Well, the soap I made with kiwi and fresh lime juice isn't mouldy yet, though it's only been about a month. I'll let you know if I try any more fruity soaps, or if they do go mouldy!
I might add though, that while the kiwi was fresh when I put it in, it was cooked down a bit, in the aim of getting the juices out, and almost "souping" it a little, before adding the M&P, so this might have helped matters, and also meant that it is more dispersed throughout the soap, rather than in big chunks. Certainly when I've had things from Lush with fruit in, with the exception of berries in the fresh face masks, I've never seen really big chunks of anything (maybe occassionally decorations of dried fruit or spices on top), usually it is all blended in. I would expect this might mean that you don't get bits which can't be penetrated by the preservatives and antioxidants in the product, and that the lower concentration of fruit to bar would help it stay fresh. Also, I have happened to have chosen a fruit which is naturally really high in antioxidants, which would probably make a big difference!
I've been buying from Lush for years, actually, that was my inspiration for getting into all of this. The only things of theirs I have known to go mouldy are the fresh face masks- when I have left them out, rather than refrigerating as per the instructions! I have had big chunks of their Jungle solid conditioner, which has loads of fresh fruit in, in the bathroom for months (ie at least 4 months, maybe more), without it ever spoiling. Perhaps they're not as good on the other side of the Atlantic as they are here in the UK! The founders even just got an OBE from the Queen in the New Year's Honours over here. I'm a bit of a fan as you can probably tell, but sorry you had a bad experience!
_________________ "The question is: does it work on stage? If it works on stage, does it fit the theory? If it works on stage, but doesn't fit the theory; throw out the theory." Bertolt Brecht
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