soapybear Posted November 20, 2007 Share Posted November 20, 2007 Hi all – I made my very first batch of CP yesterday. Things did not turn out as planned and I want to know if I should scrap what I have or let it cure. Here is what happened… Used a pre-package oil blend of olive, coconut, palm and beeswax which was a total of 8oz. According to the directions I added the proper amount of lye (2.1 oz). I used 2.5 T of earth green clay for color and the essential oil was a blend of ginger, orange, ylang ylang and cassia (about 2.25T). OK so the error I know I made was in the honey…. I was looking at two different recipes and messed up the amount of honey. For 16 bars it suggested 1/3 c of honey so I used that much…. After the fact I remember I was making only 8 bars. OOPS! Anyways back to the story – I got to trace and stirred all the additives in. Very odd color green and it smelled really bad (phewww). I went ahead and added it to the molds. I looked at it today (set for 24 hrs) to unmold and set-up to cure. The color is now a chocolate brown and the smell (don’t know how this happened) smells like really good oatmeal cookies?!? AND even odder is that the soaps are very oily (but hard enough to unmold). I am not sure if I should wait the 3 weeks to cure or dump it now. Any help/suggestions or advice would be greatly appreciated!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
8-GRAN-ONES Posted November 20, 2007 Share Posted November 20, 2007 I am new to making soap...I have asked almost the same question...I was told to let them sit and do their work..Be patient...I know that is hard to do..I am sure that someone with much more knowledge will chime in, andgive you some better advice... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jbren Posted November 20, 2007 Share Posted November 20, 2007 Sounds a bit lye-heavy to me. I may be wrong though. How much water did you use? It's a little difficult to figure if you don't know what percentages of each oil is in the blend. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
soapybear Posted November 20, 2007 Author Share Posted November 20, 2007 Thanks everyone for the input!!!!!Here is the formula I usedThe % of each of the oils are unknown since it was in one bottle but it did weight 8ozit was 3/4 C of water2.1 oz of lye2.25tsp of essential oil blend (ginger, orange, ylang ylang and cassia)2.5 Tbs of earth green clay1/3 cup honey (yikes)The package told me what amounts of water and lye to add.I can touch the soap without any reaction on my skin. The soap is already hardening just a bit oily on the outside (especially the bottom where i poured into the mold)I know I screwed up with the honey but the scent is really crazy. The EO on it's own smelled very zesty with the ginger and orange being the primary emphasis. but honestly right now it really smells like a great oatmeal cookie - very pleasant smell and the color being dark brown even reminds me of a cookie - but I am not sure it is usable..... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Carriegsxr6 Posted November 20, 2007 Share Posted November 20, 2007 Since you added too much honey, it made it over heat.Honey heats up a lot when added to CP soap.Oil on top and bad odor usually mean it over heated.Also, did you let your lye water cool down before you added it to the oils? If not, then it added to the over heating.You can still use it since its not lye heavy, its just not going to look so great. The oil will probably not absorb, so just wipe it off. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
8-GRAN-ONES Posted November 20, 2007 Share Posted November 20, 2007 don't throw it out.I had a recipe that I made...the same recipe made at the same time..one with FO and the other without...for some reason one had the lye zap..I have let it set now about a week, and it seems to be doing fine..no zap..and getting hard...From what I have read sometimes it can take a while...unless there was a problem with the lye.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
soapybear Posted November 20, 2007 Author Share Posted November 20, 2007 i wanted to thank everyone for all your great comments. I am going to let this one set and cure and since it will just be for me I dont care how it looks.... although if the smell stays the same I am going to get hungry for cookies every time i shower! :rolleyes2everyone have a great thanksgiving!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
soapybear Posted November 20, 2007 Author Share Posted November 20, 2007 I actually have one more question..... someone asked earlier if I let the Lye mixture cool down before adding it to the oil.... no i did not....what i did was nuke the oil for 1 min which brought it to 150f.... i then added the lye to the water and it also rose to at least 150f....after the lye water was clear i then added that mixture to the oil mix and started up my stick blender.... it too no time at all to trace. That is when i then added the EO, clay and honey.....should I have waited to a certain temp before combining the lye water mix with the oil? and if so what is suggested... also do you let the whole mixture (after trace) cool down before adding the additives or do you just add them and then place in molds....thanks for all y'alls help thus far - everyone on this board is so helpful! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Faye_SC Posted November 20, 2007 Share Posted November 20, 2007 I let my lye/water, and oils cool down to 90-110 degrees before I mix them together. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Carriegsxr6 Posted November 20, 2007 Share Posted November 20, 2007 I let my lye cool down to room temp and my oils cool down to a luke warm. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eugenia Posted November 21, 2007 Share Posted November 21, 2007 should I have waited to a certain temp before combining the lye water mix with the oil? and if so what is suggested... also do you let the whole mixture (after trace) cool down before adding the additives or do you just add them and then place in molds....Yes, 100 degrees for lye and oils, or less. I personally prefer soaping room temp, both lye and oils. Did you see this? http://www.candletech.com/forums/showthread.php?t=61968The high temp clearly adding to the excess honey overheating. Pour when traced, no further cooling before pouring. Give this first soap a little time. I assume you bought a kit? Start your next batch from scratch and congratulations! Your next batch will be easier. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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