The fast trace could have something to do with your recipe. For example if you use a high precentage of olive oil in your receipt you will not reach trace as fast as you would if used a high precentage of plam oil. Just some advice, until you get more familiar with your oils and how they react I would not use the stick blender JMO. As for the color, it just depends on what you use some morph to different colors, some you need more of some you need less. My soap base is not white it is more of a yellow and I have never had a blue turn green, but thats just me I can't speak for everyone else. Just a little something else, test, test, test.......you gonna hear that alot. Welcome to my addiction Sheli