Soy Wax Soap

[Dean]

Hello,

I made a couple batches of CO-free soap with soy wax being the only source of stearic/palmitic acids. The first batch was 25% soy wax and was hard and brittle when cut the next day. I lowered the soy wax to 20 % on the next batch so that it would cut easier and it came out too soft the next day. Can a 5% change in soy wax really make that much difference? I'm wondering if I mis-measured.

BTW, I did a lather test on the one week old 25% SW soap. It produced a creamy lather. Definitely noticed the difference without the CO which produces bubbles. Will likely try adding back CO at 10% next time since 15% was drying.

 

[lsg]

I have never used soy wax in soap, so can't answer that question. Why not add some Castor oil for bubbles?

 

[Dean]

I have never used soy wax in soap, so can't answer that question. Why not add some Castor oil for bubbles?

I use castor at 5%.

 

[msunnerstood]

Hello,

I made a couple batches of CO-free soap with soy wax being the only source of stearic/palmitic acids. The first batch was 25% soy wax and was hard and brittle when cut the next day. I lowered the soy wax to 20 % on the next batch so that it would cut easier and it came out too soft the next day. Can a 5% change in soy wax really make that much difference? I'm wondering if I mis-measured.

BTW, I did a lather test on the one week old 25% SW soap. It produced a creamy lather. Definitely noticed the difference without the CO which produces bubbles. Will likely try adding back CO at 10% next time since 15% was drying.

I have used soy at 20% and i loved the texture of the finished bar. It also came out of the mold easier. I used it with olive, castor, co and lard

 

[psfred]

I have found I like a fairly "balanced" recipe. Soy wax adds pure stearic acid, so it's nice to add to things like soybean oil and canola oil to harden up the soap.

Soy wax containing soaps are fairly hard, you should have cut your first one sooner. I suspect the second will get just as hard, but is taking longer. My 20% soy wax soap was quite soft to start with, but like Castile soaps hardened up with time. Vegetable oil (I assumed to be half and half soybean and canola) with 20% soy wax HP at 0% SF, then 3% lard added as SF after the cook. That was a mistake, since it eventually started getting some DOS, so next time no lard and some BHT. Lovely soap though, very creamy with nice lather.

 

[Obsidian]

Is the soy wax you use the kind for candles?

 

[earlene]

I've use soy wax (415) at 30%. I don't recall any difficulty cutting it, but our recipes were different in other ways as well. For one, I had 17% CO, but all my other oils were soft oils. I do not have in my notes how long I waited to cut this particular soap, but that day I made 4 different soaps in milk cartons and had them sitting next to a fireplace to encourage gel, turning them frequently. It was in snow country in December, so the fireplace was the logical spot at the time. I did not cut any of those soaps until the next and had no problems with the multi-bar cutter getting through any of them.

 

[Dean]

Is the soy wax you use the kind for candles?

I suppose it can b used for candles. Its pure hydro soybean oil. I hear the stuff for candles can have additives.

 

[Dean]

I've use soy wax (415) at 30%. I don't recall any difficulty cutting it, but our recipes were different in other ways as well. For one, I had 17% CO, but all my other oils were soft oils. I do not have in my notes how long I waited to cut this particular soap, but that day I made 4 different soaps in milk cartons and had them sitting next to a fireplace to encourage gel, turning them frequently. It was in snow country in December, so the fireplace was the logical spot at the time. I did not cut any of those soaps until the next and had no problems with the multi-bar cutter getting through any of them.

Soaping by the fire sure sounds nice.

 

[psfred]

Soy wax 415 is the right stuff. Be careful -- 415 is usually available from candle supply places, but they also have paraffin/soy mixes with similar names. I don't think paraffin wax will work well in soap.....

 

[msunnerstood]

I used Soy 416 with no additives

 

[earlene]

No, I buy the non-additive soy wax. Melting point 121-125°F. Brands to purchase that fit this profile that I have found tend to be Golden Wax and Akosoy, both of which I have purchased. Links about this soy wax suitable for soap making below.

http://www.theflamingcandle.com/candle-wax/soy-wax/golden-brands-gw-415-soy-wax-flakes/

https://www.candlescience.com/wax/golden-brands-415-soy-wax

https://tinyurl.com/y7vooozje (My first purchase of Akosoy 415 pure soy wax, no additives, used in my first soap with soy wax) This soy wax is also called 125 (415). The 125 refers to melting point - top of the 121-125 range.

Information about renaming of the soy wax can be found here as well: https://www.candlescience.com/wax/golden-brands-415-soy-wax

More information about making soap with soy wax:

https://www.soapmakingforum.com/threads/palm-free.68838/

https://www.soapmakingforum.com/threads/for-the-love-of-soy-calling-all-soy-wax-soapers.68900/

https://www.soapmakingforum.com/threads/soy-wax-in-cp-soap.53395/

https://www.soapmakingforum.com/threads/soy-wax-soap.4360/

https://www.soapmakingforum.com/threads/soy-wax.63996/