Trying to check a recipe thru our calculator

[Iluminameluna]

This recipe:
https://search.app?link=https://www.voyageursoapandcandle.com/blogs/recipes/camellia-green-tea-soap-recipe?srsltid=AfmBOopzpPJTWt3SoxGkwMvZGhdVpg6JgdA0sxV_4FcpIIoJNKkyfFEr&utm_campaign=aga&utm_source=agsadl1,sh/x/gs/m2/4

I know that the camellia oil isn't an oil really meant for soap, but I just want to try it in a small batch, maybe 3 single molds?
Anyway, my question is, why can't I get the calculator to give me the water/liquid amount?
Also, I can't seem to find the way to give it the weight of the batch to create (500g total oil weight, maybe, total) so that when I tap on the Results tab I get a total liquid required instead of zeroes?
I've posted both my attempts at running the recipe in "our" C4lc & the results I get.
Any help wld be awesome!
P. S.: The reason I want to use this oil is that it'll expire this month, & though I don't usually strictly follow these dates, it hasn't been used since my son bought it almost 2 yrs ago. It's been just sitting, unopened since that 1st use. So why not see if it's any good, right?

Please ignore the file posted below ... Updated screenshots have been posted in follow-up replies. Thx!

 

[DeeAnna]

Looks like you have the lye concentration set to zero

 

[Iluminameluna]

Looks like you have the lye concentration set to zero

Argh! I managed to post Results twice! Thanks, @DeeAnna ... Let me go recheck the Settings tab.

 

[Iluminameluna]

@DeeAnna Thx SO much for your help!
I've gone back and taken an extended screenshot of the C4lc'S Settings & Results pages in as much of their entirety as it would allow. Plus the Saved recipe as it was Saved in the C4lc.

Recipe created by Iluminameluna https://www.soapmakingfriend.com/re...-green-tea-from-voyageursoapandcandle-dot-com

 

[Ekuzo]

Have you changed anything now? When I open the recipe, it shows 1380g of oils and that's it - no water, no NaOH, same as the screenshots. Lye concentration is still set to 0%, am I missing something?



'Also, I can't seem to find the way to give it the weight of the batch to create (500g total oil weight, maybe, total) so that when I tap on the Results tab I get a total liquid required instead of zeroes?'

Are you using the app or the web version? I just tried the desktop one, and changing the total oil weight works well and results in a total batch weight change, as it should. Yes, currently the calculator has other bugs, but the basic stuff works well atm. Maybe once the lye concentration is set it will show the results properly? (while typing this, I decided to set the lye concentration to 0 and it doesn't let me, it automatically sets it to 10% as a bare minimum, I guess. I played with the other options as well, managed to get concentrations from 0 to 100% but none of those gave me exactly the same result as you are showing).


As for whether or not to use the camellia oil after it sat for a while - I say, check it for any visual signs and foul smell, and if there's nothing wrong with it, it should be fine

 

[DeeAnna]

@Iluminameluna -- I am not sure what you mean by "C4lc". Did you mean to write "c@lc" with the "@" sign in place of the letter "a"?

I set up your blend of fats using Soapmaking Friend and tried to view the calculated recipe for that blend. I was informed that I need an account and will need to "Log in to view results and print recipe". I refuse to play that game.

That makes me wonder if the SMF calc is now intentionally hiding the water and alkali weights and all related settings from the public view to force people to create accounts and hopefully sign up for paid services. That would explain why you're getting zeros for that information (and why I'm seeing zeros for that same info).

That's just my guess, however -- you'll need to ask the developers about whether this is a policy change or possibly a software glitch. I personally would use another calc.

edit: I'm not sure why you're using fractionated coconut oil for soap making. My perception is this is a trend of late -- it seems to be popping up a fair bit in recipes by other soap makers.

I'm not sure people realize that FCO is mostly capric and caprylic fatty acids (if my memory is accurate, these FAs are about 80% of FCO). While FCO is fine for use on skin and hair and as a food supplement, these FAs aren't ideal for soap making.

These shorter fatty acids will make a harsh, drying soap -- even harsher than regular coconut oil, which may contain only 15% of these 2 fatty acids with about 50% lauric acid and the remainder being mostly myristic acid.

 

[Iluminameluna]

@DeeAnna wrote: "edit: I'm not sure why you're using fractionated coconut oil for soap making. My perception is this is a trend of late -- it seems to be popping up a fair bit in recipes by other soap makers."

The only reason I choose that oil, though I didn't know anything about it, is bc the recipe creator didn't specify what kind of CO she wanted used.
I myself will be using an organic virgin CO that my son bought for me @ Costco for under $10 (3 lbs!). It's for my Mom & she's worth it! So as soon as I can figure out the issues w/ the C@lc (sorry abt complicating that!), I'll chg the CO type.
And to address the total amount of fats that show up, I got that weird # too @Ekuzo , until I left the field & returned to it. WEIRDNESS. Then I got 1050. Which is the correct amount. And even though I'm a paid member of the c@lc as well, I still don't get what my liquid amount should be. Or the lye amount.
I'll be in touch w/the developer tomorrow. This is frustrating.

ETA: I don't have a laptop or desktop anymore that I can use consistently, only my phone, so there's no way for me to see the forum or the calc in any other format but mobile. Also frustrating, but there it is.
Maybe that's where my glitches are coming from? And they're carrying onto the posts?