Weird soap question

[Amybell]

I'm not quite sure what to think of this...

Tonight, I wanted to try making soap with coconut milk. When I originally had the idea to do this, I was just going to add the water to the coconut milk, make it slushy, and then add the lye. For some reason, my brain skipped right over that tonight and did a water discount instead for the lye with the intent of adding the coconut milk (thinned with a little water) at trace. So I dissolved the lye in the reduced amount of water and when on my way with the process.

When I mixed my oils and lye water (it was about 113 deg F), I didn't get the trace I was looking for. Normally, I trace rather quickly because I make small batches. I continued to stick blend off and on, and I had a good emulsion, but it still didn't look like trace to me. Figuring I didn't have anything to lose at that point, I added the coconut milk solution, and it immediately thickened up just as I expected it would. I glopped it into the molds and put it to bed. I figured by that point, I'd done all the work and I might as well give it a chance to work, but I wasn't very hopeful. I just figured I could try rebatching tomorrow if it was bad.

Now here's the weird thing...I just went and checked on it, and it is already at at LEAST 1/2 gel. And I just finished it up maybe an hour ago. I haven't seen this with any other batch. It was obviously heating up when I put it into the molds--I could even feel it when I picked it up. I guess I'm confused a little, because I really didn't think it traced.

As anyone else seen this? Just curious.

 

[Kansas Farm Girl]

If the oils didn't separate I think you got trace, very thin, but my guess it that the sugar in the coconut milk caused the fast gel. Someone who has more experience than I do with this may have better info than I do. I have used coconut milk once so can't speak with any authority.

 

[Amybell]

I'm sure you're right about the coconut milk causing the heat and the gel. That's all I could think of too. Just surprised since it didn't appear to trace. We'll see how it looks tomorrow.

 

[AlchemyandAshes]

Did your Coconut Milk have any thickeners in it, like Guar Gum? That would explain a lot. I make sure to get the Coconut Milk that specifically states it does not contain thickeners...

 

[nebetmiw]

I do coconut milk soap regular now. I use most for my water. But I mix my lye with a little water first and add the coconut milk to my oils after I add my lye water. I have not had the problem you had unless it was the FO I used.
Milk will heat and start gel faster but so will FO of certain types. If it was not pure coconut milk but with Guar gum that would explain it. You did not mention if you added a scent or color so we can only guess.

 

[Amybell]

I did not add any scent or color of any kind. I wanted to see what the coconut milk would be like all by itself. I'm very glad now that I did!

There was no guar gum in the coconut milk-- just coconut and water. I looked around specifically for that when I bought it. I've read several places about how troublesome guar gum can be in soaping.

You guys are so helpful. Thank you. It makes it so much easier for someone new like me to jump in and ask questions when everyone is so nice. I truly appreciate it.

 

[Amybell]

So I checked it this morning, and it appears to be fine. It was much harder at this stage than the other soaps I've made so far, so it's already unmolded! No zapping, either, so I think I'm okay.

I really do like how these turned out. It has a delicate, natural scent to it that I hope stays. I hope they feel as nice on the skin as they look. Here's a couple of pics.

 

[Ruthie]

Very nice!!

 

[Sammi_552]

They look terrific!