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Although identifying and understanding trace is one of the most puzzling aspects of cold process soap making for most new soap makers, achieving a true trace is just as important to a good batch of soap as accurate measurements and the proper temperatures. If these three factors are "right," it is easy to produce perfect batches of soap, time after time. If some of these three factors are "wrong," the resulting soap will never be quite what it should be.
The term "trace" comes from the method of identifying when a soap mixture is ready to be poured into molds. At this point in the soap making process, the lye and oils have sufficiently combined so that when a spoon is drawn through the mixture, a visible line (or "trace") will remain for several seconds. (If you aren't sure your soap has traced, it probably hasn't... keep mixing!) A soap mixture goes through a series of easily recognizable stages (see below):
I combine the oils and lye water at temperatures of 110°F to 115°F. (This batch is a combination of olive oil, palm oil, and coconut oil and will make eight pounds of soap.)
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After just a few minutes of mixing with a stick blender, the mixture is already starting to become opaque, thicken, and lighten in color. (Stirring by hand will take much longer to reach this stage.)
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Stop stirring occasionally and check the consistency. It's natural in the early stages for the mixture to immediately separate like this... keep mixing!
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We're progressing nicely... the color is lighter, the mixture is thicker, but it's not yet at trace stage. Keep mixing!
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