Troubleshooting encyclopedia: a guide to troubleshooting CP soap
TL;DR: This guide maps all problems by production stage: during production (seizing, ricing, lye pocket), after removal (soda ash, softness), during maturation (DOS, sweating) and finished soap (weak foam, irritation). Each problem has a quick description + link to a detailed page.
This encyclopedia is a complete reference guide for diagnosing and troubleshooting cold process soap. Each problem is systematically described with causes, differentiation from similar phenomena and solutions.
How to use this guide
The problems are divided into four groups: problems during production, problems after removal from the mould, problems during maturation and problems with the finished soap. A quick diagnostic key and a link to a more detailed page is provided for each problem.
Problems in production
Seizing: the soap solidified immediately
What happens: The mass goes from a thin emulsion to a solid, doughy or crumbly consistency within seconds of adding EO/FO.
Causes: Eugenol (clove, cinnamon), aldehydes, too hot mass, combination of multiple accelerants.
Rescue: HP (hot process) - move to a slow cooker at 60-70°C, cook until ZAP test (neutral on the tongue).
In detail: Seizing and trace acceleration
Trace acceleration: the mass thickens quickly but is controllable
What happens: Thickening occurs within 1-3 minutes after adding fragrance or additives (honey, bentonite). The mass is still usable, but the processing window is drastically shortened.
Causes: See seizing - a milder form. Honey, FO with accelerant components, too strong trace before adding.
Rescue: Pour quickly or spoon into the mould. For moderate acceleration is enough.
In detail: Seizing and trace acceleration
Ricing: the mass becomes granular
What happens: The mass becomes grainy or cheesy - reminiscent of a rice or cottage cheese dessert. The oil and solid phase are separated.
Causes: Příliš velký teplotní rozdíl mezi oleji a louhovacím roztokem (>15 °C), přidání FO na příliš horkou hmotu, některé FO způsobují ricing bez seizing.
Rescue: Continue mixing - stick blender. Ricing can be mixed back into the emulsion in 90% of cases. If not, HP rescue.
Lye pocket: liquid in the middle of the soap
What happens: When removed from the mold or when sliced, you will find a liquid or gelatinous center with a sharp or soapy burning sensation.
Causes: Uneven mixing during production, adding lye to oils all at once without sufficient mixing, pouring too quickly before emulsification.
Rescue: Small pocket - wrap the soap in foil and leave for another 48 h. Saponification completes. Large pocket - HP rescue. Never use soap with lye pocket.
Zero emulsification: oil floats on the surface
What happens: After mixing the lye and oils, the mass does not form an emulsion - the oil and the lye solution separate back.
Causes: Too large temperature difference, extremely low production temperature, oils were not melted properly.
Rescue: Heat the mixture on a water bath and continue to stir with a stick blender.
Problems after removal from the mould
Soft or sticky soap: cannot be cut
What happens: After 48 h, the soap cannot be removed from the mould or is sticky like rubber when removed.
Causes: Too much unsaturated oils, excessive water, too high superfat, miscalculation of NaOH, summer production in the heat.
Solutions: See detailed guide - 6 causes with specific solutions.
In detail: Soft soap
Soda ash: white dusty coating on the surface
What happens: A white or grey dusty coating on the surface of the soap that forms in the first 24-72 hours.
Causes: Contact of the surface with CO₂ from the air prior to the conclusion of saponification.
Security threat: NO - an aesthetic defect, not a safety risk.
Removal: Steaming or trimming the surface.
In detail: Soda ash
Crack: surface rupture
What happens: The soap in the mould cracks longitudinally or radially. Cracks in the centre or sides.
Causes: Overheating in the gel phase - the soap expanded and then burst. Too fast cooling (summer production in the fridge).
Security threat: NO - cracking will not damage the soap in any way. It depends on the design whether the burst bothers.
Prevention: Avoid overheating (honey, sugar in the recipe). Do not throw the mould suddenly into the refrigerator.
Soap is too brittle or crumbly
What happens: The soap crumbles or breaks when sliced, instead of slicing smoothly.
Causes: Too low production temperature (struggles with solidification), too low content of conditioning oils, overheating caused anomalous texture, linseed or hard palm oil in high percentage.
Solutions: Check the SoapCalc "iodine“ score - too low = soap is too hard. Increase the proportion of olive or castor oil.
The soap cannot be removed from the mould
What happens: The soap sticks to the mould or tears when removed.
Causes: Silicone molds - usually easy to remove, but too soft soap tears. Wooden moulds without lining - soap sticks.
Solutions: Silicone - put the mould in the freezer for 30-60 min. Wooden moulds - always line with baking paper or foil.
Problems during maturation
DOS: Dreaded Orange Spots
What happens: Orange or brown spots, irregular, on the surface or in cross-section. Rancid odour.
Causes: Oxidation of unsaturated fatty acids - rancid oils, metal ions in water, improper storage.
In detail: DOS spots
Sweating: droplets on the surface
What happens: Droplets of liquid on the surface of the soap - reminiscent of sweat. The soap is otherwise solid.
Causes: Glycerin in soap is a strong humectant - in a high humidity environment it absorbs moisture from the air and forms droplets. Soap with honey or sugar is more susceptible.
Security threat: NO - soap is perfectly safe.
Prevention: Store dry or wrap in transparent film in the rainy season.
Soap odour: rancidity, chemical or pungent smell
What happens: Soap smells rancid, pungent chemical or unpleasant odor.
Causes: Rancidity (oxidation) - see DOS. Excessive overheating during production. Incorrect amount of lye (too little - free oil, too much - lye did not react).
Solutions: Rancid soap - discard or HP rescue. Meadow smell - leave for another 2-4 weeks, the smell will fade with saponification.
White stripes or "ghost swirl“
What happens: White or light spiral patterns in the cross section of the soap, although multi-coloured soap was not intended.
Causes: The soap did not go through an even gel phase - the center gelled, the edges did not. White layer (edge) vs transparent (gelled center) = ghost swirl.
It's a deliberate technique (see Swirl techniques), but if it occurs unintentionally - the prevention is the even temperature of the mould.
Problems with ready-made soap
Soap does not lather well
What happens: Soap lathers poorly, the lather is watery or thin.
Causes: Too little coconut or castor oil (both contribute to foaming). Hard water (calcium blocks foaming). Too low in lauric acid.
Solutions: Add 5-10% castor oil to your next recipe. Always use softer water for foam testing.
Soap leaves a "waxy film“ in the hair
What happens: After washing hair with CP soap shampoo cube, hair is heavy or waxy.
Causes: Soap stearates react with calcium in hard water to form soap scum, which gets trapped in the hair.
Solutions: Acid rinse (apple cider vinegar diluted 1:10). Filter hard water.
In detail: Shampoo bars
Soap irritates the skin
What happens: Burning, itching or redness after using CP soap.
Causes:
- The lye pocket - the uncured part of the soap with high pH
- Too high dosage of irritant EO (cinnamon, cloves, peppermint above 2%)
- The soap was not sufficiently aged (pH still too high)
- Allergic reaction to FO or EO component
Solutions: ZAP test (tongue) - if it burns, the soap is not ripe. Check FO dosage. Patch test on inside of wrist before using new prescription.
Quick diagnostic overview
| When will it occur | Symptom | Probable cause |
|---|---|---|
| In the production | The mass instantly solidified | Seizing - HP Rescue |
| In the production | The mass has become granular | Ricing - mix on or HP |
| After removal (0-48 h) | Soft or sticky soap | Lots of water, unsaturated oils, low NaOH |
| After removal | White dust coating | Soda ash - steam or trim |
| After removal | Cracked soap | Overheating - aesthetic defect |
| Maturing (4-8 weeks) | Orange spots + rancidity | DOS - antioxidants, quality oils |
| When maturing | Droplets on the surface | Glycerin + moisture - wrap in foil |
| Finished soap | Irritates the skin | ZAP test, check EO dosage |
| Finished soap | Don't foam | Add castor oil, softer water |
Frequently asked questions
How do I know which problem to face? Look at the table above - enter when the symptom occurred and the stage of production. The table will direct you.
What is the ZAP test and how do I do it? Take a small piece of the finished soap, gently touch it with your tongue. If it burns or tingles - the soap is not ripe. Neutral taste = finished.
Can all problems be solved with a hot process? HP is a last resort solution for seizing and ricing. Other problems (soda ash, DOS) are solved by prevention, not HP.
How long does it take for the problem to manifest itself? Seizing - in seconds. Soda ash - within 72 h. DOS - 4-8 weeks. Softness - within 48 h.
Is it better to remove the problematic soap or save it? If it has a lye pocket - throw it away. If it is soft - ripening. If it has DOS - use personally. Sale depends on the range.
Where can I find more in-depth information about a particular problem? Each problem in the table has a link to a detailed page with causes and solutions.
See also:
Reader Ratings
No ratings yet. Rate this article!
Czech 
English 
German