Want help whitening my recipe

[aab1]

I'm working on reformulating my new recipe because it didn't come out as white as I wanted, particularly the part that gelled.

My recipe was:

70% coconut, 15% palm kernel, 5% palm, 5% castor, 5% shea butter

I want to ideally stop using palm oil due to the white specks it makes and I don't like having to melt it all to mix it properly before each use. I will also be switching from unrefined to refined shea butter to make my mix whiter and reduce/eliminate the shea smell (even with just 5% shea my unscented soap smells like shea butter).

I was also thinking of adding apricot seed oil, is that a fairly clear oil and does it result in a white soap? I'd only use 5-10%.

I'm also about to make a 100% coconut oil soap with 20% superfat, hoping it gels so I can see if the gelled part also changes color when it's 100% coconut oil, does anyone already know the answer to this? I want a small batch of 100% coconut oil soaps for myself anyway as I haven't made any 100% co soaps in years.

Will the gelled portion of the soap always change color regardless of the oils used?

Thank you

 

[AustinStraight]

It's hard to get a white gelled soap... leaving them ungelled will help a lot.

 

[newbie]

If you have a very white recipe, ungelled will look more solid white and gelled will take on a most translucent look, which might appear less white to you. If you substitute your shea as you mention and also sub lard or tallow for palm, you recipe will be whiter.

 

[aab1]

Is there a way to prevent gelling if there's no way my molds with fit in the freezer?

I also want my soaps to be vegan and non gmo, so no animal fats or canola/soy/corn oils.

Thanks

 

[AustinStraight]

Leave your soap un-insulated in a cool area, and soap with room-temp oils & lye to be sure your soap doesn't gel... but I'm not sure if that will work with your recipe because it's got so much hard fat. You might have to do whipped soap if you wanna soap cool. soaping101 has a tutorial.

 

[aab1]

Leave your soap un-insulated in a cool area, and soap with room-temp oils & lye to be sure your soap doesn't gel... but I'm not sure if that will work with your recipe because it's got so much hard fat. You might have to do whipped soap if you wanna soap cool. soaping101 has a tutorial.

I just saw a youtube video of someone that sets a large electric fan blowing on the molds to prevent gel, I might try that, on top of putting my silicone molds on a cooling rack so they can breathe from all sides, do you think that would be enough to prevent gelling combined with your suggestions?

Thanks

 

[AustinStraight]

I think so :smile:

 

[Obsidian]

Are you against using titanium dioxide? If you have a recipe with lighter oils, you need very little TD.