DO I need to add a preservative to soap with oatmeal in it?

[lioness]

Hi everyone I want to make a honey and oatmeal bar for Christmas presents and I was wondering because of the organic nature of oatmeal does it need to have a preservative added? I was also wodering if people add grapefruit seed extract to their soaps fro a longer lasting bar.
Sorry and what is the shelf life usually for a normal cp bar without any organic ingredients. I just want to make sure the batches that I make now are going to last 6 months or so after Christmas for my family....
thanks

 

[Mayren]

I too have this question.

I would never want to have my oat/flax/etc stuff mold up on
family and loved ones.

I think personally i'd add in a preservative for pureed fruits/veggies

Also what about tea infusions? like adding the whole chamomile
tea leaves, that can get moldy too right?

Is Grapefruit Seed Extract enough or should we turn to
GermabenII or Phenonip?

-May

 

[reallyrita]

Do I need to add a preservative to a soap with oatmeal and h

No, you certainly do not need a preservative. Soaps do not need preservatives. A well made soap will last a good deal longer than 6 months. It will just get better. The scent might fade away but the soap will be fine. I am showering with a two year old soap right now. It is very creamy but the scent is basically gone now.

I have used cooked carrot puree in my soaps....no problems. Tea leaves and tea infusions are not a real problem either. Fruits and vegtables and tea leaves will turn brown after a while. The carrot stayed a lovely orange-yellow. The lye preserves a lot of stuff on its own. If you have alot of damp tea leaves sitting on the top of your soap...you could get mold there...but that would be a bit icky anyway and make a mess in the tub.

 

[Maria]

On the last visit to my mom's house, she had a bar of OM&H soap in her bathroom to use as a hand soap. I asked how old was it and she replied at least a year. I guess she doesn't wash her hands often. The color had faded and the oatmeal was tiny dark spots but the scent was still there and it was wonderful to bathe with.

 

[lioness]

Thanks everyone I am going to make my oatmeal and honey soap today so its nice to know that it will last for my family after Christmas. (Family is always your worst critic! Especially my sister she always has to be right!)

 

[reallyrita]

Do I need to add a preservative to a soap with oatmeal and h

I am right with you on that "sister" thing, lioness.

Making your Christmas soaps now is excellent planning. They will be hard and mild and very sudsy by the holidays. I usually take my soaps off the cure rack after 4-6 weeks, especially if I need the room for more curing soaps. But, from time to time, I leave soaps on the rack for much much longer...and they are always the best ones in every way. Like you, I should be making my holiday gift soaps about now, but I have a back log of other soaps to make first. I never seem to get caught up.

 

[Mayren]

Thanks for the awesome input on this.
I have been pretty worried about the preservative
thing.

(hugs)

-May

 

[mandolyn]

Your question has already been answered, but I'll weigh in on the how long is soap good question.

I'm using some bars I'd stashed away over 2 years ago. They are sooooooooo mild, & the scent didn't even fade. It was scented with Sea Moss FO from brambleberry.com. I love that scent, but it's hard to work with - it accelerates trace like mad!!

If you purchase it, add it to your oils, don't discount water & I'd suggest hand stirring until everything is well mixed. You may or may not have to stick blend after that.

 

[CiCi]

I still have fresh egg soap, oatmeal, tea, honey and fresh avocado soaps that are doing fine after many months. No need for preservatives. Just make sure that your ingredients are incorporated well.

 

[Mayren]

Small bump to add a question:

Do the rules on preservatives in soap change if I do
CPHP? Most of the additives are put in after the cook so
saponification is already done...

Just wondering.