Soapmaking is a fun and rewarding craft, but like any skill, it comes with its fair share of challenges. Even experienced soapmakers encounter issues from time to time. Whether your soap is separating, seizing, or cracking, it can be frustrating when things don’t go as planned. However, many of these problems have straightforward solutions.
In this post, we’ll walk you through some of the most common soapmaking mistakes and how to fix them. By understanding the causes of these issues and learning how to troubleshoot them, you can save your soap and improve your techniques for future batches.
1. Soap Seizing
What it is:
Seizing happens when your soap mixture thickens too quickly, making it impossible to pour into molds. Instead of a smooth, fluid batter, you end up with a solid, lumpy mess in your mixing bowl.
Why it happens:
Seizing is usually caused by using fragrance oils or essential oils that react poorly with the soap mixture. Some fragrance oils, particularly floral or spice-based ones, can cause the soap to accelerate and seize. High temperatures can also trigger seizing, especially if both the oils and the lye solution are too hot when mixed.
How to fix it:
- Act quickly: If the soap starts to seize while you’re blending, stop using the stick blender immediately and switch to hand-stirring. Pour the mixture into the mold as quickly as possible, even if it’s thick.
- Cool your ingredients: To prevent future seizing, make sure both your oils and lye solution are at the right temperature, typically between 100°F and 120°F.
- Use stable fragrances: Always test your fragrance oils and essential oils before making a full batch of soap. Research which fragrances tend to cause seizing and avoid them or blend them with other oils that are less reactive.
2. Ricing
What it is:
Ricing occurs when your soap mixture forms small lumps that resemble rice grains. This usually happens when fragrance oils or essential oils react poorly with the soap, causing it to curdle instead of mixing smoothly.
Why it happens:
Ricing is typically caused by fragrance oils with high water content or oils that contain alcohol. When added to the soap mixture, these oils can cause the ingredients to separate and form small lumps.
How to fix it:
- Stick blend the mixture: If you notice ricing starting to happen, use your stick blender to smooth out the lumps. Often, you can blend the soap back to a uniform consistency if you catch it early enough.
- Test your fragrance oils: Before adding new fragrance oils to your soap recipe, test a small amount with your soap mixture to see how it reacts. Choose fragrance oils designed for soapmaking to minimize the risk of ricing.
3. Separation
What it is:
Separation occurs when the oils and lye in your soap mixture separate after they’ve been blended, leaving you with an oily layer on top and a watery layer underneath. This can happen during the mixing process or after the soap has been poured into the mold.
Why it happens:
Separation is often caused by incomplete blending or when the soap has not reached trace. It can also be the result of using too much water in the lye solution or adding too many oils, butters, or fragrance oils that weren’t measured accurately.
How to fix it:
- Re-blend the soap: If you notice separation starting to happen while mixing, stop and blend the mixture again using a stick blender until it reaches trace. Be sure to blend long enough to fully emulsify the ingredients.
- Measure accurately: Always use a digital scale to measure your ingredients. Incorrect measurements of lye, oils, or water can throw off the balance of the recipe and lead to separation.
4. Cracking
What it is:
Cracking usually occurs when soap is curing and develops visible cracks on the surface. It can also happen during the saponification process, leaving deep cracks in the soap bar itself.
Why it happens:
Cracking is typically caused by overheating. When the soap gets too hot during saponification or curing, it expands and creates cracks. This can happen if your soap molds are in a very warm environment or if you’ve insulated them too much.
How to fix it:
- Cool your soap: If you notice cracking while the soap is still in the mold, try cooling it down by moving it to a cooler area or removing any insulation you’ve added.
- Monitor temperatures: To prevent cracking, make sure your soap is curing in a stable, moderate environment. Avoid placing it in direct sunlight or near heat sources.
- Adjust your recipe: High temperatures can also occur when you use too many fast-saponifying oils (like coconut oil or palm oil) in your recipe. Try adjusting your oil ratios to slow down the process.
5. Soft or Sticky Soap
What it is:
Soft soap that doesn’t harden properly or feels sticky to the touch is a common issue for beginner soapmakers. It may remain soft for weeks after being unmolded.
Why it happens:
Soft soap is usually the result of too much water in the recipe, insufficient curing time, or using oils with a high percentage of unsaponifiable fats (like olive oil). Cold, humid conditions can also prevent soap from curing properly.
How to fix it:
- Give it time: Some soaps, especially those with high olive oil content, need longer curing times to harden fully. Be patient and allow at least 4-6 weeks for curing.
- Reduce water content: If your soap is consistently soft, try reducing the amount of water in your lye solution to speed up the hardening process.
- Use harder oils: Incorporate harder oils like coconut oil, palm oil, or cocoa butter into your recipe to create firmer soap bars.
Conclusion
Soapmaking is an enjoyable craft, but it’s not without its challenges. The key to success is understanding why these common problems occur and knowing how to troubleshoot them. By following the tips outlined in this guide, you’ll be able to prevent and fix issues like seizing, ricing, separation, cracking, and soft soap. With practice and patience, you’ll refine your technique and create beautiful, high-quality soaps every time!
If you would like to learn how to make soap, check out my course here.
