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Question on a frankensoap

mrdoug

mrdoug

"TSC's Shave Sales Deal Finder"
As I mentioned in my soap of the day, I used my (year old) Frankensoap of Ogalala Bay Rum Vanilla mixed with Siliski Santa's Pipe. Keep in mind this soap has always been scooped... Never lathered or watered in any way.

After today's shave I noticed there was quite a bit of wetness in the soap tub. I am assuming it's oils breaking down. Anyone have any experience with this? Is it safe still, I wonder?

Thanks folks.
 
Dave in KY said:
I've had some soaps breakdown a little and have been told to just stir it together again and let lid off for a day or so to firm it up. Followed suggestion and no problems in using.
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Thanks Dave. Figured it was probably normal(ish). [emoji846]
 
One of the challenges with many artisan soaps is that they will often separate like that. Sometimes it’s because the artisan has super fatted the soap really heavily and the fats are settling out, similar to how you can whip egg whites into merengue but when it’s left out for too long the proteins breakdown and water will leak out. Another reason artisan soaps can separate like that is the high glycerine content. Saponified fats turn into soap salts and glycerine, then we add MORE glycerine because it makes such wonderful lather and it feels good. Glycerine itself can leak out of the soap but it also has a strong affinity for moisture, so it is more likely to attract water, increasing the soaps water content enough that what ends up separating is a mixture of dissolved soap, fat, glycerine and water. A keeping soap cool and dry is the first line of defense.

I know EVERYONE says you can’t microwave soap but I’m telling you that if a soap has separated on you, it can take a few seconds in the old nuke. I’m talking 10 seconds, not a lot. Zap it 10 seconds and give it a stir and it will be good as gold. If you have a powerful microwave try 8 seconds first, if you have a big tub of soap, it might take a few zaps but you will want to really watch the time. Or just muscle it, stir it while it’s cold.
 
CBLindsay said:
One of the challenges with many artisan soaps is that they will often separate like that. Sometimes it’s because the artisan has super fatted the soap really heavily and the fats are settling out, similar to how you can whip egg whites into merengue but when it’s left out for too long the proteins breakdown and water will leak out. Another reason artisan soaps can separate like that is the high glycerine content. Saponified fats turn into soap salts and glycerine, then we add MORE glycerine because it makes such wonderful lather and it feels good. Glycerine itself can leak out of the soap but it also has a strong affinity for moisture, so it is more likely to attract water, increasing the soaps water content enough that what ends up separating is a mixture of dissolved soap, fat, glycerine and water. A keeping soap cool and dry is the first line of defense.

I know EVERYONE says you can’t microwave soap but I’m telling you that if a soap has separated on you, it can take a few seconds in the old nuke. I’m talking 10 seconds, not a lot. Zap it 10 seconds and give it a stir and it will be good as gold. If you have a powerful microwave try 8 seconds first, if you have a big tub of soap, it might take a few zaps but you will want to really watch the time. Or just muscle it, stir it while it’s cold.
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Thanks. It's two soaps mixed, a glycerin (Ogalala) and a vegan soft soap (Siliski). I'd imagine that doesn't help the chemistry you were referring to.

If it gets any worse off, I'll mix it. If that proves difficult, I'll nuke it as you mentioned. There's no tallow to burn, so even if microwaves aren't recommended, it's not as volatile to them.
 
In regards to burning tallow vs no tallow no burn I think the issue (the burn) the worry about is heating any single part of the so much that all the liquid quickly evaporates, what’s left will effectively burn whether it’s tallow based or not.

I have made wonderful compound soaps by melting glycerin bar soap and grated tallow like Williams or fresh cooked shaving soap so your frankensoap is definitely worth the effort to salvage, sounds like it would make an exquisite lather.
 
mrdoug said:
If it gets any worse off, I'll mix it. If that proves difficult, I'll nuke it as you mentioned. There's no tallow to burn, so even if microwaves aren't recommended, it's not as volatile to them.
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Just be careful..... Just because there's not tallow in it, doesn't mean it still won't burn or get ruined. Not all soaps will melt in the microwave.
 
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