Wow, tried this Euro salt recipe, love it!

[Twiggy]

Oh yes! I think white/black or cream/black soap are elegant looking. I always say I'm going to make one and then I don't. I end up going for either no color or other colors. Of course, there are a lot of ideas I have for soap and never get around to doing.

I'm going to make some brine in a little bit. This might help me get motivated to make it tomorrow or Monday.

LOL The same here! So much ideas in my head, and I keep them all locked in… In my case is just the feeling that each time I’m close to make something new and “crazy” I rather to go for something I already know in the end…

I still don't know if my soap will bubble at all, but will use it any way in a summer

 

[Hazel]

I'm sure it will be fine. Who knows? It may become your favorite soap. I made some brine (just a small amount) so I can can play tomorrow.

 

[MagicalMysterySoap]

I tried this tonight doing the hp method. Did not turn out too great. My salt didn't completely dissolve and after the cook was over I had to work really fast since it was a lot drier than my normal batter. I cut it within 2 hours and had a lot of crumbs breaking off. It's not pretty, but I washed my hands with a piece that had broken off and the lather was incredible. I can only imagine how much better it will get once it's done curing.

 

[Twiggy]

I'm sure it will be fine. Who knows? It may become your favorite soap. I made some brine (just a small amount) so I can can play tomorrow.

I really hope so! Thank you Hazel I’m patient this time, and decided to wait until the full curing time (6-8) weeks – not easy at all, but until now I’m doing fine LOL

 

[Paintguru]

Well I made a batch of this yesterday and we'll see what happens going forward. I followed the directions from the link by using 25% salt by weight of water with a 2.5:1 ratio of water to NaOH. I used my standard formula where the two highest percentage fats/oils are olive oil and lard. I had zero acceleration during mixing and was able to pour everything easily into individual cavity molds. Interestingly, at the 24 hour mark, the bars are still relatively soft, I would say softer than if I didn't use the salt. These likely didn't gel like it would have in a log mold, so that may be the cause of the difference in hardness up to this point. It will be interesting to see if these do develop into rock hard bars like others have reported.

 

[Twiggy]

Well I made a batch of this yesterday and we'll see what happens going forward. I followed the directions from the link by using 25% salt by weight of water with a 2.5:1 ratio of water to NaOH. I used my standard formula where the two highest percentage fats/oils are olive oil and lard. I had zero acceleration during mixing and was able to pour everything easily into individual cavity molds. Interestingly, at the 24 hour mark, the bars are still relatively soft, I would say softer than if I didn't use the salt. These likely didn't gel like it would have in a log mold, so that may be the cause of the difference in hardness up to this point. It will be interesting to see if these do develop into rock hard bars like others have reported.

Hmmm that quite bizarre – not that I’m any close to be an experts in salt soaps, but the main characteristic of that soap is the hardness – and it is going to accrue as soon as the soap is cold, so that why all soapers suggest to use individual cavity molds, or cut the soap when is still warm. My definitely went through gel. Very interesting though.

 

[Paintguru]

Hmmm that quite bizarre – not that I’m any close to be an experts in salt soaps, but the main characteristic of that soap is the hardness – and it is going to accrue as soon as the soap is cold, so that why all soapers suggest to use individual cavity molds, or cut the soap when is still warm. My definitely went through gel. Very interesting though.

Agreed. I've made plenty of salt soap with say 75% salt based on oil weight, but even then it doesn't harden immediately, but usually within 3-6 hours. Of course, that is almost 100% coconut oil, so I'm wondering if different fats/oils behave differently with salt.

 

[Twiggy]

Agreed. I've made plenty of salt soap with say 75% salt based on oil weight, but even then it doesn't harden immediately, but usually within 3-6 hours. Of course, that is almost 100% coconut oil, so I'm wondering if different fats/oils behave differently with salt.

I used my basic recipe, and I don’t do CO at all, but Babbasu instead. So it was around 15% BO, and some other oils: OO, CB, Almond…. I made it at 4 pm, it went to oven, did gel, and I unmolded around 7pm. The soap was still little warm, but I cut it straight and I must say it was firm enough to do that without any problem or damage to the soap itself. Let’s see how your soap will turn out

 

[lsg]

My recipe didn't turn out as smooth and pretty as the pictures shown here. It traced really fast, I guess I shouldn't have used my stick blender. Oh well, even though my bars are not smooth and pretty, I am sure they will be good soap.

 

[Paintguru]

My recipe didn't turn out as smooth and pretty as the pictures shown here. It traced really fast, I guess I shouldn't have used my stick blender. Oh well, even though my bars are not smooth and pretty, I am sure they will be good soap.

So odd, I stick blended mine for a good 5 minutes without much thickening at all. Must be some weird interaction going on.

 

[Twiggy]

So odd, I stick blended mine for a good 5 minutes without much thickening at all. Must be some weird interaction going on.

Me too, maybe less than 5 min, it got thick quite fast, but I did SB my soap as well.

 

[Saponista]

I had more than enough time to swirl mine and mess around with colours before it traced, then I had to cut it after only 4 hours as it was hard as rock by then.

 

[Twiggy]

OMG, pls post pictures with that beauty after cuting!

 

[Saponista]

I was too lazy to take one before so this is for you twiggy

Sorry it's a bit dark, but it's late here and that's the best I could do. It has a few holes from bubbles so I'm wondering if anyone has any ideas of how to prevent them forming?

 

[lsg]

Beautiful!

 

[Seawolfe]

I'm guessing that its important to use at least 25% coconut oil in any recipe with 25% and up salt or it wont lather at all? Does Babasou oil lather with salt?

 

[Saponista]

I used 30% coconut and had mega lather so I bet you could get away with a fair bit less.

 

[Paintguru]

Mine is 20% coconut....48hrs in, still can indent with my finger if I push with any reasonable force. Looks like a failed experiment on my end.

 

[Saponista]

That's so strange paint guru. I wonder what is different about your recipe. What sort of salt did you use?

 

[Saponista]

I looked at your recipe guru and I also have high quantities of olive and lard in my recipe so it can't be that causing it to remain soft.