Bars with hardness in the low 30's

[marchroses]

Will a softer bar just take longer to cure or after a good long cure, will it soften again once it's being used?

Thanks

 

[TessC]

It really depends on your recipe, the hardness numbers are a decent guideline but aren't entirely accurate with recipes that are high in certain oils, olive oil comes to mind immediately. My favorite soap recipe has 65% OO and has a very low hardness number on SoapCalc. Given a proper cure, though, it's absolutely brick hard. Same with a pure Castile, it'll show a really low hardness number but that's some seriously hard soap once it's cured.

 

[marchroses]

That is very helpful to know as the softness seems to be mainly my 60% OO number.

 

[TessC]

It should harden up just fine, then. My 65% OO recipe needs a bit of extra time in the mold before cutting and it takes a little while longer to cure, but once it's done it's super hard.

 

[knicelyr]

I think it will harden really well. Just give it about 2 months.
I've made soap out of 100% oleic acid, the main fatty acid in OO.

It got super hard after a few months, as do my OO soaps.

Let us know how it turns out.

 

[oldragbagger]

Ditto the comments on olive oil. I made a 100% olive oil castille last summer and it's a brick now.

 

[ChrissyB]

Also, use a good water discount.
For a 100% Olive oil soap I'd go as far as a 45% Water/lye solution. But that's just me and I've done it a few times.
If your recipe is 60% Olive oil and you go with a 40% solution you will have hard soap ready to be cut in a day. Maybe less, depending on what else is in your recipe. Coconut/palm kernel and cocoa butter will all go a long way as far as hardness goes.
The only thing that will make the soap go soft again whilst in use is if it's left in water.