Tracing

‘Tracing‘ is a term to describe the consistency (thickness) of soap when it’s ready to pour into moulds.

To test for tracing

1. Drip some soap onto the surface of the soap in the stirring bowl. It should leave a “trace” or small mound.
2. Draw a line in the soap with a spoon or rubber spatula. If a “trace” of the line remains for a few seconds, the soap has traced.

Tracing is easy to recognize, yet it causes new soap makers to worry a lot. Relax and know that the soap will trace eventually. Just stir the soap constantly for the first 15 minutes or so, then stir the soap every fifteen minutes until it thickens and traces, no matter how long it takes.