white castile?

[bhelen]

I'm not really a fan of castile but I need one for my range and am trying to get it looking as well as feeling as good as possible. I have seen some really pure white castiles, but mine always turns out a creamy yellow. I do split method milk soap, could the milk be the reason (although milk is added later, not directly to lye)? Or is the type of olive oil the issue? I have been using 1-year-old EVOO (sourced from local farmers, not supermarket brands).

 

[shunt2011]

It's likely both the milk and the olive oil causing the yellowish color of your soap.

 

[Obsidian]

I agree, if you want it really white, use water and regular OO. It still might look a little off white but it will change color as it cures.

 

[kumudini]

I agree, it could be your locally sourced EVOO or the milk.Regular olive oil from Costco, which I assume is the second press, is yellowish in color and has always given me the whitest soap.

 

[bhelen]

Thanks to all.

 

[penelopejane]

A friend who does a lot of soaping uses the light olive oil rather than first pressed extra virgin olive oil and it makes really white Castile soap. She uses 100% OO though, no milk.

I used 100% EVOO in Castile soap and it's yellow. Only a few days old though so it may change over time.

 

[Obsidian]

Most all light olive oil is adulterated, meaning it's not pure OO. The first castile I ever made was with light OO and it got DOS in about 2 months.

 

[hozhed]

I just use olive oil and distilled water. Comes out a nice creamy color. No issues

 

[snappyllama]

I second Costco OO making a creamy white bar. These are my naked ones.

 

[LoveOscar]

My OO/CO soap is curing a light white like snappyllamas. But I used a dark green OO, house brand.

 

[Wyredgirl]

Always had a nice milky white Castille when naked

 

[IrishLass]

Always had a nice milky white Castille when naked

So that's the trick! ;-)


IrishLass

 

[penelopejane]

Hi
When people sell "Castile"'soap shouldn't it be 100% OO? No fragrance, no colour. Doesn't adding milk adulterated it?

I know there are advertised Castile soaps with other additives (Dr B's for one) but isn't this just misleading?

 

[songwind]

Hi
When people sell "Castile"'soap shouldn't it be 100% OO? No fragrance, no colour. Doesn't adding milk adulterated it?

I know there are advertised Castile soaps with other additives (Dr B's for one) but isn't this just misleading?

In the US, there's no legal definition of castile, I think, so pretty much any all-vegetable soap can get called that.

 

[penelopejane]

In the US, there's no legal definition of castile, I think, so pretty much any all-vegetable soap can get called that.

Hmmm. I hope people label it accurately, at least!

 

[songwind]

Hmmm. I hope people label it accurately, at least!

One would hope. But of course there are no label requirements for soap, either.

 

[dixiedragon]

The definition that the "big boys" seem to use is soap with any olive oil at all = castile.

 

[penelopejane]

That's why I never buy homemade soap unless I've talked to the maker. And it's why I make my own - because I know exactly what goes into it. Even OO is fraught with confusion and possibilities.