Soap Recipes

Peppermint + Mint Refresh Tea Layer

Notes

• SoapCalc batch: 500 g oils | 5% superfat | water 33% of oils (165 g) | NaOH 70.31 g | lye concentration 29.88% | water:lye 2.3467:1.
• Oil blend: Castor 5% (25 g), Coconut 30% (150 g), Olive 25% (125 g), Shea Butter 25% (125 g), Sweet Almond 15% (75 g).
• Scent: Peppermint essential oil 15.5 g (3.1% of oils).
• Design: Mint Refresh tea at the bottom of the mold (2 teabags emptied out; not ground).
• Mold: new silicone mold with extra silicone columns on the outside bracing walls.
• Cut: ~10 full-width bars (not measured).
• Issue: batter thickened very fast (acceleration / fast trace) before it could be poured smoothly.
• Likely cause: hot lye solution added to room-temp (or cooler) oils can shock faster-moving fats and thicken quickly.
• Next time: let lye cool to ~90–110°F (32–43°C) and match oil + lye temps before blending.
• Technique: stick blend in short bursts; add peppermint at light trace and hand-stir (avoid stick blending after adding EO).
• Rescue: press/smoosh into the silicone mold; optional warm water bath ~15–20 minutes to help it settle.
• If a corner is dry/crumbly with no zap, it’s often just an air pocket/texture (still usable).

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