Let's Talk : Soap Curing Times

Did you know cold process soap takes 4-6 weeks to fully cure? Once soap is made the saponification process takes place in the first 24-48 hours. For non-soaper terminology, saponification is the process where the oils and lye are bonded to make soap into soap. Typically 24-48 hours after the soap is poured in the mold, it is safe to un-mold the soap. At this point you would cut the soap because it is still very soft due to a higher water content.

The reason soap needs to cure for 4-6 weeks is so this remaining water will evaporate out of the soap. This makes the bar of soap harder and last longer. With a harder bar of soap everything is tightly packed making it unable to soak up more water. This makes your bar of soap last well over a month! Soap bars can last longer as well. It all depends how often you use them. Make sure to allow them to dry in between uses to prolong the use of the soap!

If you decided to use a bar of soap did not cure for 4-6 weeks, it is still safe to use. However, it will not last you a long time. This bar of soap will most likely become very soggy during use. It will not be able to successfully dry in between uses because it never had the cure time to evaporate all of the water already existing in it to begin with.

So, when you are out and about shopping for a handmade bar of soap and one feels softer with a slight press of your thumb, know that it is not fully cured. Hope that all of this helps you in choosing a bar of soap in the future!

Bubbles and Suds to you all,

Aubrey Lindsey, Owner

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