All the soap in these photos was the exact same batch, same recipe and same procedure. The only difference was the mold size. The large loaf mold went through what is known as a partial gel, but it also did something rather weird, which I have not seen in my soap before. Aside from the soft gel in the soap, the white patch, there was also a dark section near the bottom. The soap was made with milk and the sugars in milk can heat causing gelling, but I simpy do not understand the chemistry behind the dark section. The rest of the bars that were individually molded have turned out beautifully, consistent in texture and smooth, without any gel or discoloration. Gel is not a bad thing. Sometimes a soap maker will force the soap to gel, that is go through the saponification process to completion, by putting the soap in a slow oven or wrapping it in blankets.
This batch of soap is tallow, lard, palm oil and castor oil, with milk from a cow and lye. If there was anything amiss with the ingredients, the problem would have shown up in all the soap, so I am convinced it was the size of the mold and overheating that caused the odd looking soap. Both, gelling and dark spots do not affect soap usage, only the cosmetic appearance of it. I will try to melt this soap down and repour it and see if the texture becomes consistent. For me, this was a first experience with both these properties, but soap is a strange thing and even when following the same favourite recipe that has never reacted, odd results can and do occur.
Otherwise, the small soap bars are perfect, uniform in texture and colour and smooth. This is cold process soap, so it will take at least 6 weeks to cure before it is usable. That is the time when the soap will slowly go through the saponification process. The half gelled bars will be heated, which will complete the process and they will be usable immediately, though all soap is best when it has time to cure and harden. When fully cured, this soap will be very hard, fit for a good shower without melting away.
Now, I hope not to have any more puzzling outcomes for a while!
This batch of soap is tallow, lard, palm oil and castor oil, with milk from a cow and lye. If there was anything amiss with the ingredients, the problem would have shown up in all the soap, so I am convinced it was the size of the mold and overheating that caused the odd looking soap. Both, gelling and dark spots do not affect soap usage, only the cosmetic appearance of it. I will try to melt this soap down and repour it and see if the texture becomes consistent. For me, this was a first experience with both these properties, but soap is a strange thing and even when following the same favourite recipe that has never reacted, odd results can and do occur.
Otherwise, the small soap bars are perfect, uniform in texture and colour and smooth. This is cold process soap, so it will take at least 6 weeks to cure before it is usable. That is the time when the soap will slowly go through the saponification process. The half gelled bars will be heated, which will complete the process and they will be usable immediately, though all soap is best when it has time to cure and harden. When fully cured, this soap will be very hard, fit for a good shower without melting away.
Now, I hope not to have any more puzzling outcomes for a while!
Soap from the large loaf mold with the light area in gel stage and the dark section of overheated soap.
The exact same soap, same batch from the same pot poured into small molds, perfect in texture and appearance.
Even the larger bars, still smaller than the loaf mood, came out perfect. Strange.
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