What are these white spots?

[Fiona Robertson]

I've just cut this activated charcoal soap made with soy wax. I know its not going to win any beauty contests but can someone tell me what the white spots are top right and bottom middle/left? They are appearing in all the bars. The batter thickened up really quickly probably because I used a 37% lye concentration. I didn't get time to stick blend so I'm really hoping these aren't lye spots if the lye didn't have time to fully interact with the oils. I've rubbed water over the spots and zap tested and nothing happened. I poured the soap at 120f and CPOP'ed.
Could they be stearic spots even though my batter temp was relatively high?

 

[Mobjack Bay]

I’ve occasionally had something similar in soaps that have high palm, but mine have been bigger . They’re not lye heavy and not crystalline like stearic. It seems more like a glob of base oil that came together into an amorphous mass. And it only happens when my batter moves fast and I can’t stick blend. Will add some pics tonight.

Nice soap!

 

[shunt2011]

Could be stearic or soy wax that didn't stay melted. As long as there's no zap you're good to go.

 

[DeeAnna]

If your lye solution is properly made -- meaning the NaOH is completely dissolved -- then there simply can't be "lye spots." The white bits are either fats that solidified or lumps of soap that formed before your colorant was fully incorporated. It's hard to say which, but what I can say is the spots aren't lye.

I wouldn't assume your batter got thick just because of the lye concentration. You also soaped pretty warm and that could easily cause this problem too.

 

[Fiona Robertson]

Thank you so much for your replies. Very relieved that they are unlikely to be lye spots! I will look forward to seeing your pics later on @Mobjack Bay

 

[Mobjack Bay]

Thank you so much for your replies. Very relieved that they are unlikely to be lye spots! I will look forward to seeing your pics later on @Mobjack Bay

Here’s one full of spots where the recipe is high in Shea (scroll to bottom of the post).
https://www.soapmakingforum.com/threads/as-much-as-i-like-micas.76541/

 

[Fiona Robertson]

Here’s one full of spots where the recipe is high in Shea (scroll to bottom of the post).
https://www.soapmakingforum.com/threads/as-much-as-i-like-micas.76541/

Oh those soaps are scrumptious and I have the greatest empathy with soap number 6!! Going back in for another look...