Sugar

by Miriam
(Houston)

Why do you put sugar in your soap recipes?

Answer:

Sugar is often added to soap recipes, though usually in a syrup form, to increase the lather. It also speeds up saponification and helps to jumpstart the gel phase.

I like to use the powdered sugar because it's simpler...I don't have to make the syrup and I add it when the soap reaches a trace.

It is not a mandatory ingredient by any means and can be left out of any recipe I have listed it in.

A word of caution....do not add too much sugar or the soap may overheat.

Cathy