Super fating help please

[Hina Charania]

Hi,

I ve been reading some posts here on the importance of super fating and I'm a little confused. So have a question or two or more:

Every thing I ve read on soap making so far says that measurements need to be precise, which I understand.
It also says that super fating allows a leeway for 3-5% extra fat in the soap batch.

What I don't understand is why super fating is necessary?
Does one calculate the super fating agents at the time of melting the oils in the initial measurements or add it at trace?
What would most of you recommend? Adding super fating agents at trace or adding them in the initial fat measurements?
What would be the best super fating agent? I-e the same type of fats that are being used in the acids part of the soap? or specialty oils or butters like shea or cocoa or grape seed / jojoba oil etc? Like the expensive oils that should be used a bit sparingly?

Another important question: I ve learnt and made soaps just by reading books. I did not see any tutorials on youtube even when I made my first couple of batches. They turned out pretty good, and I ve followed those recipes to the letter. In your opinion, do these recipes, that are published in books, take the super fating in account?

Cheers
HC

 

[Seifenblasen]

Would you mind posting those recipes then perhaps we could run them through the Soap Calc and come up with suggestions (or not, as they could be just perfect)!

 

[thefarmerdaughter]

I superfat on the front end, meaning in the initial measurements.
The level you superfat at, is (imo) personal preference.
Superfatting at trace, with an expensive oil/fat/butter doesn't work the way your suggesting. Lye is indiscriminate in saponification.

 

[Genny]

What I don't understand is why super fating is necessary? Superfatting of at least 5% helps make sure that any possible inaccuracies in your scale are accounted for and you don't end up with soap that is lye heavy. I prefer a superfat of at least 7%. Some soapers feel that too much of a superfat can increase your chances of rancidity in your unsaponified oils. I think it depends on what oils you're using in your soap though. All of my salt bars, which contain only coconut oil and castor oils are usually superfatted at 20%, but I have done 30% without any problems. Too high of a superfat can cause soft soap if you're not using hard oils/butters.

Does one calculate the super fating agents at the time of melting the oils in the initial measurements or add it at trace?
If you're CP'ing, then you might as well just calculate it into your oils, because at trace the lye is still active and will saponify whatever oils that it chooses. If you are HP'ing, you can add them after cooking.


What would be the best super fating agent? I-e the same type of fats that are being used in the acids part of the soap? or specialty oils or butters like shea or cocoa or grape seed / jojoba oil etc? Like the expensive oils that should be used a bit sparingly? If you're CP'ing, I honestly believe that it doesn't matter too much since the lye will choose what it wants. But using oils/butters that are high in unsaponifiables will help since the unsaponifiables will be left over in the soap. I wouldn't choose grapeseed oil though because of it's prone to rancidity . Shea butter, Avocado Oil, Sweet Almond Oil, Apricot Kernel Oil, Macadamia Nut Oil, Mango Butter are just some of the good oils & butters for superfatting. If you google "Properties of Oils in Soapmaking", you can find different tables/charts that tell you which oils are good for superfatting.


Another important question: I ve learnt and made soaps just by reading books. I did not see any tutorials on youtube even when I made my first couple of batches. They turned out pretty good, and I ve followed those recipes to the letter. In your opinion, do these recipes, that are published in books, take the super fating in account? I honestly couldn't tell you if they do unless you post the recipe. There are lots of tutorials on you tube on soapmaking though. Soapqueen (that's Anne-Marie from Brambleberry) has some that are excellent. But no matter what, with any recipe you find, always run it through a lye calculator. Even if the author says it's been calculated, there may be a typo, which could completely ruin your batch of soap.

 

[Hina Charania]

I can post my basic soap recipe that i use mostly.

But just not sure if it would be a copy right infringement or not?

I will also go through the lye calc tutorials and forum posts and see where I am at.......

Thanks for the replies.
Cheers
HC

 

[AlchemyandAshes]

I can post my basic soap recipe that i use mostly.

But just not sure if it would be a copy right infringement or not?

Why would that be copyright infringement?
Do you mean it's someone else's published recipe that you're using?