Why Do Some Scents Accelerate Trace in Soap? The Truth About Pumpkin, Cinnamon & Clove

At Silly Bean Soap Co., warm, spicy scents like pumpkin, cinnamon, and clove are fall favorites. They fill my studio with the cozy essence of fall and remind me of fresh bakes, warm mugs of deliciousness, and brisk air of fall.

But in soap making? These delicious scents come with a catch…

They’re known to accelerate trace.

🧼 What Does “Trace” Mean in Soap Making?

In cold process soap making, trace is when the oils and lye solution start to blend and thicken. It begins as a silky liquid and gradually becomes thicker—like cake batter—before being poured into the pan.

When a scent or ingredient accelerates trace, that thickening happens fast. Really fast. Sometimes too fast to create detailed swirls or fancy designs.

🎃 Why Do Pumpkin, Cinnamon & Clove Accelerate?

These fall favorites contain naturally reactive compounds and spice extracts that cause the saponification process to speed up. The result? Less time to work and more urgency to pour.

Harvest Hugs Sheep Milk Soap

🧼 The Work Around!

I love these scents too much to leave them out—so time to get creative:

• Soaping at lower temperatures to help slow the reaction

• Adjusting my mixing method to reduce extra thickening

• And I embrace rustic, simple designs that let the ingredients shine

resulting in a delicious-smelling, rich, and nourishing sheep milk soap bar.

Sometimes the story is: “The pumpkin spice didn’t wait for me!” 😂But I wouldn’t have it any other way.

Love a spicy fall soap? You’re my kind of peep.

Love the skin 'ewe' are in!

Charlene