Teach Soap

I gave away majority of my first two batches to family and friends, the soap had beed curing for about 8 weeks. I got great feedback from friends and family saying that it was really nice soap but using it every day in the shower (about 3-3.5oz bars) the soap only lasted just over a week. I was Just wondering if this is normal and will it last longer the longer it has to dry out?
recipie was:
30% Coconut oil
30% Palm oil
11% Grape seed oil
11% Macadamia nut oil
10% Olive oil
5% Castor oil
3% Shea butter + 8% for superfatting
I used Soap Calc and all values were well within range, any help would be great.

Did you discount any water? Did they keep the soap out of the water between uses in a draining soap dish?

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Irena
Closed minds are like faulty parachutes; they refuse to open.

I just used the recomended water ammount when you go to the print recipe section, I have no idea how much drainage the soap holder had, is it ok to keep handmade soap in the shower as long as the holder has good drainage?

If this is a recipe that you are comfortable with, I would discount your water next time. My bars are 4.5 to 5 ozs. and they last a month. It also depends how many people are using it and how often. It should last longer than a week though. If the soap dries between uses, it should last longer. A soap dish with good drainage helps. I would try to keep it away from any runaway spray from the shower head.

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Irena
Closed minds are like faulty parachutes; they refuse to open.

Thanks so much I will discount the water next time, was also thinking of adding a wax possibly macadamia wax not sure at what % to add it at I was thinking maybe 1-2% would that be ok?

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Irena
Closed minds are like faulty parachutes; they refuse to open.

Soapbuddy, you mean you put bees wax into your oils as they melt? At 1 to 2% of your recipe to make your bars last longer? Is that to get your soap to market sooner or just harden it in general? I don't mean to sound stupid but how much bees wax is that per lb.?

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Irena
Closed minds are like faulty parachutes; they refuse to open.

how much bees wax is 1% per lb.?

Using a soap calculator 16 ounces equals 1 pound.

99% of a pound is 15.84 ounces, therefore

1% of a pound is .16 of an ounce

For beeswax in a recipe of one or more pounds I would use a level Tablespoon ppo, and write this down in my notes.

When it comes to lye well that is another story, accuracy is VERY important and cannot be estimated, that is my firm opinion.

I hope that is helpful.

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~bytheSEAsoap~ Mella bythesea, bythesea, bythebeautiful sea

海の皂

Thanks soap buddy I will keep the macadamia wax for lotions and stuff, the only reason I didnt want to use the bees wax was to keep the soap vegan friendly so I might find a cheap plant wax as a substitute.
thanks again for your help

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Irena
Closed minds are like faulty parachutes; they refuse to open.

soapbuddy is absolutely right. Actually I remember with my first batches, I couldn't wait the entire curing time, and using full water amount I had the same complaint from people - doesn't last (and for obvious reasons, depending on humidity etc, they still have lots of water, and the other things with cp soap is that it's a natural attraction for water, so if between uses it sits in a puddle of water, you bet it's not going to last long).
Now I get compliments on how long my soap lasts.

Thanks soapbuddy will look into those.
So désiresoap do you use wax in your soaps now, or dou you just discount the water?

If I was to make a facial bar would I still include a wax or should it be left as a softer soap?
Thanks

I have a facial bar with wax in it and my customers like it. I think it really depends on your recipe.

_________________
Irena
Closed minds are like faulty parachutes; they refuse to open.