The Mystery Of Rising Cp Soaps: Fragrance Or Formula?

When making soap, it's important to be aware of how different fragrances can affect the final product. While some fragrances may not impact the soap's performance, they can cause unexpected discolouration, turning it brown, or causing soda ash. Fragrance oils can also cause the soap to thicken or accelerate trace very quickly, resulting in a lumpy rice-like texture. This occurs when the fragrance binds with harder oil components, forming rice-shaped lumps. To prevent this, soap makers can work at cooler temperatures, add fragrance to oils before the lye solution, and be prepared to work quickly. Additionally, using recipes with more soft oils, such as olive, sunflower, or rice bran oil, can help maintain a thinner trace for longer.

Using fragrance oils can cause CP soap to seize

In addition, the type of fragrance oil used can play a role in seizing. For example, florals and spices are more prone to causing seizing. It is recommended to test a small batch of soap with the fragrance oil before using it on a larger scale. This way, you can ensure that the fragrance oil does not cause any issues. If you notice your soap getting hot, you can try lowering the temperature to around 105-115°F.

Furthermore, fragrance oils can cause ricing, which is when the soap forms little rice-shaped lumps. This occurs when an ingredient in the fragrance oil binds with some of the harder oil components in the recipe. While ricing can often be stick-blended out, it may result in a thicker trace than expected.

If your CP soap batter seizes, you can try letting the batter heat up to its gel temperature and then switch to a hot process method. Additionally, adding the fragrance oil to the fatty oils before adding the lye solution can help prevent seizing. However, this method should not be used with essential oils as they are more fragile and may evaporate.

Overall, while using fragrance oils can cause CP soap to seize, there are several strategies that can be employed to prevent or mitigate this issue.

Essential oils are more fragile and can evaporate before the soap is done

When making cold-process (CP) soap, it is important to consider the type of fragrance or essential oil being used, as it can significantly impact the final product. While fragrance oils are much hardier, essential oils are more fragile and prone to evaporation during the soap-making process. This is because essential oils have a lower flashpoint, which is the temperature at which they will disappear or "flash off". During the gel phase of CP soap-making, the internal temperature can easily reach 160° F, 180° F, or even 200° F or higher. Many common essential oils have a flashpoint below 200° F, which means they could evaporate before the soap is done if not used properly.

To prevent essential oils from evaporating in CP soap, several precautions can be taken. Firstly, it is important to lower the temperatures to around 105-115°F. Higher temperatures can cause acceleration or overheating, which can affect the performance of the essential oils. Additionally, it is recommended to mix the essential oil with an equal amount of liquid oil from the batch before adding it to the soap batter. This helps to raise the temperature of the essential oil so that it is not too cold when added to the batter, giving you more time to work.

Another factor to consider is the type of oil used in the soap recipe. Soft oils, such as olive, sunflower, or rice bran oil, tend to maintain a thinner trace longer, giving you more time to work before the soap thickens. On the other hand, hard oils can bind with certain ingredients in the fragrance oil, causing ricing. Ricing refers to the formation of little rice-shaped lumps in the soap batter, which can affect the texture and appearance of the final product. While ricing can sometimes be stick-blended out, it may result in a thicker trace than expected, requiring the soap to be spooned into the mold.

It is also worth noting that some essential oils may change or fade during the soap-making process. This can be due to the saponification process, where certain components of the essential oils alter, resulting in a change of scent. Additionally, as the soap cures, the essential oils may continue to evaporate, which is why using a bar of soap with faded fragrance can often revive the scent as the outer layer is washed away.

To summarize, essential oils are more fragile than fragrance oils when used in CP soap-making due to their lower flashpoints and higher susceptibility to evaporation. By controlling temperatures, using appropriate types of carrier oils, and being mindful of the potential for ricing and scent changes, soap makers can successfully incorporate essential oils into their CP soap recipes without significant loss of fragrance.

The ratio of water to sodium hydroxide must be increased if an essential oil accelerates trace

Ricing is a term used to describe when soap "seizes" and accelerates trace very fast. It is often caused by the addition of certain fragrance or essential oils, which can bind with some of the harder oil components in the recipe to form little rice-shaped lumps. This can result in an uneven texture or even a lumpy pudding-like appearance.

To prevent ricing, it is recommended to work quickly and lower the temperature to around 105-115°F (41-46°C) as higher temperatures can cause acceleration or overheating. Additionally, mixing the fragrance oil with an equal amount of liquid oil and heating the mixture before adding it to the soap batter can help. This technique brings up the temperature of the fragrance, giving the soap maker more time to work. It is also suggested to add the fragrance at the last second before pouring the soap into the mold.

Now, let's discuss the role of water and sodium hydroxide in relation to essential oils and their impact on trace. Sodium hydroxide, also known as lye, is a crucial ingredient in the soap-making process. It undergoes a highly exothermic reaction when dissolved in water, generating a significant amount of heat. This solution, called a lye solution or lye water, is essential for saponification, the process of converting oils into soap. The amount of sodium hydroxide required depends on the quantity of oils used, and this, in turn, determines the amount of water needed.

When using essential oils that accelerate trace, increasing the ratio of water to sodium hydroxide can be beneficial. This is because a higher concentration of lye solution can lead to faster thickening of the soap batter. By adding more water, you effectively dilute the lye solution, slowing down the saponification process and giving yourself more time to work before the soap mixture becomes too thick. This is particularly useful when working with essential oils that cause acceleration, as it provides a larger working window.

However, it is important to note that too much water can also be detrimental. Excess water will require more blending to bring the mixture to trace and may significantly increase the curing time. Therefore, a balance must be struck between adding enough water to mitigate the accelerating effects of certain essential oils and ensuring the soap mixture is not overly diluted, which can impact the final product's quality and production time.

To prevent scent from fading, use base notes in your recipe

To prevent scent from fading in CP soap, it is recommended to use base notes in your recipe. Base notes are less volatile than other notes and will last longer. They will also help anchor the middle and top notes, which fade more easily.

Some essential oils and aromatic essences that are not base notes can also hold their scent well. These include:

• Floral notes: jasmine aromatic essence, true lavender essential oil, palmarosa essential oil, rose geranium essential oil, ylang-ylang essential oil, Bulgarian rose essential oil, and violet aromatic essence.
• Herbaceous notes: rosemary ct cineol essential oil, coriander essential oil, and eucalyptus essential oils (lemon-scented, globulus, or radiata).
• Fresh notes: peppermint essential oil and spearmint essential oil (both dermocaustic).
• Woody notes: scotch pine essential oil and black spruce essential oil.

Additionally, some makers use kaolin clay to help with scent retention. While there hasn't been extensive testing on this theory, kaolin clay is believed to hold onto the fragrance or essential oil, making it last longer. It also adds a nice slip and subtle colour to the soap.

To prevent scent fading, it is also important to cure the soap in a cool, dry place out of direct sunlight. You can also dip a cotton ball or paper towel in the fragrance oil and place it by the soap while it cures, as this may help the bars absorb some of the scent.

Furthermore, it is recommended to use fragrances that have been thoroughly tested and approved for use in soap. Experimenting with blending and usage rates can also help find the best option for your recipes. For a strong scent, a higher usage rate of fragrance or essential oil is required. However, it is important not to exceed the maximum usage rate deemed safe for bath and beauty products, as this can cause skin irritation.

Finally, when creating CP soap, it is important to be mindful of the temperature. Higher temperatures can cause acceleration or overheating, which can lead to scent fading. Mixing the fragrance oil with an equal amount of liquid oil and heating it before adding it to the soap batter can help prevent this issue.

Some fragrances can cause the soap to heat up and accelerate

Some fragrances can cause CP soap to heat up and accelerate, which can lead to a variety of issues. This phenomenon is known as "acceleration" and can be challenging to manage. It occurs when a fragrance oil causes the soap batter to reach trace extremely quickly, sometimes becoming solid before it can be worked with. This acceleration can be so rapid that the soap turns solid in the bowl, a situation often referred to as "soap on a stick."

To address this issue, soapers can employ a technique called "hot process hero." This involves pouring the soap into a stainless steel pot that is three times the size of the batch, as the mixture will expand. The pot is then placed on a stove set to medium heat, and the mixture is stirred until it liquefies. It is important to monitor the heat and adjust it if necessary to prevent oil splatter. Once the batch is emulsified and consistent in texture and color, it can be spooned into a heat-safe mold. The soap should be allowed to harden for 24 hours, although a cure time of 4-6 weeks is recommended for optimal results.

Additionally, there are preventive measures that can be taken to reduce the likelihood of acceleration. One key factor is temperature control. Lowering the temperature to around 105-115°F can help slow down the acceleration. Mixing fragrance oil with an equal amount of liquid oil from the batch and heating it before adding it to the soap batter can also provide more time to work before the soap accelerates. This technique ensures that the fragrance is not cold when added to the batter.

Another strategy is to use recipes with a higher proportion of soft oils, such as olive, sunflower, or rice bran oils. These soft oils help maintain a thinner trace for a longer period, giving the soaper more time to work before the soap accelerates. Furthermore, it is recommended to perform small test batches to observe how a particular fragrance performs and make any necessary adjustments to the recipe. This proactive approach allows for a better understanding of how the fragrance will behave and helps prevent issues with acceleration.

In some cases, the acceleration may be too extreme to prevent, and the soap may not be salvageable. However, with careful temperature control, recipe adjustments, and proactive testing, soapers can increase their chances of successfully managing accelerating fragrances and creating their desired soap products.

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