Tips for White soap on purpose?

[Phteven]

After reading more and thinking, I would like to try making a soap that is black and white. It’s just for me and my family, so it doesn’t need to be perfect. I was thinking of using activated charcoal to help wit the black, and arrowroot for the white.

Does this sound like it would work? Any other recommendations for black and white.?

This will be my first CP batch.

 

[mx5inpenn]

I use light oils and get a very white bar after cure without anything added. Lard, light olive oil, coconut. If you choose to use an additive, white micas and titanium dioxide are commonly used.

 

[lsg]

Coconut, white palm, palm kernel, lard, and rice bran oil, all make white bars.

 

[dibbles]

I agree that using light oils will give you a nice white soap. I usually use a white mica if I need to get my base oils whiter and also sometimes use TD. Here are a couple of threads that might be helpful to you. Mintle is a talented soapmaker who I haven't seen around lately, but she shared a recipe for kaolin crème. And this reminds me that I want to try that.

http://www.soapmakingforum.com/showthread.php?t=58702&highlight=kaolin+creme

http://www.soapmakingforum.com/showthread.php?t=54784&highlight=kaolin+creme

 

[Obsidian]

I use titanium dioxide for a starke white bar, arrowroot powder will do nothing to the color of your soap.

 

[Ivanstein]

Coconut oil, lard, and castor oil make a very white bar. Cold process with no gel and it is beautifully white. Hot process makes it somewhat translucent.

 

[cmzaha]

Coconut, white palm, palm kernel, lard, and rice bran oil, all make white bars.

Interesting about the RBO I have never had a white bar from it, which is why I quit using it. Maybe it is just the brand I purchase at the restaurant supply. I do get pretty white bars with tallow, lard, coconut, sunflower or canola HO and castor

 

[Dr.J]

For those who use TiO2 in soaps to whiten - I've read, but never confirmed through relevant experiment, that "titatnium dioxide reduces lather and moisturizing significantly"* in CP soap.

Can anyone share their experience - agree or disagree (esp considering lather)?

*Anne L. Watson. Milk Soapmaking, pp. 25, Shepard Publications, Olympia WA, (2009).

 

[Relle]

I use TD, in all but one of my soaps and it doesn't reduce lather, also, soap does not moisturize as it's a wash on, wash off product.

 

[isha]

Can I use cooking grade coconut oil n sunflower oil?? Or do I need to use something else??

 

[penelopejane]

Can I use cooking grade coconut oil n sunflower oil?? Or do I need to use something else??

Do you mean fuel grade as opposed to food grade oil?
You should be using food grade oils.

 

[isha]

Here in India.. Coconut oil is available in abununt variety.. For hair a different one. For cooking a different grade. N then lots available locally directly from the mill... Where it's freshly extracted.. I bought the cooking grade today..
Earlier I used the extracted oil.. Which went rancid I guess.. Few batches stink.

 

[Susie]

I use food grade coconut oil.

 

[jcandleattic]

For those who use TiO2 in soaps to whiten - I've read, but never confirmed through relevant experiment, that "titatnium dioxide reduces lather and moisturizing significantly"* in CP soap.

Can anyone share their experience - agree or disagree (esp considering lather)?

*Anne L. Watson. Milk Soapmaking, pp. 25, Shepard Publications, Olympia WA, (2009).

I have noticed absolutely no difference in the end result of soaps with TD vs soaps without.

I have noticed that my soap batter will sometimes thicken quicker when using TD vs. not using TD in my soaps.

 

[shunt2011]

I too use TD in a lot of batches and it does speed things up but never noticed a difference in lather. I suppose if you used an over abundance it might affect it and make the soap chalky.

 

[isha]

While we r discussing Td I have a question.. I made a batch using td n split it into 2
One half I used for TD n papaya n the other half for charcoal n TD
Have a look at the pic.. The charcoal soap has cracked TD. Can someone please explain why

 

[jcandleattic]

While we r discussing Td I have a question.. I made a batch using td n split it into 2
One half I used for TD n papaya n the other half for charcoal n TD
Have a look at the pic.. The charcoal soap has cracked TD. Can someone please explain why

TD, if using full water, or liquid amount and gelling can sometimes cause what's known as "glycerin rivers" and that's what these are.
Or at least that's what these look like to me.

 

[isha]

I usually mix TD in 1part TD to 2 parts distilled water. N then mix it.. Hope tats the correct way of mixing..
I guess the gelling made the difference.. I poured n cut both at the same time

 

[anjouwu]

I love a truly white bar of soap and a lot of these suggestions will help you get there. The one thing that I occasionally forget to consider is that so many FO’s will discolor, sometimes right away and sometimes during cure. It definitely pays to do your homework in advance...

 

[CaraBou]

I usually mix TD in 1part TD to 2 parts distilled water. N then mix it.. Hope tats the correct way of mixing..
I guess the gelling made the difference.. I poured n cut both at the same time

Yes it was probably due to the heat of gelling, especially when combined with high amounts of water. It can create what's known as "crackle" or "glycerin rivers". 2:1 water for mixing the TD seems reasonable, but what ratio are you using to dissolve your lye? Try that at 2:1 also. If you still have crackle, hold back some of the water from your lye solution and add your TD to that.