I think I might have tried rebatching once several years ago, and I wasn't happy with the results--so I never did it again. But I was really unhappy with this soap and I wanted to do something with it. Rebatching seemed like it might be the answer.
While browsing around YouTube last week I came across a video where EssentialSoaps rebatches with goats milk (here). There are lots of rebatching videos on YouTube, but I found this one particularly helpful. Maybe I just saw it at the right time--I don't know.
The first thing I needed to do was grate up all that soap--a 5-lb batch. Yes, I used my food processor. It still took forever! Then I poured a pint of whipping cream over the soap gratings and allowed it to soak in over night.
Sunday morning I divided the soap up into two crock pots: one a 7 quart pot and the other a 3 or 4 quart pot. I thought I'd add more purple ultramarine to the soap in the big pot and titanium dioxide to the soap in the smaller pot. That way I could still have the two colors and, hopefully, there would be more contrast between the layers than in the original soap.
Then I turned both crock pots on to High and let them sit for a while. The soap in the small pot melted faster (well, there was less soap, right?) so after it melted I left in on Low while the soap in the bigger pot continued to melt.
It really didn't take very long for the soap to melt down--between 1/2 and 1 hour. I was surprised at how well it melted--practically no lumps.
When it got to this consistency, I added the fragrance oil and stirred like crazy. I even used the stick blender on it--something I never would have thought to try without the EssentialSoaps video. Then I layered the two colors in the mold, textured the top, sprinkled a little glitter on top, and left to visit some friends.
When I got home 5 or 6 hous later my whole house smelled like Violets! I took the soap out of the mold. It was still pretty sticky--I probably should have left it 'til the next morning. But I couldn't wait!
I'm really happy with the way the textured tops turned out. You can see that the colors are still not really purple nor really white. But there is more contrast than before.
But of course, you have to cut the soap to see the layers. And look at that! They turned out really well. Because the soap was so sticky, the surface of each bar is a little rough--which you can see in the photo. But other than that, I thought they looked really good!
Here's an up-close-and-personal shot of one soap slice. You can see one lump on the left side of that slice. But I was really amazed that there weren't more lumps! OK, maybe the bottom "purple" layer should have been thicker so the "white" layer would sit a little higher, but what the heck! It still looks good--if I do say so myself.
And if you look closely enough, you can see some of the glitter.
The dragons just LOVE to play on the soap. And they really like the Violet fragrance.
So I'm going to have to do this rebatching thing again. I have a couple FOs I absolutely love, but they don't hold up in CP soap because of the lye. I'll try rebatching them next.
Um, I guess I better make a plain batch of soap to rebatch, huh?
I HATE rebatching soap but sometimes it's a necessity. You did a really good job. I luv how the different layers turned out. You've inspired me to finally do some rebatches this weekend. I made a batch of beer soap but wasn't happy with how it turned out, so into the crockpot it goes! PS, aren't food processors great soap making tools? haha
ReplyDeleteHi Sud Sisters! Good luck with your rebatching this weekend! I need to do a beer batch, too. And you're right: food processors, stick blenders, coffe grinders, all those kitchen gadgets are handing for making soap!
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