my lye solution and oils separated, what do i do now?

by Sheila
(Lufkin, TX)

I have a bowl of stuff, thick stuff topped with oils that smell like lavender and vanilla. What am I supposed to do with that stuff?


Answer:

I would try to hot process what you have. The scent will likely evaporate somewhat but you should be able to save the batch.

Basically cook the soap on low, stirring often until it reaches the gel stage. By then the liquid oils should have incorporated. Scoop into your soap mold and cool.

Cathy

Comments for my lye solution and oils separated, what do i do now?

Average Rating starstarstarstarstar

Click here to add your own comments

Rating
starstarstarstarstar
my soap
by: Sheila

I got my NaOH in finally and have made my first good batch of soap bars. Wow! I used your basic soap recipe with a slight change and the bars look fantastic. Now to wait a month before I can use it. DARN! Thank you for all your help. I'm going to make an unscented batch now!

Rating
starstarstarstarstar
second try
by: Sheila

I made the shea butter recipe you have. It traced and everything. I put in a plastic container i'm using for a mold. It is gelled. but milky color. I don't know if it's the extra light olive oil or the unrefined pure raw shea butter or the fact that i'm using KOH instead of NaOH. I ordered a different lye than i intended. But didn't think it mattered. I know i need a scale with decimals. I have a kitchen scale that measures one digit dec for ounces and pounds and no points on the grams. Please help me! thank you

Answer:

You cannot substitute ingredients like KOH for the NaOH. They make completely different products. KOH is for liquid soap not the cold process bar soaps on my site.

I do suggest that you get a scale that measures in grams as well. When making small batches of soap it is important to have the measurements correct.

Cathy

Rating
starstarstarstarstar
Lye solution and oil separates
by: Anonymous

Oh darn! Okay! Thanks for your help. I won't give up yet.

Rating
starstarstarstarstar
Lye solution and oil separates
by: Sheila

I followed your advice and put the separated mess into a pot and heated until it gelled. But now my "soap" is an oily gooey molded gel. Can i use it or some of it to make a batch of soap? I hate to throw it out. I'm not able to buy anymore product right now and don't have much to work with to try again. I suppose that is a good thing though. Please help me. This was my first try and it's important to me to get this right.

Answer:

Unfortunatley, if the hot processing didn't work then there likely was a mistake made during the measuring of the ingredients to begin with. I'm afraid I would throw out the soap since you cannot be certain that it is safe. It definitely cannot be used to make soap with.

Cathy

Rating
starstarstarstarstar
Lye solution and oil separates
by: Sheila

Heating the batch and stirring it worked great. i also used the hand blender at the gel stage and it thickened. I have it in the mold and am impatiently waiting until I get home tomorrow from school(SFASU) to check it out. Thanks so much for your answer.

Rating
starstarstarstarstar
Lye solution and oil separates
by: Sheila

Thank you I will try. i hope what is outside will work like that. will let you know

Click here to add your own comments

Return to Submit a Question.


Like This Page?