This is what happens if your soap is too warm with cold process soap (or the volcano which is equally fascinating though slightly more dangerous to countertops and surrounding plantlife in the area). Things that contribute to a hot batch of soap can be fragrance or essential oil, beeswax, honey, cocoa butter and some milk additives.
To solve this, lower your temps by 15 degrees for the lye water and the oils AND check your insulation. Is it way over the top? By over the top, I mean: heat blanket + multiple blankets + warm room. A towel is just fine.
This soap is just fine to use. It just has an interesting architectural element in the hole and fun internal texture.
OMG! I just had this happen – with a recipe I use all the time. The only difference was I used a cylinder mould when I normally use a long loaf – I wonder if this was the cause? I could feel it getting very hot and just knew what the result would be.
Hi Rachel!
If you could tell us more about the recipe that you used, the more we can help you troubleshoot and pinpoint exactly what happened with your batch. Let us know the temperatures you were soaping at as well as your recipe and we can take a look at it for you. =)
-Becky with Bramble Berry
Thanks Becky! Recipe as follows:
36oz coconut oil
5.18oz Lye
10.53oz chilled aloe vera juice
1oz lemongrass e.o.
1.5oz eucalyptus e.o
Temp 120-130F (apparently coconut oil can become grainy if temp too low)
I have made this recipe loads of times but this is the first time I’ve used eucalyptus e.o. and also the first time I’ve used a cylinder mould. I did not insulate and temp here in NZ still quite cool so just left it on the counter-top to set.
Coconut Oil will hold temperatures really lovely – and when you have a cylinder with one tiny place to release heat (the top) versus a long vertical, open surface, the soap will stay warmer so I’m betting that’s what happened. What an interesting recipe. I love using Aloe Vera Juice in my soap =)
this hasn’t happened to me yet. soap is such an interesting thing to make! so many things to do, use and so many things that can go wrong! Would it be possible to pour another new batch of soap into the cavity of this? That could be a cool way to rescue a wonky looking soap?
Good morning!
It can be a little scary when this happens, but it isn’t the end of the world and your soap is still usable. If it did ever happen in a batch that you were making, you could either rebatch (http://www.soapqueen.com/bath-and-body-tutorials/cold-process-soap/soap-queen-tv-presents-how-to-make-rebatch-soap-2/) the soap or even try pouring another batch into the cavity. If that ever happens for you, we’d love to know how it turns out. =)
Happy Soaping!
-Becky with Bramble Berry
Is the volcano soap still ok to use as well?
Oh nevermind 🙂 I found it in a previous post
Hi Anne-Marie, first off this way an extremely helpful article, and second ( and I would have posted this elsewhere I just wasn’t sure where ) but I went from MP to CP and I recently tried Hot Process in the Crock Pot which was a ton of fun, but one thing I don’t see alot of tutorials on is Man Soap. I know there are different kinds with Charcoal, and Bentonite, and Shave Soaps. I was wondering if you knew any good recipes for any of these?
Man soap! =) Any manly man additive like Bentonite, Charcoal, Seaweed, clays etc… could be added at 1-2 Tbs per pound of finished soap at thin trace. If it’s a clay or a dry powder, I like to premix with a little bit of liquid oil or water to help prevent clumping. And after that, it’s all about the fragrance. Here’s a list of Bramble Berry’s Manly Man fragrances:
https://www.brambleberry.com/Masculine-C169.aspx
hi im new round here from england wat channel does ur fabulous show come on?
Hi! Welcome to the soaping world! Our channel, Soap Queen TV can be found here:
http://www.youtube.com/user/soapqueentv
Happy Soaping!
-Becky with Bramble Berry
I’m glad you show the mishaps, as well as your pretty soaps. This is great teaching!
Thanks Joan. Not all my recipes turn out perfectly (darn!) and I’m happy to show it off when the mistakes are teaching-worthy. =)