Experienced Castile makers

[nae65]

What type of consistancy should I expect when I unwrap in the morning? right now it's VERY soft, it doesn't seem like it is getting hard at all. How long normally before you can unmold? Is cure time normally longer for Castile?

 

[krissy]

it is much longer to dry out. just let it sit.

 

[carebear]

what was the concentration of your lye solution? did your soap gel?

regardless of these answers, castile (we're talking 100% olive oil here, to maybe 90%) takes much longer to set up than other soaps - and the cure once out of the mold should be at least 8 weeks. A year is even better!

 

[artisan soaps]

..

 

[nae65]

Great, thanks for the replies I'll leave it alone for awhile

 

[Guest]

I would recommend checking it everyday .I had a batch that was soft , checked it daily , day 3 it was still soft , day 4 almost to hard to cut .

Kitn

 

[MikeInPdx]

I find that making castile with a 40% lye solution makes the trace time and unmold time much quicker. Cure time......carebear is right.....it's just not at its best until it's cured a good long time.

 

[Vintageliving]

Thanks for the replies. I made my first batch of soap, castile, this morning. It looks lovely, but is still soft this evening.

 

[Vintageliving]

delete, duplicate

 

[Deb]

assuming no water discount, no gel, and 100 olive oil..

I find after 24-48 hours it has the texture of cream cheese. Philly type stuff. Very soft and pliable. I usually wait 48-72 hours to cut it.

 

[Vintageliving]

Yes, mine is looking more like cream cheese this morning, and is much paler. All the colors it's had are lovely.