Doubled a recipe - soap is soft

[Deleted]

I have a recipe that my 2 DILs love but it makes one pound. I doubled the recipe to save time. I added oatmeal and honey before trace. I added too much honey. I should have added 2 teaspoons but added 2 tablespoons-so much for memory!

My soap is softer than it usually is. Because I doubled the recipe? Because I added too much honey? Should I add honey & oatmeal at trace?  All of the above?

An acquaintance asked me to make 3 batches (3 lbs) for him. I'm afraid I'll end up with soft soap again?

Any help would be greatly appreciated!

[Muller's Lane Farm]

The actual recipe you used (doubled) would make this easier.

Adding 2 Tbl of honey instead of 2 teas definitely would make the soap softer since it is 3x the amount called for, however, using 1 Tbl honey per pound of oil is not uncommon.

How much liquid was used in your lye solution? What oils were used? How much lye did you use? Did you weigh your ingredients or did you volume measure them? These factors all play a part.

If you are worried about sharing your recipe publicly, just send me a PM. I've been making soap for 16 years and have my own recipes ... I'm not about to change them now!

[Deleted]

I think I neglected to double the water - I used goat milk.  I didn't use soapcalc, I just did the doubling in my mind (oops!). I use a digital kitchen scale for my weights.

Here is the basic recipe. I added the honey and oatmeal but don't remember where I got the amounts.

    Water 6.08 oz

    lye 2.23 oz

    fragrance 0.50 oz

    Canola Oil 4 oz

    Coconut oil 4 oz

    Olive oil 8 oz

    1 oz oatmeal

    1 tsp warm honey

As a relatively new soaper, I was deep in the throes of soapmaking when I realized I didn't remember when to add my additives so I added them when it just started to thicken - is that correct?

Thanks!!!

[farmchix]

I remember my very first batch of honey oatmeal soap.....talk about a disaster! I had liquid on top, too. Even if it is a standard recipe, if I am doubling, I will still run it through the calculator. Believe it or not, it can change the amount of lye/water needed by a small amount.

[Muller's Lane Farm]

If you didn't double the liquid (milk) amount, you're soap would have traced very quickly and would not have been softer than normal.

The reason for the liquid in the lye solution is to distribute the lye throughout the oils.

Using 4.46 oz of lye with 8 oz Canola, 8 oz Coconut & 16 oz Olive would give you a 5% super fatted soap. Looking good. You would have been safe using 6 oz of milk to disperse the lye, but the lye solution would have gotten hot quickly and probably started saponifying the milk fats before you poured it into the waiting oils. Your oils would have traced very quickly.

I usually add my essential oils to my ground oats (helps hold the scent). I thin out the honey with a bit of water and add it immediately after adding the lye solution.

Most likely your softer soap is due to the honey. It is a humectant and attracts moisture. It may need a bit more cure time but it will be fine!

farmchix, love the new avatar pic!

[farmchix]

Thanks Cindy!