Foamy looking CPOP soap

by Pam
(Los Altos, CA USA)

I made my first batch of CPOP soap last night because without the oven I have not been getting gel.

The batch came to trace quickly (I used castor oil) and probably got a little too thick before I poured it, but looked OK.

I put it in the oven at 170 for 1 hour and then turned the oven off and left it in overnight.

This morning when I went to un-mould it (it was firm enough to do so) I noticed that the top was foamy looking and the sides were honeycomb looking (see pictures).

When I cut off the sides and top the insides look good (as you see from the picture, a few bubbles).

What did I do wrong?

Answer:

From what you describe and your pictures, I believe your soap got too hot.

I would check your ovens temperature with an oven thermometer to see if it runs hotter that the settings you turn it too.

Also be sure you set the temperature to 170 degrees Fahrenheit and not Celsius.

If your oven runs too hot and it is just a gel you are trying to achieve, next time try preheating the soap mould before pouring the soap into it. Then place the filled soap mould in the preheated oven as you did but this time turn the oven off.

This should provide enough heat to jump start the gel phase without causing the soap to overheat.

Good luck,
Cathy