How to get harder hot process soap?

[kaseencook]

Hey!
Does anyone have any techniques to help their soap harden faster? I use hot process so the soap is ready to use after it cools, but I find it takes a while for the bars to fully stiffen and that they are often soft for weeks. I mainly use canola oil because it is both affordable and less "goopy" than oilve oil and readily available. Because I live in Tassie there aren't many oil options or much variety in the stores. The cheapest olive oil I can find is a whopping $20 a gallon (4L), and there is no source of coconut or palm oil that I can find that isn't extremely expensive and in limited quantities. Ordering online is my only option, but this is still expensive. I know coconut and palm oil make harder bars of soap, are there any other techniques? Cheers! and sorry for the rambling

http://www.tassiesoaps.com

 

[carebear]

start with less water.

and even CP is OK to use once you take it out of the mold, but both HP and CP improve over the first 2 - 4 weeks - a cure period really truly is necessary for both.

 

[naturescauldron]

some folks add palm stearic to the recipe before elting all the oils. 1T per pound of oils. Hardens the soap up really nice, but tooo much will reduce your lather.

you can always discount your water some....

 

[kaseencook]

Thanks for the ideas! I tried discounting water the other night and it made a huge difference! I looked back at my recipies and I was arigionally using 38%! I lowered it to 27% and it turned out much firmer and dried a lot quicker. Thanks for the help! Where do you get palm stearic from? Cheers!

 

[naturescauldron]

stearic acid can be found at almost any place that sells soapmaking/lotionmaking supplies. Check out your favorite supplier and I bet they have some!

 

[SoaperMom]

You can also add a bit of bees wax to make harder bars.
Before you spend money on additives though, the best thing is to let the soap dry a bit more. The soap I made HP 3 weeks is much harder than it was 2 weeks ago.
And I agree discounting the water is a great way to get harder bars and costs nothing.
Kelly Dawn

 

[topcat]

Hello! You may like to check out these aussie suppliers for oils online. I find each has different oils/butters as great buys, you just need to look around each store and compare. Perhaps other aussie soapers will pop in with other links for you to try

http://www.aussiesoapsupplies.com.au/

http://www.heirloombodycare.com.au/

https://www.escentialsofaustralia.com/index.php

http://essentialoils-and-aromatherapy.c ... -campaigns

http://www.oilsandsoap.com.au/

This last one is in Tassie,

Tanya