Why do you need to age soap?

Cold process soap needs to age or “cure” before it is finally ready to use. Like firewood, as the soap cures, most of the water used in the recipe evaporates out of it. Cured soap is harder, milder, and more “finished.”

What happens during the curing process of soap?

Curing is the process of allowing saponification to complete and for water to evaporate out. In this way, the soap, is dry, harder, milder and the lye non-existent in the finished product. It takes about 4 to 6 weeks for a soap to dry and the lye to be totally transformed.

Does bar of soap get better with age?

The short answer is no: if left undisturbed, bar soap remains soap for years. It should still be just as effective at cleaning no matter how old it is. However, certain changes in a bar of soap make it smell less good and seem less pleasant to wash with. As soap gets older, there are two main ways it deteriorates.

Can you age soap?

The typically suggested period of time for aging a bar of soap is three weeks, and this is what all of my soap recipes are based around unless otherwise noted on an individual recipe. However, aging time can be influenced by a couple big factors: The recipe.

What is saponification process?

Saponification can be defined as a “hydration reaction where free hydroxide breaks the ester bonds between the fatty acids and glycerol of a triglyceride, resulting in free fatty acids and glycerol,” which are each soluble in aqueous solutions.

What is cold process soap making?

Cold process soap is made by combining oils and sodium hydroxide lye, which causes a chemical reaction called saponification. In the process, you get to choose the oils, scents, colorants, and any other ingredients. It’s a great way for someone to master the art of soap-making and spa crafts.

What is the gel phase in soap making?

The gel phase of soap making is the heating stage of saponification. Once you pour your soap into its mold it will start to heat up. Gel phase starts with the soap turning translucent in the middle and then spreads out to the edges. Check out this goat’s milk soap that is just starting gel phase.

What is aged soap?

During the aging process, any alkaline content that didn’t react during Saponification slowly breaks down in contact with air and water content gradually decreases, making the soap bars harder, less scent and much healthier for the skin as all the oils concentrate, it transforms into a wonderful healthy face and body …

Does homemade soap go bad?

Soap does expire, but if it still lathers when you wash your hands, it should be effective. Most commercial store-bought soaps expire after two to three years. Natural or handmade soaps may expire sooner, within one year, as the essential oils and fragrances can get rancid or moldy.

What is the chemical process of making soap?

Saponification is at the heart of soap-making. It is the chemical reaction in which the building blocks of fats and oils (triglycerides) react with lye to form soap. Saponification literally means “turning into soap” from the root word, sapo, which is Latin for soap.