Proper curing time for OO soap

[ewhitake]

Saw this recipe on another thread where the comment section was closed. The author (TessC ?) talked about it needing a proper long cure. How long is that AND if you used goat milk as your liquid does the curing period go up?
60% OO
12% CO
12% PKO (you could just use 24% PKO or CO)
9% shea
7% castor

And can I assume the super fat would be mayb 10%? (just guessing cuz I'm still new to soap making)

 

[IrishLass]

Speaking only for myself, a formula such as what you posted is perfectly fine for me with a 4 to 6 week cure, even if there's goat milk in it. I've made many a batch made with 60% olive oil and 25% coconut oil, along with castor oil and either cocoa butter or mango butter, and with and without milk, and I'm quite happy with them with a 4 to 6 week cure. Having said that, though, I know that others prefer to cure their high % olive oil soaps longer, such as 3 months or even longer, but it all depends on a person's personal preferences. I would advise you to cure them for at least 4 to 6 weeks, but hold some bars back to test at a later cure date, and then compare to get a gauge of what your own preferences might be.


IrishLass

 

[ewhitake]

Speaking only for myself, a formula such as what you posted is perfectly fine for me with a 4 to 6 week cure, even if there's goat milk in it. I've made many a batch made with 60% olive oil and 25% coconut oil, along with castor oil and either cocoa butter or mango butter, and with and without milk, and I'm quite happy with them with a 4 to 6 week cure. Having said that, though, I know that others prefer to cure their high % olive oil soaps longer, such as 3 months or even longer, but it all depends on a person's personal preferences. I would advise you to cure them for at least 4 to 6 weeks, but hold some bars back to test at a later cure date, and then compare to get a gauge of what your own preferences might be.


IrishLass

Thanks @IrishLass !! Great moniker BTW I hadn’t thought about cure time as a consumption preference but more along the line of safety. Now I know!! But then I’m a beginner

 

[KiwiMoose]

Safety-wise there would be no reason to cure OO soap any longer than a different-oil soap. I would tend to keep a lower superfat with OO because it can be slimy - probably about 2 or 3%.

The recipe you have cited has quite a high amount of PKO and CO combined - they both contribute to bubbles, but also can be drying on the skin. Most soapers don't go over 20% for those - and most of us tend to use CO (not sure why - I think it's cheaper/easier to get?)

 

[AliOop]

Most soaper don't go over 20% for those - and most of us tend to use CO (not sure why - I think it's cheaper/easier to get?)

Unless you buy the flakes (which are more expensive), PKO is much harder at room temp than CO. It basically has to be chipped or scraped out of the bucket for measuring and weighing. Although it supposedly has a lower melt point than CO, I find that PKO takes a lot more time to melt than CO. I haven’t priced it lately, but my understanding is that it is more expensive. It typically has to be purchased from soap suppliers; it is not available on grocery shelves like CO.

To me, PKO is like that complicated boyfriend/girlfriend who makes you a little cray-cray - but you put up with it bc the positives outweigh the annoyances.

 

[ewhitake]

Safety-wise there would be no reason to cure OO soap any longer than a different-oil soap. I would tend to keep a lower superfat with OO because it can be slimy - probably about 2 or 3%.

The recipe you have cited has quite a high amount of PKO and CO combined - they both contribute to bubbles, but also can be drying on the skin. Most soaper don't go over 20% for those - and most of us tend to use CO (not sure why - I think it's cheaper/easier to get?)

Yeah, I was kind of concerned myself with the high amounts of PKO and CO but this is someone else’s recipe, they say it works for them. I’m still new and playing around with different kinds of formulas. Love to get the input for more experienced Soapers like yourself.