Using extracts in cp soap

[AnnaMarie]

Happy Valentine's Day everyone!
So due to circumstances beyond our control, my husband and I are not having a Valentine's dinner date out, so here I am Anyway, I've been curious as to whether or not other people use extracts in their cp soap. I use calendula, chamomile, oat, and aloe extracts in my cp soap (not all in the same bar- that would be way too $$$$). I personally like the finished product, but I am curious as to other people's experiences given that it is a big world of soap makers with varying experiences, and I enjoy listening (or reading about them).
Cheers!
Anna Marie

 

[Lindy]

Are you talking about extracts with alcohol in them?

 

[AnnaMarie]

Not necessarily. These are extracts I ordered from Brambleberry and they don't list alcohol, however, that doesn't necessarily mean they don't. I just couldn't honestly tell you.

 

[allane]

I use extracts in all my soaps except one. Personally, I think it makes a lot of difference but that is my opinion. Most of the time the lye will eat some of the beneficial components but a few remain.

Allane

 

[AnnaMarie]

Do you think it makes a difference when the extracts are added? I add mine after trace.

 

[The Efficacious Gentleman]

Do you think it makes a difference when the extracts are added? I add mine after trace.

In CP the lye is still VERY active at trace - adding things in at trace in CP and thinking that the lye won't do anything to it is just very wishful thinking :thumbdown:

 

[Derpina Bubbles]

I've used extracts in the past (oat, green tea, chamomile, calendula) in CP soap and haven't noticed any great difference. After playing around doing soap batches with and without I have to say I can't notice any benefit to them in CP. I now save them for lotions. The only reason to use them IMHO would be for label appeal as far as I'm concerned. For that you could just do a cheap herbal tincture (also no benefit that I can notice in CP). Again, label appeal.

*The BB ones have Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride which is basically derived from coconut oil and glycerine. The fatty acids from which would affect the soap more than the extract.

 

[pamielynn]

*The BB ones have Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride which is basically derived from coconut oil and glycerine. The fatty acids from which would affect the soap more than the extract.

That's what I'm thinking, too.

 

[Lindy]

If they're from BB then I would think they should be appropriate for soap....

 

[AnnaMarie]

I'm not so dull that I supposed nothing would happen to the extract when added to soap at trace.....
For example: I have long wondered to what degree eo's are affected when added at trace and then potentially go through gel phase. People still add them, however, because for many they receive benefits from them.

 

[The Efficacious Gentleman]

I'm not so dull that I supposed nothing would happen to the extract when added to soap at trace.....
For example: I have long wondered to what degree eo's are affected when added at trace and then potentially go through gel phase. People still add them, however, because for many they receive benefits from them.

It is true - but often that is to avoid potential troubles in tracing from certain EOs in adding it earlier.

As we know from the differences in amounts of EOs/FOs required in HP and CP, it's clear that they are VERY affected by the lye, heat or both in the CP process.

You're question DID suggest that you thought there might be a point during CP that would result in the lye eating less of the benefits of the extracts, such as at trace.

 

[AnnaMarie]

In CP the lye is still VERY active at trace - adding things in at trace in CP and thinking that the lye won't do anything to it is just very wishful thinking :thumbdown:

With all due respect, even if I did suggest that I thought there might be a point in which the lye would not affect the extract as much your response read more into the question then it should have. Your statement "thinking the lye won't do ANYTHING" was presumptuous of my original question, and furthermore, adding the "wishful thinking" was unfair and came across as condescending because of its implications. I am not sure what you were implying by adding the thumbs down, so I will give you the benefit of the doubt on that one. Maybe be more careful with the nouns chosen in the future....
I'm not trying to pick a fight on this, but I am no different then anyone else in appreciating common courtesy....

 

[ilovesoap2]

I cannot speak for any other additives but if I ever were to use eo in soap it would be only for scent. From what I understand of eo's they will not survive soap making, not even after trace. They are just too volatile.

 

[The Efficacious Gentleman]

I also appreciate common courtesy and would rather make myself clear than having to benefit from doubts of anyone -

The wishful thinking and thumbs down was because, let's be honest, it would be GREAT if adding things that we don't want to react with lye in at trace would work - but it just doesn't. I wish it did as it would work well for all of us

Adding things at trace is so often put forward as something that will make a difference in how the lye will affect things. The amount of time from adding the lye to the oils and getting to trace is normally not overly long. If it's an hour, it's a long time, but I'll use an outside estimate for the sake of being conservative. Lye can still be active for a long time in the soap - the exact time varies of course, but let's say 24 hours as a guide. With that in mind, is 1/24th of the time going to make much of a difference to how the lye affects something?

I had inferred that as you asked the question about adding it at trace that you thought it might make a difference. I apologise for that inference.

But what did you mean with the original question about adding it at trace?

 

[seven]

Adding things at trace is so often put forward as something that will make a difference in how the lye will affect things.

^^

that!

like adding specific SF oils at trace with cp. i swear, every time i read that, it makes me wanna shake my laptop, lol

 

[AnnaMarie]

I also appreciate common courtesy and would rather make myself clear than having to benefit from doubts of anyone -

The wishful thinking and thumbs down was because, let's be honest, it would be GREAT if adding things that we don't want to react with lye in at trace would work - but it just doesn't. I wish it did as it would work well for all of us

Adding things at trace is so often put forward as something that will make a difference in how the lye will affect things. The amount of time from adding the lye to the oils and getting to trace is normally not overly long. If it's an hour, it's a long time, but I'll use an outside estimate for the sake of being conservative. Lye can still be active for a long time in the soap - the exact time varies of course, but let's say 24 hours as a guide. With that in mind, is 1/24th of the time going to make much of a difference to how the lye affects something?

I had inferred that as you asked the question about adding it at trace that you thought it might make a difference. I apologise for that inference.

But what did you mean with the original question about adding it at trace?

Thank you Efficacious Gentleman. I really do appreciate your taking the time to respond. To quote my original question: "Do you think it makes a difference when the extracts are added?" To what degree lye affects ingredients at various stage I do not know as I have seen no hard data on the subject only opinions. I phrased my question vaguely, using words such as "when", "think", "makes" because I don't know the answer and wanted to encourage responses as I am hoping to hear some real data on the subject. Yes, the lye is still active, but does that activity remain constant? Is there an optimal time to add things? Does anything of the extracts and eo's survive? There is a lot of info going on out there that needs to be sifted through. I realize questions on this subject maybe frustrating for some who have already settled these issues in their minds. And yes, I have to plead guilty of some wishful thinking when I add my extracts and eo's at trace if only because I'm doing what I learned. If what I learned is wrong then I am entirely open to correction- no lap top shaking needed with me
Cheers! (Really )
Anna Marie
I'm thinking I'm going to buy Scientific Soap Making sooner rather then later

 

[The Efficacious Gentleman]

Thank you Efficacious Gentleman. I really do appreciate your taking the time to respond. To quote my original question: "Do you think it makes a difference when the extracts are added?" To what degree lye affects ingredients at various stage I do not know as I have seen no hard data on the subject only opinions. I phrased my question vaguely, using words such as "when", "think", "makes" because I don't know the answer and wanted to encourage responses as I am hoping to hear some real data on the subject. Yes, the lye is still active, but does that activity remain constant? Is there an optimal time to add things? Does anything of the extracts and eo's survive? There is a lot of info going on out there that needs to be sifted through. I realize questions on this subject maybe frustrating for some who have already settled these issues in their minds. And yes, I have to plead guilty of some wishful thinking when I add my extracts and eo's at trace if only because I'm doing what I learned. If what I learned is wrong then I am entirely open to correction- no lap top shaking needed with me
Cheers! (Really )
Anna Marie
I'm thinking I'm going to buy Scientific Soap Making sooner rather then later

No laptop shaking required! I actually think very highly of you and what you do - which is why I think I was overly surprised by the trace question.

I do think that the amount of lye at trace is only marginally lower than maximum, unless you've been mixing for hours.

The best time to add many things might well be at trace, but I would say more for the ease of adding it rather than for lye-avoiding

 

[AnnaMarie]

No laptop shaking required! I actually think very highly of you and what you do - which is why I think I was overly surprised by the trace question.

I do think that the amount of lye at trace is only marginally lower than maximum, unless you've been mixing for hours.

The best time to add many things might well be at trace, but I would say more for the ease of adding it rather than for lye-avoiding

Thank you for the nice words! I think well of you and respect and your abilities
as well. It is the people who are passionate about what they will do who will survive in this business, and I appreciate getting to "talk" with serious minded soapers Keep up the great work!
Cheers!
Anna Marie

 

[soapmakerjan]

Kia Ora Anna Marie!
I am very interested in your use of extracts in CP soap - when the extracts are added at trace, how much extract (% of total formulation) do you add?

 

[Relle]

Kia Ora Anna Marie!
I am very interested in your use of extracts in CP soap - when the extracts are added at trace, how much extract (% of total formulation) do you add?

This post is 8 yrs old. Anna Marie hasn't been here for 7 yrs, so your not likely to get a response from her.