Yole's Craft

THE VIVA + COKE SOAP TREND… LET’S TALK ABOUT IT

Let's talk about the viva and coke combo that's trending or rather trended.
Before we start,
Don't get me wrong, please. I'm not trying to be rude or come for anybody.

This is simply my opinion from the perspective of a soap maker.

Grate your Viva bar soap, add Coke, then add powder detergent, melt and pour into moulds or cups.

At first glance, it might look like you've created more soap.

You started with one solid bar, added plenty of liquid, and suddenly you have enough mixture to fill several molds.

And you're thinking:

“Wow! Look at how much soap I have now!” 😂

But let's pause.

Did you actually create more soap?

No, you didn't and here's why 👇

You started with a bar of soap that has fully cured and added water to a soap that's done curing 😩 course, the quantity increased at first because you added more material.

But the water you added is not soap

And this is where soap-making science comes in, you can't cheat it.

That excess water has to go somewhere. As the soap dries, most of the water will evaporate. And during use, the soap will continue to lose water and dissolve easily.

So even though you've molded several beautiful bars, the actual amount of soap hasn't magically multiplied.

You've simply spread the original soap over a larger quantity.

A hard laundry soap like the Viva bar you started with is designed to be hard, foamy and reasonably durable.

But when you add a lot of water
You've changed how the soap will behave

It may become softer, dissolve faster when it gets wet, and finish much earlier than the original bar.

So that “extra quantity” you thought you gained may not give you the same durability as the original.

Viva, plus coke is same as added ordinary water to it, nothing magical will happen

Eventually, that water will dry up over time leaving you with an heavily shrinked bar.

I know as a parent with kids you might think it's economical, truth is, it isn't.

So if the idea is, let me have some fun with this trend ✅
But if it's,
“Let me turn one bar into many bars and get much more soap,” then personally, I don't see it that way.

To me, it's more of a waste of money and time.

Think about it.

You bought the Viva soap.

You bought the Coke.

You bought the powder detergent.

Then you spent your time grating, melting, mixing and molding everything 😩
I'm so tired just thinking about it lol

Meanwhile, the Coke can be enjoyed as a drink. 😂 🥤

And the Viva soap can simply be used as the hard, durable laundry bar it was made to be.

Everybody can do the job they were created to do.

Again, this is my personal opinion as a soap maker.

If you've tried the Viva + Coke method and you love your result, that's completely fine.

I'm not saying nobody should do it.

I'm simply saying that adding water to an already-made soap does not manufacture additional soap.

You can increase the quantity of the mixture, but you cannot magically increase the amount of soap.

You can't cheat soap-making science.

What do you think?

Have you tried the Viva + Coke soap hack that has been trending ?

Tell me your experience in the comments. 👇🏾

🧼 FALSE TRACE: WHEN THICK SOAP BATTER ISN’T REALLY TRACE

If you make soap with tallow, shea butter, palm oil or other hard fats, you need to be careful when your batter suddenly becomes thick.

Sometimes, that thickness is not trace. It may be false trace caused by the fats cooling and beginning to solidify.

HOW DO YOU KNOW IT MAY BE FALSE TRACE?

❌ The batter becomes thick very suddenly.
❌ It looks waxy, grainy, lumpy or uneven.
❌ You can see tiny pieces or streaks of hardened fat.
❌ The batter may separate into oily and watery portions when you stop mixing.
❌ Soap that finishes too soon.

WHAT DOES PROPER EMULSION LOOK LIKE?

Your batter should be smooth and uniform, with no visible separation between the oils and lye solution.

When you stop blending briefly, it should remain together rather than quickly separating.

At light trace, the batter becomes slightly thicker and a small drizzle can leave a faint trail on the surface.

Remember: thick does NOT automatically mean trace!

⚠️ WHY IS FALSE TRACE A PROBLEM?

If you pour a batter that only became thick because the fats hardened, the oils and lye solution may not have formed a stable emulsion.

This can cause the soap batter to separate in the mold, resulting in uneven soap, excess oil in some areas, or an uneven distribution of the soap-making ingredients.

🧼 WHAT SHOULD YOU DO WHEN YOU REACH FALSE TRACE?

Don't panic.
Transfer to a stainless steel and melt on gentle heat till it emulsifies

Don't assume that sudden thickening means your soap is ready.

Learn to recognize the difference between TRUE TRACE and FALSE TRACE—especially when working with hard fats.

🧼 A thick batter isn't always a properly mixed batter.

Follow me for more 🥰

🧼 WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU ADD TOO MUCH OR TOO LITTLE CAUSTIC SODA TO SOAP?

Caustic soda is essential for turning oils into soap, but the quantity must be properly calculated.

✅TOO MUCH CAUSTIC SODA

When you use more caustic soda than the oils require, there may be excess alkali left in the soap.

This can make the soap too harsh, causing dryness, irritation, burning or discomfort on the skin, crumbling bar and white batch appearing on the bar.

✅ TOO LITTLE CAUSTIC SODA

When you use less caustic soda than the oils require, not all the oils may be converted into soap.

The soap can become too soft, greasy or oily, and it may not perform as expected.

👉🏽 The solution?

Don't guess your caustic soda quantity. Calculate it according to the exact type and weight of oils you're using.
Use a digital scale.
Measure by weight not volume

⚠️ Always handle caustic soda carefully and use appropriate protective equipment.

Too much ❌ — Too little ❌ — Correct calculation ✅

Save this post if you're learning soap making! 🧼❤️

Some days you have the energy to create.
Some days you just need to breathe.
Today, I'm somewhere in between. 😩
Still here though ❤️

Good evening from my little corner. ❤️
Taking things one day at a time.