Failed Hot Process Soap
by Cynthia
(LA, California, USA)
I've been doing soap for over a year and never had any major problem, but I just made a honey soap that won't become soap.... It's just a pool of oil with crumbly things in the bottom of the crock pot.
The recipe is 75% olive oil, 15% cocoa butter and 10% avocado oil, with soy milk and I added raw honey to it.
It has been cooking for like 7 hours and still nothing!!!! I have no idea if I did something wrong.
I used the MMS lye calculator as usual and I think I did the measurements right.. Not sure if the problem was the honey, if it still needs more cooking or if it needs more lye.
Any ideas??? Should I keep on cooking? Or add more lye? Gulp.
THANKS!
Cynthia.
Answer:During the cook of hot process soap, the base should not be oily at all.
Before the cook even starts it should be thick and creamy, having been brought to a full trace first. Later it becomes vaseline like in appearance and mashed potatoe like in texture.
Something is certainly wrong if you are looking at a pool of oil with crumbly things in it.
Unfortunately, I have no idea what. I can only suggest that it might be safest to dispose of the oils safely and start again.
Cathy