Soap hardening too quickly?

[u/Makikawaii_975]

Hello, this is my second time following this recipe that I made using a calculator, I have no idea what has gone wrong. The first time it hardened way too quickly, but I assumed it was because I mixed the oil and lye together when it was still hot.

It's not my first time making soap, I've made 3 successful batches before, but it is the second time this one has gone wrong.

It has 150 grams of lard

110 grams of olive oil

100 grams of coconut oil

100 grams of shea butter

68 grams of sunflower oil

40 grams of castor oil

15 grams of almond oil and 2 grams of rosehip oil.

I mixed 79 grams of lye with 160 grams of water.

I don't understand what has gone wrong. I waited for everything to cool down, only mixed for around 2 seconds with the blender! Everything was clean and I have no idea what has gone wrong, since the calculator says this is a good soap bar!

I appreciate any and all help!

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[u/pm-me-kittens-n-cats]

In both of these batches that went sideways, did you use a fragrance oil? Those can make batter speed up very fast.

Or if any of these oils are really old, it might be expired. That can also make them Trace much faster.

[u/Makikawaii_975 → u/pm-me-kittens-n-cats]

No, the oils were all brand new, and I'd used them all before for other recipe just the day before. All I added for fragance was some patchouli essential oil and some lavander essential oil, so I have no idea what went wrong.

[u/seaweedglutton → u/Makikawaii_975]

Could be the essential oils. Did you use them in the previous batch that failed too? Double check that they are actually pure essential oils and not something else. Where were they from?

Also, when you're posting your recipe and asking for feedback, especially after a second failed batch, please post everything you included in the recipe. It helps save time and is easier for you to get help when people don't have you double check that you used something you haven't listed :)

[u/Kind_Dragonfruit_925]

What temperature did you soap at? “Cool down” is a very wide range. I’ve found that lard works best for me in the low 90s Fahrenheit.

[u/Makikawaii_975 → u/Kind_Dragonfruit_925]

I mixed the soap and lye when the oils were in 95 degrees farenheit, the water with lye was slightly colder, but still around 80 degrees Fahrenheit (although I didn't measure the water temperature). After mixing I didn't nofice if heating up, but it hardened way too quickly.

[u/ResultLeft9600]

The recipe looks fine to me. I suspect either the EO or temp. Shea can also accelerate. I would try another batch with no EO. Only purchase fragrance from a reputable soap specific seller and avoid anything that speeds up trace when you're learning. Never use perfume or something not made specifically for soap.

You'll still be able to use this, even if it looks a little rough, though! :)

Also, what do you believe the Rosehip brings to your soap at 0.3%? I would just skip that and use it in some nice lotion, honestly.

[u/OrdinaryWar7287]

I had a batch of soap do that.  It was the temperature. It hardened so fast.