by Anonymous
(USA)
Layered Soap with Chalkiness on top and sides
I have been using your Shea butter recipe- many times with great success and others had problems with a chalky/ flaky outer layer and tops. I also see this chalkiness in the small plastic molded soaps- but usually not in my loaf molds- but my last batch was quite bad in both. The bottom layer looks good- it has sweet orange E/O and the olive oil was infused with some orange peel. However, the top layer is quite bad. This layer uses the same recipe without the orange peel and E/O but instead uses olive oil infused with green tea leaves and then strained before use. I measure out my lye in grams and double check every measurement- I mix my lye solution and oils at the same temperature- between 100-105'F. I have read that hard water can cause chalkiness but I use Poland Springs distilled water, so that should not be the problem here. I wonder if it my soap is cooling down too much before insulation - the layering and adding of flowers on top takes time but the wooden mold I do first and insulate right away after adding the flowers. I insulate my plastic molds in a towel lined storage Tupperware-like container, with plastic wrap over the soap molds, then cardboard under and over each mold. I then even place the container over a heating pad on low (to help ensure full gel)- which is wrapped in a large wool blanket along side the well covered/ insulated wooden soap molds. I wonder if I am over beating my mixture (I start with a whisk then move to a hand beater- short low speed bursts then stirring without the beating) or if the air bubbles in my soap mixture could cause this. I do notice air bubbles often but I try to get some out by banging my
Comments for Problems with Chalky edges and tops of Soap using the Shea Butter Soap Recipe
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