oil to 5%. Over that and castor can make soap sticky and soft.

 

[MKLonestar]

Definitely looks like glycerin rivers to me and stearic spots. I have found that if using TD (water based) and it is not mixed thoroughly with the water or I use too much in the batter, when the soap heats, then I get the rivers. I just embrace them as part of the design. I have one soap that I intentionally caused glycerin rivers because I wanted them in that design. As for the stearic spots, I haven't yet figured out what causes them, but notice when I soap at higher temps (I do the heat transfer method), then I will occasionally get them.