Stages of Trace

[Adri71]

I've been reading about trace and the factors that affect it on Modern Soapmaking. I learned to soap over ten years ago and made a few batches but it wasn't until the last six months that I've picked it back up. I have no interest in selling or doing craft fairs. I just want to learn everything and make awesome soap for myself, friends and family. I love soap and everything about it.

My question about trace is this: Let's say you bring your soap mixture to emulsion and you add your colorants and additives and give it a mix but don't quite bring it to trace. If you let it sit while you tend to other matters, will it progress to trace on its own accord just sitting there? If you had brought it to a light trace to begin with instead of emulsion, would it progress to medium trace and onward? I've always kind of feared the soap, like it would take on a life of its own if I didn't get it into the mold asap after it reached a medium trace.

 

[dibbles]

It will progress on its own The rate at which it will progress will depend on how far along it is, your recipe and soaping temps, etc. This is a video I think you will find helpful!

Welcome back to soaping!

 

[earlene]

Yes, I have experimented with doing that with Castile soap. It can sit a long time after emulsion before it starts thickening up.

But it also depends on your formula and heat. There are a lot of variables with ingredients.

The problem with adding a lot of additives to emulsified, but not truly traced batter (and depending on the oils used) is that if not assisted to get to trace, the additives can settle to the bottom. I've had that happen and that's a real mess of a soap. In fact, that's not soap I would use at all. Re-batch or toss is the only solution in that case.

That video is excellent. Well worth bookmarking.

 

[Adri71]

It will progress on its own The rate at which it will progress will depend on how far along it is, your recipe and soaping temps, etc. This is a video I think you will find helpful!

Welcome back to soaping!

These videos are amazing! Thank you! I liked seeing the stages of trace and hearing her descriptions at the same time, it's incredibly educational. I'll be subscribing!