High OO cure

[ToniD]

Since Castile does better with a very long cure, I assume it follows that a high olive recipe does better with a longer cure? If so, what % of OO in a recipe calls for a longer cure time? Is there a rule of thumb, or is it all just testing?

 

[kelleyaynn]

I haven't experimented with all levels of OO soaps, but I make a 65% OO soap that is great at 3 - 4 weeks, typical cure time. I'm waiting on my lye order to arrive today, and I'm going to try 100% OO for the first time, just to see what it's like.

 

[foresthome]

I did an 80 % OO, 10 CO, 10 PO, and did a CPOP it is four weeks old now and really hard. I started using a bar this week and it is really nice.
2 weeks ago I tried an 80 OO, 18 CO, and 2 Castor, to try and get away from PO. I did a straight CP. My first batch was a no color, no scent batch, it came out of the mold a little soft, but workable, and is hardening up nicely. My second batch of this recipe I added a green swirl and jasmine FO. It was very soft coming out of the mold. It is beautiful, but very soft, and still soft 2 weeks later. Can scent and color affect your bar quality this much? Any suggestions? I am trying to come up with a main recipe that I use for most of my soaps. I am thinking of trying 76 OO, 20 CO, and 4 Castor. Let the tweaking begin.

 

[Sunny]

I don't know if there is a set rule... I do a couple of test batches of different percentages, cut my loaves into regular bars, and then let them cure a while. Then cut one bar in half and see how "sticky" the inside of the bar feels. Then wait a couple of weeks and cut another bar from the same batch and see if it feels sticky. When the bars start to feel less sticky in the middle, then I feel that the cure is good. Mind you, this usually takes at least a couple months depending on the % of olive I use.

So yes, different percentages of olive will need different curing times. In my opinion.

 

[JackiK]

I did an 80 % OO, 10 CO, 10 PO, and did a CPOP it is four weeks old now and really hard. I started using a bar this week and it is really nice.
2 weeks ago I tried an 80 OO, 18 CO, and 2 Castor, to try and get away from PO. I did a straight CP. My first batch was a no color, no scent batch, it came out of the mold a little soft, but workable, and is hardening up nicely. My second batch of this recipe I added a green swirl and jasmine FO. It was very soft coming out of the mold. It is beautiful, but very soft, and still soft 2 weeks later. Can scent and color affect your bar quality this much? Any suggestions? I am trying to come up with a main recipe that I use for most of my soaps. I am thinking of trying 76 OO, 20 CO, and 4 Castor. Let the tweaking begin.

I've had TD suspended in glycerin soaps remain soft for a lot longer than batches without.

 

[foresthome]

Thanks JackiK, I did put TD in the white part of that soap. I bet that is it, good to know.
Also, I love your Yorkie avatar. I notice a lot of us have dog avatars. I have 2 leonbergers and a tricolor corgi, who looks like my avatar.

 

[JackiK]

Thanks JackiK, I did put TD in the white part of that soap. I bet that is it, good to know.
Also, I love your Yorkie avatar. I notice a lot of us have dog avatars. I have 2 leonbergers and a tricolor corgi, who looks like my avatar.

Thank you. That is my precious diva, Darla. I'll have to look up leonbergers; sounds exotic! Love, love, love corgis. If I had a bigger yard, I'd have one.