Crumbling and oily soap

by Debby
(North Carolina)

I made (or tried to make) a hot process tallow soap with olive oil and coconut oil. I began to notice it was taking a very long time. It was just not coming together. There was alot of oil in my "mashed potatos". It was getting dry and crumbly looking even though there was oil in the pot. I put it in the mold and it hardened very quickly, but when I went to cut it it crumbles. I also noticed oil leaking out the bottom of the wooden mold.

I have done probably 4 batches of HP soap and never had a problem. What did I do wrong and can the soap be salvaged. I used a crock pot and the recipe was from Miller's soap page, a blended tallow soap. I was very careful on the measurements. I sure hate to throw out that much soap. I knew this would eventually happen to me, but would feel so much better about it if I could figure what went wrong.

Answer:

I'm guessing, but it sounds like the soap didn't trace properly before the cook or there was too much sodium hydroxide in the blend.

Unfortunately, I'm not aware of a way to save it.

Don't feel too sad...it happens too all of us at one point or another.

Good luck for next time,
Cathy