23 Mar Mon 2015
From Lard to Soap in 3 hours.
Jep, I can do that. I mainly make hot processed, but have tried some cold process. So today I was going to make cold processed lard, sheabutter and honey. Well, I am not sure if that one will turn out right. When it was a trace stage, ready to pour, I put the honey in. It turn orange, sharp orange and started to separate!!! I turned more heat on the pot, stirred like crazy, and hope for the best. It is brown soap like substance, in the form, cooling down, so we will see in a day or 2.
I cleaned the pot, put new lard in, and will try another batch, NO HONEY!!! So we will see how that turns out.
Marte Holen
07:44 PM CDT
I make cold process soap with honey all the time, and sometimes I add a bit of bee's wax as well. It is best to add the honey at the END, right at trace. If using honey, 1/2-1 oz works for a 6 1/2 lb. batch, and warm it in hot water or the microwave just before adding it to traced soap. If adding bee's wax, use no more than 1-2 tbsp. and melt it in with the oils and fats. Keep the oils warmer than you might otherwise, like 125 degrees if using bee's wax.