Goats Milk Soap

by Zene Kaye
(South Africa)

I made a goats milk soap recipe using olive, palm, grapeseed, sweet almond and castor oils.

The soap feels great and is very conditioning when you wash your hands but after a few hours, I looked at the bar of soap and if I put my finger on it, there is a soft layer that forms on the surface.

It looks like thick vaseline. The soap also seems to have an oily layer on it.

I want to get the recipe right as I made quite a few batches already and have experienced this problem with my soap before.

Most of the recipes I made are goats milk soap. I am using goats milk from alpine goats.

What is wrong with the soap and why does it get like this?

I am using the 5% discount fat recipe.

I ordered some pink, white, red and green clays and also cosmetic colours which will arrive any day now. Do you think if I add the clays to my soap it will help to absorb excess oil?

I bought some cold process soap a while ago from other people and their soap dries easily after washes with it and you don't get that oily, glycerine that comes out of the soap.

I just want to get the recipe right so that I can make soap to sell.

Please give me your advice on this one or if you have any recipe that will prevent this from happening I will be glad.

I thank you in advance,

Zene Kaye

Answer:

Hi Zene,

Creating your own recipe is a long process of tons of research as well as trial and error.

Have you made soap using a recipe that has already been proven? I suggest doing this first before going forward with trying to create your own. You can then tweek the recipe to fit your needs. My Basic Homemade Soap Recipe is a great starting point.

It's very important to take notes about every aspect of your experiments so you can refer back to them and discover what changes have taken place.

As for the soap you bought that performed well...see what the ingredients are...are your ingredients similar? Perhaps you need more hard oils. I use from 20 - 30 percent coconut oil in most of my recipes...all my favorite ones have it. I find soaps without it to be somewhat slimy feeling.

You mention using clays to fix the problem...this is not the way to go. You need to perfect the recipe as a plain batch without additives. Things like clay are added for their skin care and colouring qualities.

Soap will develope a vasaline like layer if left where it can absorb moisture...especially if left in water. You need to place handmade soap in a self draining dish between uses.

The soaps you have made should also cure for 4 - 6 weeks before using them. This gives the soap time to finish curing and harden up.

Good luck,
Cathy