Why put sugar in the lye water am I missing a step?

[lioness]

I have been learning from a few books as well as on here but none of my books say to put sugar in the lye water. Is this something that I should be doing or is this a special thing. Why do it? I am wondering if that is how people get a good sugar scent in their soap like a lemon sugar is this right? Also I think someone also mentioned putting in stevia in it. Could you put in in after trace as well? Thanks everone....I have soo many questions.... :wink:

 

[ewenique]

Dissolve the sugar in your liquid before adding the lye, otherwise the sugar will lump. Added sugar is supposed to boost the lather a bit.

 

[Bigmoose]

I make a syrup from sugar and add that at light trace with no problem.

Bruce

 

[lioness]

Does everyone do this as I have never tried and my bars seem to lather ok.
Does this also sweeten the scent of the bar for a sugary scent?
How much do I put in? :wink:

 

[Bukawww]

It will not effect scent at all but I have noticed increased lather when I put sugar in or use beer, etc.

 

[rubyslippers]

I use sugar in all my soap batches and I personally think it does help to boost the lather.

 

[lioness]

Thanks everyone I am going to try this next batch....
is there a percentage that I should be doing or do I just experiment?

 

[ewenique]

Usually 1 Tablespoon per pound is recommended.

 

[lioness]

Thanks so much...

 

[Northland Naturals]

i also find that dissolving sugar in the water before adding lye reduces the lye fumes considerably for me.

 

[Jamison]

Not sure that I have ever seen to do this... interesting.

I'd rather not use processed/refined sugar... Does raw sugar work ok?

 

[TessC]

I've used refined sugar, maple syrup (once, just to see how it did), turbinado sugar, honey, and agave nectar in soaps and all worked just fine. I do not, however, add my sugar to the lye water so I can't say how each of them behaves with lye.

 

[Jamison]

I've always used honey when making soap... It's too abundant, local, and inexpensive in my area not to use.

 

[honor435]

Wow, i have crazy bubbly soap now, I could make it more bubbly? I thought castor made big bubbles?

 

[Jezzy]

I have a question. I just mixed my lye for later and added sugar. Will I have to take any precautions to avoid overheating?

 

[Best Natural Soap]

So, how do sugar bubbles compare to castor bubbles? Castor has amazing conditioning and creaminess abilities.

Sugar cane is also high in glycolic acid, which can be great for cell-turnover. Glycolic is often used in dermatologist-recommended skin products.

 

[Woodi]

I find that adding sugar to soap increases the big bubbles in the lather. Castor oil makes more of the creamy, small bubbles, and a rich smooth lather. Both are good!

 

[Best Natural Soap]

Then both will have to go into my next batch!
I love bubbles!

 

[reallyrita]

Why put sugar in the lye water?

I just started doing this sugar thing this past spring. I now have some of those soaps off the cure and in use. I do use castor oil but the addition of sugar has really increased my bubbles. I have very hard water so it is nice to see the soap bubbling up in the shower. I use the bakers' sugar which is finer than the regular sugar and dissolves almost instantly. This is NOT powdered sugar, it is just finer grained sugar for bakers and bartenders.
I don't add it to my lye water at all. I take a small amount of the distilled water I have weighed out for the soap and dissolve the sugar in that. Never takes very much water. Then, after I have added the lye water to the soaping oils and begun to get a hand stirred emulsion going, I dump in the sugar water...stir it in and then pick up the SB. I have not used it in my gm soaps since milk contains sugars already...afraid of the overheating factor. But with one tbs of sugar ppo I have not had any overheating yet in more than 10 batches with different FOs.