Teach Soap

I made my very first batch two weeks ago! More oils arrived today (first batch made with what I had handy in the kitchen) so I'm going to try more today. My first recipe was palm, coconut and sunflower. It was the sunflower soap, I believe it's called, from the soap makers companion. I unmolded after 18 hours. Most was made in a quart milk carton, and two bars were made in a silicone cupcake pan. The cupcake ones are nice and white (I didn't insulate). The others are more translucent except for a whiter ring around the outside. Is that from gelling?

And because I'm a terribly impatient person I cut off a piece after two days and used it. Seemed fine but I left the rest to cure. Then I used another piece in the shower yesterday and it was wonderful. Is it unusual to be usable so early?

Soap is usable as soon as it's cut, but that doesn't mean you SHOULD use it. It will be milder and harder if you give it at least a 4 week cure.

If your soap is sort of translucent, then yes that soap most likely gelled. With lighter edges, you might have gotten a partial gel or soda ash, can't tell for sure without seeing it. Either is perfectly safe.

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Laura<3

The soap will get milder and harder as it cures. It's definitely better to wait at least 4 - 6 weeks before using.

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

Thanks, it got a little ash on the top but no where else. I'm
pretty happy with my first try I was expecting it to be drying or something
since people talk about early soap being harsh. It was quite nice though But I'm going to let the rest sit for two more weeks anyway. Thanks!

Sounds like you did a great job!
As mentioned above, if it goes through gel then the following day it should be 'testable' but will tend to melt away in the shower because it hasn't fully hardened. Yours might be quite hard without olive oil. I find my soap with OO to be a lot softer, takes quite a while to harden.

I made a cocoa butter soap tonight, has OO. I used sherrys fantastic soap recipe. I read some reviews about it taking forever to harden. I hope not! It smells incredible! The first soap I made hardened very quickly for sure.

Great! Sounds like you're on a roll!