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French Milling Soap
Customer Question:How do I French Mill Soap?Rebatching, or hand milling, is a soapmaking technique used by hobbyists and artisan soapmakers. The commercial equivalent is French milling.
In rebatching, previously made cold process soap is shredded or diced finely and mixed with a liquid, into which the soap shreds begin to dissolve. It is then heated at a fairly low temperature until the mass is more or less homogeneous. When it becomes translucent and reaches a thick, gel-like consistency, it is spooned or piped into molds and allowed to harden.
Soapmakers frequently use rebatching as a way of adding substances that could not withstand the high temperatures or caustic chemical environment of cold process or hot process soapmaking, such as certain essential oils (for example, those with a very low flash point). The choice of liquid affects the character of the finished soap; milk is frequently used to give the soap a smooth, creamy consistency. Rebatching can also be used as a way of salvaging soap that cracked, curdled or separated while being made. Triple milled soaps are often considered some of the finest true soaps in the market.
By definition of the process and creation of the "gel state", adding to a "liquid" and "rebatching", french milling cannot be physically accomplished with melt and pour soap. Calling melt and pour soap "french milled" is a deceptive marketing technique that I would not recommend.
Hope this helps you!!
Debbie May
www.WholesaleSuppliesPlus.com1-800-359-0944
13 comments:
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French Milled refers to how soap was milled or re-batched in 19th century France. French Milled is a process. It cannot be done with melt and pour soap.
To grate mp soap and melt it is no different than melting a big block. It does not hit the gel phase of soapmaking.
I don’t take your comment as argumentative. I think there is confusion in the market that needs to be cleared up. It benefits all soapmakers to discuss this.
Debbie
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how much liquid to soap ratio is recommended? i have a hp soap that crumbled on top. now i have lots of crumblies left over that i am not sure what to do with. this is a great option.
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This is the method that I used years ago:
4# Shredded CP Soap (cured no more than 5 days)
3 cups Milk
Place shredded 4 pounds shredded soap and 2 cups milk in crock pot. (Recipe works best if pot is completely full). Set temperature at 150º-200ºF.
Cover and allow to cook for 1 hour. After 1 hour, remove the lid and gently stir. If you can still see soap shreds, cover and allow to cook further. Every 15 minutes check on soap to see if shreds have melted. The soap will look like runny mashed potatoes. The maximum cook time is 3 hours.
Remove from heat and add 1 cup of milk. Add 2 ounces of fragrance (if not added to original shredded soap) and color as desired. Stir until fully blended. Spoon mixture into molds. Allow soap to become hard and unmold. Allow to cure 3-4 weeks.
Notes: The more fluid you add to the recipe, the more shrinkage you will experience with the final bar.
Debbie
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what kind of milk?
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You can be creative with any type of milk you wish.
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Thanks for the recipe, Debbie. Now can you please tell us how the "triple" in the term "triple milled" comes in? Thanks.
Patricia
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Triple Milled would mean that the milling process is performed three times on the bar of soap.
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Each time adding the requisite amount of milk???
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Isn't true French Milled soap run through large rollers, in a factory?
Triple Milled run through 3 times?
LorinaT
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I am reading many things about rebatch of soap. You can even buy CP soap already shredded which sounds good to me since I only do MP but want to learn new things. ANYWAY, I have read about the crock pot method, the oven method, double boiler method and this week I found 2 sources discussing how to microwave soap in the rebatch / French milling scenario. I wanted to know Debbie's take on microwave method.
Also, several articles recommend using dry powdered milk in addition to milk, saying the powdered seems to make for a smoother soap. They recommended about 1/4 cup/#2 soap as I remember. Also said to not use low fat, no fat milks but "real milk," 1/2 N 1/2, real cream. That seems like it could get expensive..........
Thanks,
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My knowledge is limited to the method given above in my recipe example.
There is not a way to french mill melt and pour soap because it does not enter the gel phase of soapmaking.
French milled soap is usually quite a bit more than regular soap.
Debbie
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I create and sell pillar candles that can be engraved. I want to add soaps that can also be engraved. Which soap base do I need to buy that will give me a soap that is hard enough to engrave. I haven't been able to get much info on the internet for some reason or the other. Thanks for the help.
Posts
If you grate the soap and add the liquid (milk) heat and stir until gel-like, then pour into molds, dry, then why isn't it french milled if you use M & P? Not trying to be argumentative, just curious because I have done it and added milk and botanicals and wonder why it wouldn't be considered french milled since that was the process.
Nancy