Transparent soap - UPDATE with photos!

madison · Oct 1, 2018

Great job Richard!
Do you mix by hand or with sb?

Richard Perrine · Oct 1, 2018

Hi Madison. I mix using a stick blender initially only to trace. After the mixture has gone through the stages expected in HP, I then add the solvents (glycerine, sugar) by hand and only mix by hand from then on. Don't want to aerate the mixture. The reality is that after adding the solvents and mixing thoroughly, by hand, I rarely go back to stir again. Only to reincorporate some of the hardened soap film you get on the surface, but that's it. Take a look here:
https://www.soapmakingforum.com/threads/transparent-soap-adventures.71136/

madison · Oct 2, 2018

Richard Perrine said:
Hi Madison. I mix using a stick blender initially only to trace. After the mixture has gone through the stages expected in HP, I then add the solvents (glycerine, sugar) by hand and only mix by hand from then on. Don't want to aerate the mixture. The reality is that after adding the solvents and mixing thoroughly, by hand, I rarely go back to stir again. Only to reincorporate some of the hardened soap film you get on the surface, but that's it. Take a look here:
https://www.soapmakingforum.com/threads/transparent-soap-adventures.71136/

Thank you, that's helpful.

SoapCake · Oct 2, 2018

Great job, love the look of the embeds in there! I wonder if the transparent soap performs similar to CP/HP? I can't wait to try my hand at this once I get some Everclear. I'll make sure to post photos.

Angelique · Oct 13, 2018

So it is CP that you make transparent!?!
I'm going to read into that...I love your soaps

Richard Perrine · Oct 13, 2018

Angelique said:
So it is CP that you make transparent!?!
I'm going to read into that...I love your soaps

Hi Angelique. No. HP. Then you add the solvents. Thank you.

DeeAnna · Oct 21, 2018

You can make transparent soap from soap made with either process -- HP or CP. It's true that many people in the modern age use an HP process because it's more convenient to add solvent while the soap is warm and fluid. But you can use the method more often used by perfumers who made transparent soap in the late 1800s and early 1900s -- grate up CP soap, warm until it's reasonably fluid, and add solvents. That's roughly how the original Pears soap was made.