Salt = antioxidant? Oh and DOS

[valor]

I was in a little boutique store the other day and I noticed that they were selling handmade salt bars. Being intrigued by all things handmade and soap, I took a closer look. They had DOS! Just little spots, but I realized that I could smell it too.

Then I thought "Isn't salt an antioxidant?" and "Why wouldn't a preservative that has been used for eons for food, work for a bar of soap?" Was it just not mixed properly before they poured? The ingredient list was forthright and I could see no obvious flaw. Would using an incorrect amount of salt cause this to happen?
(Isn't it sad that my thought went to those questions before they went to telling the shop owner that she was selling rancid soap? LOL)

 

[Guest]

Oh boy ! It makes you wonder what other oils were used . The soapmaker should be checking her stock there, regularly . That is pretty bad I think .

 

[valor]

That's what I thought too! I had to muster the courage to ask the shop owner if she knew that the soap was bad. I felt terrible for her! She was MORTIFIED! She had been selling it for a while I guess.

 

[Healinya]

I have made about 20 different salt bar recipes. I got dos in one of them after about two months - it was the only batch I tried soybean oil in at 20%.

 

[valor]

I don't recall soybean being one of the ingreds, but it could've been on there. Like I said, I was pretty intrigued by why it would happen in a salt bar to begin with. I still am.

 

[xraygrl]

I made a salt bar with about 25% canola when I didn't have any olive, and they got DOS within about 2-3 months. I knew about the risk of using canola, but was hoping that the salt would help preserve....nope. Luckily I don't sell, so the only disappointment was my own.

Just goes to show what can happen when no long term testing (or follow up for that matter) is done to ensure a high quality product. Another fly by nighter I'm sure........

 

[artisan soaps]

..

 

[heyjude]

It was nice of you to let the shop owner know. I'm sure you handled it in a polite manner. Hopefully, she'll be able to get her $$$ back. Maybe there's an opening for you to show her how soap should really be!

Jude

 

[BlueSky]

What do you do with a salt bar? Is it an exfoliating soap?

 

[Artephius]

Salt is a food preservative because it inhibits bacterial growth by drawing water out of food via osmosis (primarily). DOS isn't caused by bacterial growth, so salt does not have preservation benefits in oil, or by extension, soap.

Be nice if it did though. :roll:

 

[MikeInPdx]

Yeah.....preservative<>antioxidant

Personally, I haven't had a DOS since I started leaving the canola alone, stopped adding Crisco at more than 20%, and changed my castile soap to bastile soap.

 

[valor]

Yeah I know that they are different. When I am writing on here I am usually typing with one hand with a squirming baby on my lap. I don't always get to express my thoughts as well as I would like to.

Bluesky- a salt bar ends up being s smooth textured bar. I know, it is counter-intuitive, but some have described it like a polished stone which is fairly accurate. They are very luxurious. I love them!