Why I Don't Cure My Soap for 6 Weeks 🔥 Hot Topic Soap Curing Explained
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 25 มิ.ย. 2024
- #soap #soapmaking #soaps
Dr. Kevin Dunn the author of Caveman Chemistry and Scientific Soap Making Kevin is a renowned thought leader and researcher in the world of soap. In this video we unpack the controversial topic of soap curing and why I don't cure my soap for 6 weeks. I hope you find this information enlightening, inspiring, and informative! Using the 50/50 lye solution to reduce my production and cure time has completely revolutionized my business and helped me scale to where I am today.
If you have any questions at all please leave a comment!
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Hi! I’m Joanna 👋 I’ve been making cold process soap since 2009 and as a business since 2011. I went from making my first soap bars in my shed using fresh goats milk, to scaling into a 44,000 sq. foot facility and making over 8 million bars a year. This channel is a place for you to learn everything about cold process soap making. Learn how to effectively masterbatch your soap recipes, white label, scale your business, and most of all - deliver a high quality product to your customers that keeps them coming back for more. This is a creative and supportive community and I'm so glad you're here! Get ready to lather, rinse, profit, & repeat. XOXO your soap sister, Joanna Couch
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Wow. All this time, I thought some magical crystalline wizardry was happening over weeks and months. Thanks for sharing and getting Kevin Dunn on the phone!
I have to wait at least 4 weeks because of the way I package. If I do it before 4 weeks then the shrinking that happens causes my label to slide off super super easy. I've discovered if I wait 4 weeks to post online by the time someone orders and I HAVE to package I have better luck.
Are you in a humid environment?
like Kevin and Joanna said do a water discount
I'm not a soap maker, I just buy a lot of handmade soap, but as a consumer, I'll throw out there that I buy soaps and I'll let them cure for months myself. This goes from the big makers like Dr. Squatch to my local lady up at the farmers market.
The reason is simple. It doesn't just disintegrate. My husbands first bar of the squatch stuff was gone in like 2 weeks, and it wasn't because he left it in a puddle of water or anything, he was just going through more of it per shower. At like $7 a bar, he was kind of hot over it. Lol So, i bought him another bar and i left it in my craft shed for a long time. Maybe even a year. I forgot about it being in there if im being real, but that bar was really good to him. True it shrank kind of dramatically in size, but if its going to last 3 times as long, then its not a real issue.
My point is, from a consumer standpoint, it might be worth it to let your bars hard cure a bit. I mean, i realize you're losing weight there, but at the same time, im happy with paying for less weight if the bar will stick around for a minute. After all, i still pay the same price for the bars i buy, but im shrinking them myself, and im fine with that. My husband would have quit using handmade soaps all together if i hadn't have started curing them myself before setting them out for him to use.
A consumer that doesn't realize why the bars are being used up so quick might be turned off by how fast they're going through their soap, and that's potentially a lost customer, ya know?
Im not trying to criticize what you guys do, i love my soapmakers out there, im just offering feedback from the flipside. Lol
Thanks for reaching out and sharing your experiences. As a white label co packer, it's up to each brand how long they want to let their bars harden before they sell. In a previous video I discuss the importance of the R&D and testing the bar during different phases of the curing process to ensure it's as hard, lasts as long, and performs to your liking. Every batch that leaves my facility has been weighed until no more water weight is left in the bar and then it sits for an additional 2-3 weeks during the packing, shipping, and storing process. I definitely understand where you're coming from as a consumer and daily use products should always disclose how long they believe a bar will last with aggressive daily use. Thanks for being a part of this community!
But I also think there’s a lot of consumers out there, who just like to have pretty soap that smells good. That’s just what I hear from other girls that I talk to. They just want to put it in their bathroom or in their kitchen and it looks really nice. As a consumer who is very particular about their soap, I would probably do more research into the brands that I’m buying from or just make my own.
That bar was good to him... haha. You are a great wife to him.
It's got to do with the base oils used too if im not mistaken
I agree,personally i do not mind too much because i know i'm using quality products on my skin.@@LittleYoki
My cure time is around 3 weeks till the weight is consistent. Love the collaboration between you and Kevin. 🥰
Woo! That's how it's done!!
Thank you for this!!!! I love this information!
All makes total sense to me! Thanks soap gal 🙂and it was great seeing Kevin Dunne make an appearance too.
I love this video, thank you so so very much
Thanks for this video. 🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻
Thank you for the video. Great explanation
Glad it was helpful!
Always so informative! Your channel has easily become one of my faves 🖤🌱
So glad you are enjoying it!!! Thanks for being a part of this community!
So glad someone has addressed this. I get so much crap over it and also use 50/50 lye solution.
Joanna doesn't use a 50/50% lye solution because she adds water when the soap is being made, so that you are free to choose WHICH water you want to add like aloe vera water, by the time you are making the soap
@@galaxia4709 yep I know ❤️
@@sayitscents then I'm confused by your comment and why would you "get so much crap over it"?
@@galaxia4709 I get crap over the fact that I do not cure for 6 weeks. Sorry, should have clarified ❤️
@@sayitscents Oh OK, thanks! No problem!
Thank you
Hey Joann I watch u all the time. I’m still trying to fill my dream, like you suggested. Thank you
Thanks so much for reaching! Small steps in the same direction and you'll get there!
I absolutely loved this video - thank you for bringing the science of it all into the conversation. I always find reading all the "arguments" centered around the curing time/process interesting and frustrating. Like you, I use a steep water discount. I'm in a medium-humid climate, so it takes a bit more time to get a harder bar. There's a big difference between a safe bar of soap and a hard bar of soap. In the end, that's what this is all about. Science doesn't lie! Love Dr. Kevin Dunn :D
Yes and amen! Thank you so much for your kind and thoughtful words!
New subscriber. Very informative
Thank you for this! Huge fan of Dr. Kevin Dunn and all his research about soap making!! I used to weigh my soaps but would always forget so my data was never any good😂I use a dehumidifier for the more humid days and go by feel, it's amazing the difference between a well cured soap and one that isn't there yet.
He's wonderful! And absolutely! I'd never sell a bar without doing the rigorous testing first! :)
You're such a wonderful person and inspiration!!
Thank you for your kind words and encouragement!
@@TheSoapGal ur so very welcome!
Thank you for this! You look great BTW!
Thank you so much for your kind words!!
Great information
Glad you liked it!
Thank you so much for the time and research you put into this video. Happy soaping from Willow, Alaska.
Glad it was helpful!
So, so cool!
Great video. And it is such a touchy subject LOL and i appreciate you had Kevin Dunn on to talk about cure since he's the one everyone refers to when arguing about the cure! Hahahahaha
Great watch, I steep water discount from the default 38% to 25% on all recipes, when using over 80% olive oil I go a further down to 22% (water to oil ratio that is). So many benefits to doing this. Thanks for the great video. New subber too! 😊😊🙏🙏🙏🙏
Thanks so much for reaching and so glad to have you here!!! Thank you for sharing and being a part of this amazing community!
Lives this video joannat. My bars are ready to post within two weeks.. absolutely water discount.. make, pack, out,😅
Your all video are informative. I learn many things just watching your video, I am very thankful full to you, because I start making soap.
So great to hear!! Glad you find them helpful!
I pray God continues to bless your work. So thankful you had Kevin Dunn on to put all this to bed. I do hthp with low water and my soap stops losing weight at 2 weeks tops depending on the recipe. Intentional formulating and R&D is critical but many people just go with what was passed on to them. So thankful for you using your platform to educate and encourage people to actually do their research.
So happy to help and appreciate your sweet words and encouragement!!
I’ve been soaping well over 30 years and one thing people don’t tell you is when you discount your water it also makes your bar dryer and less moisturizing. You need to discount it for another high water content product. I don’t teach people to discount their water, especially beginners.
That is why using good, high quality oils is so important, congratulations on over 30 years in the business!
As a soap maker for 12 years, I’ve always discounted water and had repeat customers because of loving our soap properties. The formulation of oils counts. I can use a soap next day or two once set. So I’ve never understood the necessity of weeks and weeks of curing. Although I agree that time does make an even milder soap.
I don’t make soap yet but I love your videos! They are wonderfully informative and your story and passion and integrity help me continue with the work God has me here to do. Thank you for everything.
So glad you are loving them and finding them helpful!!
Hi, you are right, i live in phoenix and the outside in summer is my soaps curing, usually 3 weeks cause i have a son that as soon as he can he takes some soaps. I do also do the water discount and i add sugar, which helps for the saponification process and lather, thank you for your videos.
That is awesome!
Thank you for your Videos! You’re so inspiring! I heard you say that you wrap your bars shortly after making them & also that you’re in the dryer climate of Arizona. I assume that would be different for me in Vermont. What is a steep water discount? Like how steep? Im wondering how long between making and you packing them? I think I was under the pressione that they needed space to air out but maybe the reason isn’t that they need to air dry but just that they are dry enough before use? So potentially I could pack all the soap on my counter and make room for new soap working a few days?
Thanks so much for reaching out! My water discount is a 50/50 ratio. You can refer to this guide to help illustrate the different ratios! www.modernsoapmaking.com/blog/lye-solution-in-soapmaking
Packing happens typically around day 3 or 4. After the bar has been weighed and I've confirmed no more water evaporation.
I liked your entrance, before talking about soap
❤❤❤❤i love you from Algeria
Blessings!!
Your amazing. When water discount what’s the lowest you can go
The lowest I would recommend is 50%. Here is a great article that helps explain because you always need more water than lye: www.modernsoapmaking.com/blog/lye-solution-in-soapmaking
Hi Joanne,
I enjoy watching your videos. I am a new soap maker in Dominica and have a question. When you mention 50/50 lye solution how does it work? I usually use soap cal which gives me the amount of lye I need to use in the recipe. Thanks for your answer.
Thanks so much for reaching out! You can reference this video here: th-cam.com/video/m2QggVtSHFc/w-d-xo.html&lc=Ugz1dhBdA9-x7iJhIBN4AaABAg
My Soaps Cure For 3 YRS..They last Forever..One Of My Bars, Last 4 A Yr..Using It Every Day Last Family Members For A Year.
I've never Have Hard Bars Or Shrinking, A Little, but That's my experience. I keep A Journal, but Your Video was Really interesting & Cool. Soap Curing Can Change Due to A Variety Of Other Variables. Geographic Location, Weather, Humidity, Seasons, Altitude,
Soap Ingredients, Recipe & Way it's Package & Cured Makes A Difference. That's What I've Come across in My Soap & Cosmetic Journey, Thank you for the Cool info & Video. ❤❤Oh, Im in Tn Where Humidity Runs This Weather & We have Summer & Winter.. lol
I do 3 weeks. My soap is rock hard after about 2 weeks and believe it or not I use my soap after a week.
And I agree, if you are shipping to a warehouse, like Amazon, by the time it gets to even the first consumer, it will be 1.5-2 weeks.
Oh I believe it!
HI ! You are my idol and the example that I would like to follow here in Italy... could I submit my recipe to you and tell me what you think? I already have a possible diffusion of my soaps in northern Italy, through my relative who already sells the product in pharmacies and herbalist shops. Here in Italy there is no real diffusion of soap and I want to become number 1 like you! I have so many questions for you...thank you for what you do
Please email me at joanna@thesoapgal.com and I will do my best to answer you!!
Thanks for this video! It was very informative. I do have a question though.. You mentioned that the soap is packaged within a few days so is this packaging a plastic wrap and if so does the soap continue to effectively cure/lose moisture after being wrapped?
( I use cling film or shrink wrap after 4-6 weeks for all my soaps because I sell them at outdoor markets where paper or unwrapped soaps could get dirty)
Thanks so much! So glad to hear and my bars are packaged in a soap box. If you're going to use shrink wrap, I recommend waiting until your bars have been weighed at a consistent weight for a few days in a row before shrink wrapping to ensure they don't shrink in the wrap.
Never go less than the weight of the lye/s.
Yes! I touch on this in an upcoming video :)
I don't sell mine, so curing it isn't a problem. I pour it in silicone molds. Next day it's set and I pop it out. I lay the bars on their sides on my soap shelf and use it as needed. It is totally usable 3rd day, but wears away faster. It's cheap and fast to make, so it isn't an issue. If it feels wet, for whatever reason, mine never has, I wouldn't wrap it air tight and send it in the mail or anything like that.
Thanks for the video - I generally cure my soap for at least 4 weeks but have used them sooner. I'm fairly new to soap making so follow the advice of more experienced soap makers. The consensus seems to be that for Castile soap, curing should be 6-12 months. It seems a bit excessive just to dry the bars? Is something else going on with a pure olive oil soap? I live in an area with very soft water and my Castile bars seem OK after a month.
When using 50/50 lye solution, castille soap is cured for the same amount of time as all other recipes. It is safe to use in 48 hours but will need to be weighed until all the remaining water has evaporated which will give you your hard cure time for your recipe. Hope that helps!
So new soap maker here so how long after I finish a batch of soap do I have to wait before I can start the research and development and testing out my soul to see how good it is and to see what I need to fix etc. etc.
If you're using the 50/50 lye solution your soap is safe to cut and R&D in 48 hours! If you're ever unsure you can drop some PH drops on it to ensure the lye has fully cured.
Hi Jo Jo, I’m Joanna also.
Nice to meet you!! :)
Mam, You r an inspiration for so many soap making lovers. Thank u so much mam. Pls clear my doubt mam about the steep water discount, is it 1.2:1 or 1.1:1 or other mam for water to lye ratio. Thank u in advance mam
I have a video coming out soon about calculating your formula using a 50/50 solution! Another great resource is this blog: www.modernsoapmaking.com/blog/lye-solution-in-soapmaking
Thank you very much.
Hi there! I just made some goat milk soap and I heard it was good to cure it in the refrigerator after 2 days to let the individual bars cure for 6-8weeks? Is the refrigerator a good place to let them cure? Thanks for your help!😄❤
I would not recommend curing the fridge as it will change the humidity of the soap! If you're using 50/50 lye you only to cure for 48 hours and then weigh the bars daily until you get a consistent weight!
I know I am doing the most; I do a 25% water discount and allow my bars to cure for 8 weeks. Sometimes I get very busy and forget or the soaps are needed until then.
If it's working for you at this point, I'd keep doing it!
Hello Joanna, thank you for your informative video on soap curing but I have a question. I made my soap with a 15% water and it's over 6weeks and the soap is still loosing weight which is making the soap weight inconsistent. I'm worried that my soap will not be the weight on the soap label when it finally gets to the end consumer. What do I do? I live in Nigeria, Africa.
I'd recommend getting a dehumidifier in your soaping space to help remove the water faster or revisit your recipe. If you're not shrink wrapping, if it loses a small amount between when your packaging and it gets to the customer it's not the end of the world as the average consumer won't get home and weigh your soap to confirm it's the right weight. However, if you are getting significant size changes then I'd recommend revisiting your recipe.
Hello, I am a beginner, in the hot process soap making, some forms is wait for Vaseline saponification and some videos have liquid pour in, can you explain this, also the curing process will still happen if soap is packaged as soon as it is cut? Thank you
Thanks for reaching out! I'm not familiar with the process you're speaking of above but in terms of curing, yes the soap will continue to cure if its packaged as soon as its cut!
Whats your take on drying soap in an oven.
I would not recommend it :) Ambient drying is the best. If you're in a humid environment you can use a dehumidifier in your soaping space to help draw the water out faster.
Hi! Brand new soaper here, Canadian Grandma about to make my first bar of pine tar soap, my four year old grandbaby has moderate psoriasis, esp in his scalp. My question is this: can I use apple cider vinegar in place of all water content? Or is it better for him if I do 50-50 split for aloe juice and ACV?
I mentioned Canada, as it’s damp here, especially this year. Would you recommend any water discount for this recipe or just stick to the 4-6 weeks?
Be very careful! I've had acv cause my lye solution to Very quickly expand & it bubbled over the top of the container so fast I almost got it all over me. It's only pure luck that I didn't make my lye inside that day on my bench but outside on my balcony. It ruined a favourite piece of furniture though. Just please be careful if this is your first batch especially. Pine tar is already a challenge to work with let alone doing it for your first batch and let alone adding in a third factor. Please don't take this as discouragement, only concern. I hope you really enjoy your first soap batch and everything goes well. 🙏
Thanks for reaching out!! Congrats on your first bar!! And so sweet of you to make a scalp bar for your grandbaby. I'd recommend keeping your water as ACV (as boop said below) can be challenging to work with. And yes, if you're planning to use a 50/50 lye solution you already have a discount accounted for in there. You can reference this base recipe as an example: makesy.com/blogs/news/how-to-make-cold-process-soap
How much of a water discount is allowed ?
the max you can do is a 50/50 concentration or else the lye wont dissolve, so equal parts lye and water is fine.
Hi, i make cow milk soap from our own dairy cows, milk is not water, it is around 77% water. How long does it take to cure you think?
Curing time is really up to you, if you want to use them after 48 hours you can. They might not be as hard as they would be in another few weeks, but they will not be soft, and they will be safe to use. The saponification process if completed within 48 hours of making the soap and curing is really the bar dehydrating.
After cure completely for 6 weeks now my soap are sweating wet and sticky before they were hard
It is hot and humid in Caribbean
That means that you have a glycerin heavy recipe. You can try adding something like kaolin clay to help alleviate some of the moisture!
Just a question, I still discovering all the information about soap, and I'm wondering if salt soap is the same?? As it is getting hard very fast, I did my over a week ago, and is very firm. Does it mean that salt soap could cure even faster, then normal soap, in a week or so?? Thank you for the answer 😊
What are your ingredients and what was your lye %?
@TheSoapGal
Thank you for answering 😊
50% of cocnut oil, olive oil. Hemp, castor oil, coco butter, and shea. 33% lye concentration. For myself I'm already using, it has amazing leather, but I'm just not sure how long I should cure. I unmoulded after 2,5h .
I can't take it out from the mold
What do you mean by can’t take it out of the mold is it stuck or what?
Would the soap waste faster if used so quick as opposed to 4 was or longer?
I'm sorry I'm not sure I understand your question! Can you help understand what you're asking?
@@TheSoapGal I mean would it get crumbly or would the bar of soap waste faster if you use it before a few months? I’m new to soap making but I’ve heard that if you let it sit longer it will last longer.
@@GigiR247yes it so. You still want your soap to cure for the 4 to 6 weeks, depending on how much soft oils you have in your bar.
I think I get confused I'm a intermediate soaper but I'm still unsure about discounting water and super fatting it's the same thing right? Well when I soap I do it 2:1 water to lye how much am I superfatting?
Superfat is the amount of oil that is unsaponified after saponification. Your water : lye ratio has no impact on superfat.
@SoapShop573 ok thank you. How do you superfat? Can both things be done when make a loaf of soap? Also so when I soap 2:1 is that helping with curing quicker?
@@deidraledbetter9126 Technically you can use a 1:1 lye mixture but not recommended. I personally use 1.7:1 for most recipes, or 1.5:1 for a simple single colour soap. It depends on your recipe and temperatures.
? 1:7: 1 please explain . 🤔that is still confusing I know I'm making it harder than it seems.
Thank you for answering the question for me Soap Shop73, I alway super fat at less 5% to make sure all oils are saponified. But most of my formulas are at 7% .
It has Been 5 days... And my soap still soft why
If your soap is not solidifying it's a sign you did not use enough lye or too much water. Before touching it with bare hands, I recommend using some PH drops as the lye likely has not transformed into soap and can burn your skin.
will your soap continue to cure in packaging?
Yes! The soap will continue to get harder until all water content has dissipated!
CIAO ! Sei il mio idolo e l'esempio che vorrei seguire qua in italia...potrei sottoporti la mia ricetta e mi dici cosa ne pensi? Ho già una possibile diffusione dei miei saponi nel nord italia, tramite il mio parente che già vende prodotto in farmacie ed erboristerie. Qua in italia non esite una vera dffusione del sapone e io voglio diventare la numero 1 come te ! avrei così tante domande da farti...grazie per quello che fai ❤❤
Thank you for reaching out and being a part of this community! So glad you are inspired to start some big soap making in Italy! Joanna unfortunately is unable to get to everybody's recipes right now but will be offering some private consultations in the near future. Be sure to check her socials periodically to find out when these become available!
What’s the holy soap trinity
The Trinity Blend is a perfect blend of olive, palm and coconut oil in equal parts. It's my preferred soap blend and it's available for purchase at Makesy here: makesy.com/products/trinity-oil-blend-1?_pos=1&_sid=ba87d8c3a&_ss=r?variant=42617304711322
What will happen if I put my soap in a dehydrator? On lowest heat... I don't have a dehydrator - yet... Just curious. Someone out there that has tried`?
I am not familiar with this but you'll want to be careful not to dry the soap out too fast or with too much heat. I would not advise this just because you don't know how it may respond unless you're open to experimenting.
@@TheSoapGal Thank you for answering! I hade the same thought. 👍
I want to do this that you mention, for a full day controlling the temperature (as if it were an oven), and then I will cut them and keep them in an area at 36 to 40 C with a dehumidifier to see if they dry and cure in the 4 or 6 weeks since I live in one of the 2 most humid cities in the world and they take many months to dry and up to a year to drink acceptable hardness.
@@patriciac.3956 Please, get beck to us on the result! Exciting experiment!
I cure my soap for two months. What do you think about that?
If it works for your turnaround times and you've tested to find that you prefer the soap best after 2 months, then I think it's great!