Superfatting - When is SF Oil Added?

[Clarice]

Hi I was poking around on SBMCrafter and found this recommendation on superfatting

What about "Superfatting"?

Superfatting refers to using more oils than the amount of alkali in a soap recipe formula can saponify completely. Calculators such as our own SBM Crafters Soap Calculator express this as a percentage of superfatting. This will leave some "extra" oils in the finished soap and will allow the oils' properties to be expressed in the soap. This, along with careful selection of the oils used in the recipe, will affect the feel and qualities of the soap produced. Choosing a particular oil to be the superfatting oil and adding it to the new soap just before pouring it into the mold will emphasize the qualities of that just added oil above the general mix of oils used.
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Say What? I have never read before that you add the SF oil after trace - which is I assume what they mean by "just before pouring"?

I always added all oils together, and went about my business.

What occurs to me now is, how on earth could the lye be expected to know which of the oil properties I had hoped to boost by superfatting......

So - adding after trace sounds intuitive when i think of it that way -

but at my level of knowledge, i could probably talk myself into anything!

Have I been doing it wrong all along?

Thank you!

 

[atiz]

Hi I was poking around on SBMCrafter and found this recommendation on superfatting

What about "Superfatting"?

Superfatting refers to using more oils than the amount of alkali in a soap recipe formula can saponify completely. Calculators such as our own SBM Crafters Soap Calculator express this as a percentage of superfatting. This will leave some "extra" oils in the finished soap and will allow the oils' properties to be expressed in the soap. This, along with careful selection of the oils used in the recipe, will affect the feel and qualities of the soap produced. Choosing a particular oil to be the superfatting oil and adding it to the new soap just before pouring it into the mold will emphasize the qualities of that just added oil above the general mix of oils used.
​

Say What? I have never read before that you add the SF oil after trace - which is I assume what they mean by "just before pouring"?

I always added all oils together, and went about my business.

What occurs to me now is, how on earth could the lye be expected to know which of the oil properties I had hoped to boost by superfatting......

So - adding after trace sounds intuitive when i think of it that way -

but at my level of knowledge, i could probably talk myself into anything!

Have I been doing it wrong all along?

Thank you!

As I understand it, for CP soap you cannot choose your superfatting oil -- the lye does not discriminate. So your superfat will be a mix of all the oils you use.
I have never done HP, but as far as I know, there you can indeed choose your superfat, because you can add it basically after the soap is made already (after the cook).
What you quoted does not specify whether it is about CP or HP, but if I am right it would only be true of HP.

 

[Clarice]

Aha - I don't think the site mentioned HP or CP

https://sbmcrafters.com/content/make-your-own-handcrafted-bar-soaps

I have only done CP so that is where my mind went

and SEE? I talked myself into it! Because it makes 1000% sense that the lye does not, can not discriminate!

Maybe this is the advantage of HP - but I tried it once and got a terrifying mess, so I have never done it again!

Thanks!

 

[Dawni]

I have read somewhere that it's still not a guarantee in HP because while it is cooked, there's still some chemistry going on (hence a 4wk cure time, no matter what the internet says) after it's all done. Adding it after gives you a bigger chance it'll be what's retained but it's not 100%.

I think the advantage is, adding the oil after gives you the chance to use whatever oil or combination of oils you want. Also if it's infused, it can even add color (and a slight scent) to all or part of the batter this way.

Another plus is, if it's hot oils I'm adding, I've noticed my batter becomes slightly more fluid, and even more if I add part of my water after the cook, and yogurt.

 

[Alfa_Lazcares]

Here is a good article that talks about superts in cp and hp soap https://classicbells.com/soap/superfat.html

 

[Clarice]

Oh Those beautiful BELLS! I have been sent there a couple of times and it is AMAZING!!!!

Thank you all!

 

[redhead1226]

Here is a good article that talks about superts in cp and hp soap https://classicbells.com/soap/superfat.html

Great explanation. @DeeAnna always explains it so perfectly. If I could only transfer some of that enginerringish geeky soapy stuff to my brain I would be in heaven. Thanks D