What Trace Is in Soap Making?

Answer 1

What Trace Is in Soap Making

Trace is the point in your soap at which the oils, fats, and lye have all integrated together and will not separate when left to rest. You can tell it has reached this point when the consistency is pudding-like, and when a spoonful is drizzled across the top, it leaves a small ridged trail before integrating back into the rest of the liquid.

Methods

Pour your melted fats/oils into a large bowl. Slowly pour the lye into this. Stir this with a spoon until lightly blended. The next step depends on your chosen method.

• Hand Mixing - This traditional mixing method can take anywhere from hours to days. Using a mixing spoon, continue until it shows signs of trace.
• Stick/Hand Blender - This most popular method of mixing soap typically takes about 5 minutes. Blend in 1-2 second blasts about 2-3 times. Hand stir again. Repeat this order until it shows trace.

False Trace

This may occur when you use fats/oils that are solid at room temperature, such as tallow or lard. If you let your mixture reach a temperature below 107F (42C) you may begin to see the fat re-solidifying.

• The amount of water, temperature, and additives (like perfumes, honey, etc) will effect how quickly it traces.
• Trace thickness isn't important, but a thicker trace will help suspend seeds or other additives.
• Incorporate additives only after it's achieved trace to prevent seizing.
• Use an online calculator to determine your lye mixture when superfatting.

Answer 2

What Trace Is in Soap Making

Trace is the point in your soap at which the oils, fats, and lye have all integrated together and will not separate when left to rest. You can tell it has reached this point when the consistency is pudding-like, and when a spoonful is drizzled across the top, it leaves a small ridged trail before integrating back into the rest of the liquid.

Methods

Pour your melted fats/oils into a large bowl. Slowly pour the lye into this. Stir this with a spoon until lightly blended. The next step depends on your chosen method.

• Hand Mixing - This traditional mixing method can take anywhere from hours to days. Using a mixing spoon, continue until it shows signs of trace.
• Stick/Hand Blender - This most popular method of mixing soap typically takes about 5 minutes. Blend in 1-2 second blasts about 2-3 times. Hand stir again. Repeat this order until it shows trace.

False Trace

This may occur when you use fats/oils that are solid at room temperature, such as tallow or lard. If you let your mixture reach a temperature below 107F (42C) you may begin to see the fat re-solidifying.

• The amount of water, temperature, and additives (like perfumes, honey, etc) will effect how quickly it traces.
• Trace thickness isn't important, but a thicker trace will help suspend seeds or other additives.
• Incorporate additives only after it's achieved trace to prevent seizing.
• Use an online calculator to determine your lye mixture when superfatting.

Answer 3

Trace in soap making refers to the stage in the soap-making process where the mixture becomes thick enough to leave a visible trail or "trace" on the surface when dribbled back onto itself. This indicates that the oils and lye have fully emulsified and are beginning to saponify, leading to the formation of soap. Achieving trace is crucial for successful soap making as it signals that the soap is ready to be poured into molds.