Old olive oil

[Sunaelurus]

I have part of a barrel of olive oil that is a couple of years old. Is it too old to use in cp soap? How long before oo goes rancid, and how can you tell?

 

[Lindy]

You'll be able to tell from the smell. Olive oil has a long shelf life and I think it's about 3 years, but I could be wrong....

 

[My Mountain Soaps]

how did you come across a BARREL of oil? i have no info to answer your questions, but i just wanted to know how you came across a barrel of it? im jealous! i bet its a pretty barrel too

 

[AnnaMarie]

According to Soap Queen olive oil has a shelf life of 2 years. That being said, if it doesn't smell bad I'd make soap with it for my own personal use. And I agree with Mountain Soaps- I'll bet the barrel is cute (and vintage chic) looking. I'd use it for decor somehow
Cheers!
Anna Marie

 

[Lindy]

Thanks for the correction ladies - I thought it was 3 years but knew I could be wrong....

 

[DeeAnna]

Even if the olive oil smells okay, it may have a higher fatty acid content than when the oil was young. There is no problem with that, except the soap made with this oil may come to trace faster.

Give it a try with a basic soap recipe first. Until you know how it's going to behave, I wouldn't plan on a complicated swirl.

Fresh fats normally have a fairly low free fatty acid content. The lye has to break the fat molecule apart to release the fatty acids, and that takes time and energy. With a higher % of free fatty acids in an older oil, the lye has less work to do and the reaction goes quicker.

 

[Sunaelurus]

Thanks guys. I think I'm going to make a basic Castile soap and see how it looks in a couple of weeks.

 

[ilovesoap2]

We are still nosy about the barrel of oil wink wink!