All About Trace in Cold Process Soap | Bramble Berry

Confused about the term "trace" in cold process soapmaking? Learn what trace means, and the different kinds of trace in this video. Anne-Marie takes her soap from thin to thick trace, and demonstrates "false trace" as well!
www.brambleberry.com/
Recipe Demonstrated:
3.3 oz. Avocado Oil (10%)
8.3 oz. Coconut Oil (25%)
11.6 oz. Olive Oil (35%)
9.9 oz. Palm Oil (30%)
4.6 oz. Sodium Hydroxide Lye (5% superfat)
10.9 oz. Distilled Water
"False Trace" Recipe Demonstrated:
* This recipe is very high in hard oils and butters to help demonstrate false trace. It's not a recipe we recommend, because it's not very well balanced with soft oils.
6.6 oz. Cocoa Butter (20%)
13.2 oz. Coconut Oil (40%)
3.3 oz. Olive Oil (10%)
9.9 oz. Palm Oil (30%)
4.9 oz. Sodium Hydroxide Lye
10.9 oz. Distilled Water
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[@bramble-berry]

Thank you for watching! If you have any questions, feel free to contact our customer service team at [e-mail] or 877-627-7883 between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. PST, Monday-Friday. You can also live chat with customer service on BrambleBerry.com from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. PST, Monday-Friday. For more tutorials, tips and tricks and business advice, visit our blog www.soapqueen.com/. For soapmaking supplies, visit our website www.brambleberry.com/

[@BeeManBane]

I'll be making my first batches this week. Wish me luck!

[@SunATCtrade]

This was SO helpful. Thank you soap queen!

[@delisesaunderson8070]

Does a electric hand blender take longer than a stick blender?

[@marthachishala8730]

So I have had "false trace" and the oil just sits at the top. Is there any way of saving my mix? I know know that it is because my lye mix was cold.

[@Marie-dz5ig]

Do you deliver in Japan?

[@stephaniesalls1876]

5 years later and I'm super grateful for finding this. I've been overblending and keep having issues. THANK YOU! 😇

[@Ruumablood]

Just want to add, i made a successful batch of soap, i traced it by hand and only took maybe 20 mins poured into my mold 2 days later I took the bars out, has a very earthy smell due to the Rhassoul Clay i added and they feel really good just got to cure them 4 weeks and they should be good bars of soap. This was my first batch ever made.

[@-kohakuma-]

because you know I'm all about that trace, bout that trace ...ill see myself out

[@bramble-berry]

All about that trace, no bubbles. ;)

[@-kohakuma-]

***** 😂😂😂♡

[@theasinclaire52]

Yes it's pretty clear My soap is home brewed And I can soap it, soap it Like Soap Queen taught us to I got those goggles and gloves to keep me safe Adding all of my fats to all of my bases Everybody!

[@-kohakuma-]

Thea Sinclaire that was PERFECTION lol!

[@theasinclaire52]

Thanks!

[@Me-ev4ix]

Ann Marie's goggles look so cute!!! Like a Super hero mask!

[@danniboi187]

This was the best trace video I have seen. I kept getting to what I thought was light trace was actually medium trace and wasn't getting the swirls I wanted. I followed this and stopped mixing when the soap got to thin cake batter. I was so worried that it was so sloshy and liquidy but I poured it and 14 hours later removed it from the mold and had the exact soap consistency I have been looking for. I beautiful solid, no bubbles, and not a clumpy bar!! This video was excellent I will never make soap the same again!!

[@ClaireNicole33]

~I have an addiction... A beautiful addiction to Bramble Berry♡♡ We love all of you at Bramble Berry & want to thank you all for the hard work you do in order for us to create our own passions♡♡ From your biggest fan & #1 customer in Houma, Louisiana:))))!!! You're all awesome!!!!

[@bramble-berry]

This message means so much to us, thank you. :)

[@sricube]

Love brambleberry and soapqueen. Your videos are so informative . Thanks so much for all the uploads.

[@missbeckyg]

I love the explanation. You make it really easy to understand the whole process.

[@3dmonkeybizz]

Superb video! Many thanks for taking the time to produce these vital tutorials!

[@kna4evr1]

thank you...love your teaching and your soaps always look beautiful

[@EbonydoesitAll318]

Thanks for being very descriptive and Concise so that Beginners can understand. ❤️

[@LovelessYayaoi]

I'm really enjoying these more technical/informative videos. I hope you'll make more soon!

[@chrysg5374]

you deserve 1M + subscribers! The details you provide in your videos are just priceless! :)

[@jeannedecker964]

Thank you so much for all the instructions. You are absolutely the best expert on the web. I have your book, purchased many of your products and I’m ready to begin to to make soap.

[@tamisandlin8525]

Thanks for the awesome tutorial! All of your info is much appreciated!

[@peepla7]

I love brambleberry....and their tools... which are brilliant!

[@amberdoucette]

I'm fairly new to soapmaking. I've been a fan for several years though. I would love to see more technical videos. I love how you explain everything in terms that everyone can get right away.

[@OnlyinUrMind]

Love your videos!! Thanks for sharing and educating everyone!!

[@shusha50]

Ann-Marie, Hello from Canada. Great video. lovely voice, total confidence, sweet as honey and so well informed. Appreciate your video. I just got into soap making and other cosmetics making little projects being home bound from the forced imprisonment with lockdowns and shut downs. Perfect time for me to start my hobbies. Retirment does have its benefits. I am going to try your recipe. Love all your videos and your team too are a wonderful fun lot. thks for all the info. You simpley rock.

[@jenpostles6830]

I wish there were videos like this when I was first trying to teach myself how to make soap. Awesome video!

[@leonardyoutube3349]

What happened to you on your 1st try ?

[@aleahsoapstorehandmadesoap3354]

what a great information thank you so much!! you are the best!!

[@alicechiyala1965]

Wow ve enjoy led your explanation simple and straightforward.am new to start my project in soap making hoping to learn from the best 😃

[@jefflee2179]

Thank you for video. I really love this.

[@awaitingthetrumpetcall4529]

Great video. So 'saponification' is the emulsification of oil and lye water. That was really instructive. Now that I understand that, I'm going to research the primitive technique that uses potash and tallow.

[@TimewithLivi]

Thank you for breaking down the basics because people don’t do it on their channel

[@ChivaiLopes]

This was great. Thank you so much!

[@keki8388]

CONGRATS ON BEING FEATURED ON Hallmarks Channel HOME AND FAMILY!!!!!

[@boscobonilla]

Thanks very much for this great video!

[@christineramseyer4721]

Thanks for the instructions.

[@miahilliard9184]

thank you! this was really helpful.

[@maycuarecamacho]

Thanks very helpful 🙏☺️ After the quarantine I will start to make soap, so inspired by your video 😍

[@Jujuumobi]

This was really really helpful thank you. I'm a beginner and I use your lye calculator. It's really helpful. I was wondering why I hit trace in seconds so I'm thinking it's cause I used hot lye in cold oil. Next time I won't be in such a hurry.

[@renovatiorenovatio1056]

Very helpfull Anne Marie!

[@camiraramdath450]

This was really useful thank you 🙏

[@rianajansevanrensburg2444]

That was very helpfull thank you

[@lizbunniereid213]

Awesome this was very helpful.

[@CuriosityRocks]

Love the technical videos 😀

[@margaretgrimm8995]

I really enjoy your technical videos even as an experienced soapmaker. You out things very clearly and I totally recommend your videos to new soapers who ask me about getting into making soap because you teach so well!

[@bramble-berry]

Thank you Margaret! We really appreciate it.

[@debbiecarolla7511]

Love watching you.

[@gusgustupapa4194]

You are my inspiration to become a soap maker 🥺

[@mayuliholcomb3201]

Thank You!!! 💛

[@cenedraleaheldra5275]

very good. thanks

[@alexandruepuran]

Robin of Batman fame makes traces! Love it. Liked and subscribed. (Came for the beard oil actually, but... “Robin” here is so lovely...)

[@davidahandcraftsoap]

thank you for the great information.

[@bramble-berry]

Thank you for watching!

[@gengerdlifestyle2638]

I had made it today this recipe

[@mercyojowi4350]

love your videos

[@chrisr9764]

Loved this. More technical videos please!

[@Munchkinnnnnnnn]

great video!

[@Pixels_and_Points]

I love these more "technical" videos. Also, great new music!

[@bramble-berry]

Thank you, we had a lot of fun choosing the new music for this video. :)

[@Pixels_and_Points]

I'm sure you did! May I ask the licensing source/catalogue you use? I've been looking at music lately, but few seem geared toward repeated use such as the theme song for a KZbin series. Thanks!

[@bramble-berry]

Absolutely, we found the music here: www.premiumbeat.com/

[@Pixels_and_Points]

Thank you so much. You're so kind!

[@darya7473]

Love the music! XOXO

[@beautifullyandwonderfullym9548]

thank you i have a charcoal set n i still need a blender❤️✍🏽✍🏽

[@mimm4332]

amazing

[@newstart49]

I know what I did wrong- thanks for the help. Best video on this subject!! Have you ever forgotten to remove those safety glasses before leaving the shop? I have. lol

[@Delta68Geo]

Very informative, thank you 👍🛀

[@TH2023_3]

That helped out a lot. I just made my 1st batch of soap using melt and pour and I wanted it textured but it was thin trace as I just learned. Now I know for next time. I didn't stick blend at all I had just melted it down and poured it this video was so easy to understand where I went wrong 😊

[@hayatmalik4214]

I ll start soon home made soap making as well and watching all those videos which can help me regarding that, so I can do not much mistakes.

[@cczahnow]

Melt Pour is exactly that. You watch for trace when you're making cold process. You really shouldn't stick blend MP. Just melt and pour :)

[@TH2023_3]

@@cczahnow Well I thought I wanted to make melt and pour but if I wanted to make more textured soaps maybe not since you said not to stick blend melt and pour.

[@cczahnow]

@@TH2023_3 Yep the best way to get texture in MP is by adding chunks of soap in it. Hot process soap provides the most texture!

[@veronicawilliams2612]

I'll be making some soon but do to this bad weather I can't open no windows nice viv..

[@emmadj4916]

Hello, awesome video. I only have one question. Should I use emuslifying wax and preservative in soaps and shower gels?

[@alecbinyon2944]

Thanks for the video. I just did a batch that stayed at a thin trace for longer than I'm used to but I poured it in the mold anyway. Not sure what's going on with that

[@dianerandgaard1407]

This video is really helpful. Thank you! Do you have any videos about the effect of vegetable oil and lye mixture TEMPERATURES on trace speed and other factors?

[@jasonlynwood7731]

Hello Diane. How are you doing ?

[@narminaaroundtheworld]

Hello Annie ! I love your channel, I saw either comes really loose wire very thick if it’s very hard and I still use it , Can you give us the recipes in grams please one basic one for Olive 🫒 oil , Do we have to wait for the lye to totally settle in and get cold before we Pour the olive oil in there thank you 🙏

[@YuliaLinderoth]

I tried to make my first batch of cold process bastille soap tonight.... By hand....After 4,5 hours I gave up and poured it into my mold. I have no idea if it reached light trace but it looks emulsified. There's a ton of small bubbles in it too because of all my stirring and whisking too. I'll just have to try again if it doesn't work. Should've waited till I had bought a stickblender hahahaha

[@wildnsmile]

This is so awesome and educational. Thanks so much for sharing tips. I made a batch the other day using olive oil, grape seed oil and safflower seed oil as base but it’s been 48 hours and my soap is still not hardening in the mold. Is that normal? Can I use Sodium lactate when making natural soaps?

[@bramble-berry]

We highly recommend using sodium lactate in all your natural soap recipes. Depending on how much Olive Oil you used, the recipe could be too soft to remove from the mold for a few days up to a week.

[@ladymitch32sunshine88]

Hi! Will you pls make a pumpkin milk goat soap. Thank you

[@balancespa2455]

Will try the first recipe and give it a whirl

[@Coconutluxenaturals]

i just loved this video. . i love the science behind soap making:). meanwhile with that cold batch. will it go through gel phase? does it make any difference to the quality of the end soap? thank you always xx Katherine Coconut Dreams Australia

[@bramble-berry]

That's a great question. Handmade soap will feel amazing with or without gel phase, the only difference is the way it looks. Soaps that do go through gel phase tend to have brighter colors and a slightly shiny appearance. If that's something you prefer, you can insulate your mold to get it nice and toasty. Learn more here: www.soapqueen.com/bath-and-body-tutorials/tips-and-tricks/when-to-insulate-handmade-soap/

[@kikisoaps6544]

Do you have a video on allepo soap? I made some tonight and my lye water was about 130 f and my oils were about 125 f and I used a stick blender and it traced right away and got real thick and I had to scoop it out of the container. So do you think my temperature was too high? I used 80 % olive oil and 20%laurel berry fruit oil.

[@ladymitch32sunshine88]

Hi! I wanna know if I pour the soap to mold and spray the alcohol, do I have to put right away the soap to the freezer? Thanks

[@heatherlee4316]

Hello was wondering what size mold you used for the first recipe you provided in the description.

[@julesaromacandlesjulesarom8004]

I have a question, can I re-do my cold pressed soap? It got mess up , unbalanced of lye. Can I used my damaged cold pressed soap?😬🤔

[@devbachu7072]

How come I never got that an stick blend in 2 mins an reafyvti pour not to thick with bubbles

[@lillyorellana3821]

I can't find Palm Oil, and need to know if I can use more percentage of the other oils or is it mandatory to find the Palm Oil to make the recipe. Thank you

[@janettepolt2815]

can anyone tell me why after i get to trace-the soap zaps my tongue.

[@jenniferrose8364]

I was wondering if anyone can help me.. I got palm shortening will that work with this recipe ?

[@user-yn2rd4yq6d]

Do different traces change the end bar or do they all end up looking the same?

[@TheSewingSwan]

Great video Thank you! Does anyone know where to get the big jug please?

[@bramble-berry]

The glass mixing bowl we use is a 5qt one from KitchenAid!

[@TheSewingSwan]

@@bramble-berry thank you so much 🙏🏼

[@thuyinh5061]

Can you help me figure out the standard formula for making a bar of soap

[@cathyanndrakes5722]

What other oils can you use in place of palm oil

[@mashkoorazhar9901]

My soap mixture got solidified too early i did not know why ....i had used alovera and palm oil

[@nickdannunzio7580]

What size were the purple nitrile gloves that are used in this video and where did you get the gloves at?

[@bluesky-dj7ky]

Please I made soap since a month and it still soft and oilyAnd please anyone can tell me the quantity by using spoon or cup

[@nivodhinimk1167]

Hi first time i tried this... in the middle of soap there is patch of green color in almost all the soaps... whta could the reason... can u help

[@intanpurba8147]

What is the best comparison between hard oil and soft oil ?

[@dirtsailoroff-road5580]

I used a brand new stick blender on high for about 20 minutes until it overheated and I got a light trace...

[@Whois_.X]

I have a lot of oil setting at the top of my batch, I use the quick mix but I also added 3.45oz of sweet almond and Murumuru as well 1.45oz shea butter and wheat germ then 1oz botanical extract and lastly about 1oz aloe Vera extract and 2 tsp of sodium lactate. My lye solution was 6oz lye & 13.41 water. Based off the calculation my oils and lye mix was 100% could it be my extract & concentrate or did I use to much butter/oil. Which I let the butter melt once I mixed in lye solution mix. Help me save my soap batch please

[@magickalmedicinal]

Hi! You’ve tough me so much in my soaping journey! I have a question. I added my color in with alcohol the other day and it seemed to accelerate trace is that possible? I want to create for texture but I can never seem to get to the right trace. The other day my soap started to solidify before I could finished pouring. It became too thick to pour and I had to scoop it out. Any tips or tricks? Or suggestions? Lol

[@bramble-berry]

If you are making cold process soap we recommend mixing your mica pigments with oil to prevent acceleration.

[@purvaparulekar8023]

While making cold or hot process it releases oil sometime..... Why this? Pl share

[@shrutiwankhade4406]

I am a soap maker in India Even if I use soft oils in cold process soap I don't get time to do swirls because the batter gets too thick. What would you suggest I should do?

[@abrarameen88]

Can I use soap for skin after 24 hours of making?

[@diannewagman7313]

Is there any way to save a batch with a false trace and your stick blender overheated and died? Can you hot process? Needless to say my first soap batch was a fail. But my first bath bomb batch was an even bigger fail and a huge mess. Lol. But this is how we learn. I always keep in mind that there is always success after a failure. Next time will be better. It's just heartbreaking to waste all this oil. Any solutions for saving?

[@awaradelhika1269]

how to make soap noodles plz make video

[@mrtherapist]

Hi I'm from India.. I tried lye calculator . But I think it was not worked. 4 time I'm trying pure coconut cold process soap. Can u pls help me for recipe. How much can I take lye , water and coconut oil. Last bech was very soft after cured also. Was tired 5% water and 20% water also but it was not worked.. pls help me

[@healthnbeauty1194]

Can you use a wisk?

[@mousamijadhav6096]

Hiii.... probably when little trace found then add essential oils but in my case I have blend for 5 to 7 minutes but trace not come then I add essential oils in that then trace will be came within 2 minutes...why these happens & Is it right???

[@surabhisahni3950]

I blended for 5 mins, do u think my batter saponified? It's my second time making soap. The first time was too lye heavy

[@godchaser39]

how do i use the lots of lather quick mix. or any mixes. i want to learn more

[@stancexpunks]

Kimberly Cooper huh? You just heat up the bag until it’s all liquid (if it’s not all liquid already) and pour out the amount needed in whatever recipe you’re using. Not sure what you mean by how to use a bag of oil...

[@pankajchakravarty8877]

Madam, can you say without olive oil recipe of Soap making.

[@stancexpunks]

I feel like with thin trace, you can’t trace any trailings on the top. The first few times I made soap, I focused on the “trace means you can see trailings on the top” so called rule of thumb and always made too thick of batter to do the designs I wanted. So I think we should stop perpetrating that rule of thumb and maybe hopefully use a different word because beginners will take it to heart too much like I did.

[@JadeLilyPop]

Mine seems to get to medium thick trace REALLY fast.. I am new and have made 2 batches so far.. they're curing so I hope they work when they are done. Do you recommend using a glass container to mix lye? I have a big plastic container that was recommended in a soapmaking book, but the lye barely fills up the bottom of it, and when I pour the oils, it's still not even that full, so I'm wondering if I can downsize to a glass pitcher.

[@bramble-berry]

We've used heat-safe glass for years and haven't had any problems. You can always use stainless steel or heat-resistant plastic as well. Whatever you use, make sure you only use them for soap.

[@gul4470]

How much time do we need to wait for getting thick trace?