Thread: How to ruin Proraso soap

I was down to a couple of loose chunks of Proraso Red in the bowl.
I soaked it over night in some water, microwaved it, and then whisked it from a slightly clear state to a white creamy one.
Poured it back into the bowl and let it firm up.
I figured I nailed it until I went to shave.
Had a hell of a time working up a decent lather.
I killed something that permits a foamy thick lather.
Lessen learned.

Heating shea butter or most ingredients in soaps and creams over 175 F (80 C) will kill any properties they have.

When I was about 12; I tried to make milk chocolate by melting dark chocolate and adding sugar together with some condensed milk.
Didn't work and ruined the saucepan that I was using.

When I was about 14; I watched a documentary about brandy distillers and tried to make brandy by boiling wine and letting it cool down.
Didn't work either and must have ruined a perfect bottle of wine from our cellar.


Even though it didn't upset my parents terribly then; I have taken a more cautious approach since then before I try to modify complex chemical compositions.



B.

I agree with Mark. Heat killed the lather properties.

On the rare occasion I have to nuke soap I use 5 second pulses until the soap will conform to the bowl/mug/cup. The soap itself never gets past the warm stage.

+1 on daves suggestion, you can use a double boiler and gently heat or for soft soaps just stand in a bowl of warm water for a while. Job done.

Good to know!

Sounds like a lot of work for a couple of loose chunks!

I tried microwaving soap once, failed. I tried heating a hard puck on the stove to "melt" it to pour into a nice decanter, failed. Best thing I have found is to slip the cheese grater out of the kitchen and use it...

Originally Posted by shooter74743

I tried microwaving soap once, failed. I tried heating a hard puck on the stove to "melt" it to pour into a nice decanter, failed. Best thing I have found is to slip the cheese grater out of the kitchen and use it...

Just hope that SWMNO doesn't catch you!

One of the few benefits of being on call 5 days a week...do stuff like that and then "load the dishwasher & run it"...you get brownie points for cleaning up the kitchen & she never knows!!!! Momma didn't raise no fool!