I have made a few Salt bar batches and very often (almost universally) I read that Salt bars benefit from a long cure time, they then seem to be more mellow.
So now I am curious. Is this anecdotal or does someone please have some sound ideas as to why do you think this is so?
Technically/Scientifically what benefit would a long cure offer?
It is most unlikely that any “excess” lye (caustic soda) is going to be saponified as these soaps are so “superfatted” to start with.
If the high salt concentration is the cause of irritation (“making the skin feel tight” as some people write) the longer cure should theoretically make the salt concentration even higher as the water in the soap bar evaporates.
Perhaps the long cure allows the salt and the coconut oil to interact and somehow mellow the bar?
Anyway I’d be pleased to hear your experienced ideas/opinions.
Kind regards
So now I am curious. Is this anecdotal or does someone please have some sound ideas as to why do you think this is so?
Technically/Scientifically what benefit would a long cure offer?
It is most unlikely that any “excess” lye (caustic soda) is going to be saponified as these soaps are so “superfatted” to start with.
If the high salt concentration is the cause of irritation (“making the skin feel tight” as some people write) the longer cure should theoretically make the salt concentration even higher as the water in the soap bar evaporates.
Perhaps the long cure allows the salt and the coconut oil to interact and somehow mellow the bar?
Anyway I’d be pleased to hear your experienced ideas/opinions.
Kind regards
