Teach Soap

So, I made my first Castile soap...just water, lye, and pomace olive oil. I know that it takes extra long to cure, and harden, etc. How long should I leave it in the mold?

My personal thoughts were to leave it in the mold for a week; take it out and leave it out for another week before I cut it; then let it cure for six months. Does that make sense? Should I leave it in the mold longer? Do I need to wait even longer to cut it?

Thanks!

My first castile soap sat in the mold for two days before I was able to even get it free. I was so glad when it did come free. I think I cut it a little too soon though since it stuck to my knife and left a texture on the cut faces.

Good news is, that was five months ago, and I just brought a bar into the shower for the first time in months (I first used it after four weeks) and the lather was just wonderful! I used EVOO for that batch though, haven't worked with Pomace yet so I'm not sure how that will influence the outcome. My biggest problem is impatience, so if you can wait that long, do!

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Just call me "Apo"

Sounds like a plan if you don't need the mold again right away.

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

I've made a castile batch that was ready to unmold later that same day. I've also made a batch that took 9 days to be ready to unmold and another 4 to be ready to cut.

Punch line: Made from the exact same recipe, using the exact same equipment, at the exact same time of year, at similar temperature and humidity levels, living just three blocks north of the place where I'd made the first batch.

Seriously. The only differences were location and the addition of two years to my age. I refuse to make predictions anymore.

Make your castile, but keep looking at it about once a day to check its progress. Only then will you know for sure what that particular batch is going to do.

I finally unmolded it, and it looked fine. It was firm. I'll cut it early next week, and hope all goes well!

I make my Castile by hot process and its ready to come out of the mould within hours and has to be cut almost straight away as it hardens so fast.
3 months after making it its still slimy and no lather when I test it - I made it as a Christmas soap (with the idea of Christmas presents for the family) - how long till the slimy feeling goes and it gets a nice lather - a full 6 months?

Sorry to tell you this, but Castile will never have a nice lather and many people think that it always feels slimey and won't use it. 6 months is a good cure time. If you make it again, you could try 95% olive, 5% castor. That will help a little with the lather, but it won't be pure Castile any more.

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Linda
I know the voices in my head aren't real, but they sure have some great ideas!

How do you know when soap is ready to come out of the mold, and when it's ready to cut?

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Linda
I know the voices in my head aren't real, but they sure have some great ideas!

Hi Guys

Would it be a good idea to use the cold process-oven process (CPOP) to speed up the saponification process for Castile Soap

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Linda
I know the voices in my head aren't real, but they sure have some great ideas!

Is it still Castile soap if I add an essential oil to it? I know that if I add any base oils, it leaves the realm of Castile. But, what about essential oils? Does that spoil the purity of the soap enough to make you call it Bastille?

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Linda
I know the voices in my head aren't real, but they sure have some great ideas!

Hrm, since castile is so nice and hard, can it stand a 10% castor? Just out of curiosity!

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~~Heather~~
Mad [soaping] Scientist

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