Salt Bar Question

[Badger]

I am contemplating making a salt bar for my next soap, I was planning on using 90% Coconut Oil, 5% Shea Butter, 5% Castor Oil with 20% SF (though I will take suggestions on all of this). I am planning on adding 75% sea salt, but I only have coarse sea salt. Is it okay to use coarse grain or should I only use fine? If I need to, I can drag myself to the store..

 

[WallFlower]

That sounds like a nice bar. If you have a coffee or spice grinder I would grind up the coarse salt to make it more fine. I made a soap with coarse salt and it was too sharp it actually cut into my skin.

 

[sistrum]

I've used and like both.

 

[bodhi]

Ive only made a couple batches just to try them. I used 100% CO, 20%SF, and 100% oil wt of fine sea salt. I think your recipe looks nicer. If i were going to make them again i would use less salt and add some butters too. No idea about the course salt. Make sure to keep an eye on your batch. Mine were rock hard in an hour. If i hadn't cut them then, they never would have been cut.

 

[green soap]

I make them 50% sea salt because I have tried different salt concentrations and 50% still gives me heaps of lather and it is very much a salt soap in character. 70% did not lather that much for me.

I buy coarse sea salt and grind it myself. I prefer fine grains than pulverized, because I like to see the salt grains, just like the lapidary look of it. Coarse is too scratchy for me.

You recipe sounds good otherwise, and as to the % sea salt it is something that each one needs to experiment with. 25%, 50%, 75% and even 100% are all used by different people.

 

[Badger]

Thank you all for your responses, I am making this some to experiment and some for my partner, so will see what he thinks Does a salt bar need the same cure time as a regular soap? I am guessing yes, but wanted to make sure.

 

[layserbrat]

The one I made is finally cured. 80% coconut, 15% Shea Butter, 5% Castor, 20% SF. Subbed the water for Aloe Liquid and Coconut Water (1/2 of each). Don't know if it made a difference, but I LOVE IT! Used 1:1 ratio of sea salt to oil weight. Second batch I got brave and added turmeric for color and a Cucumber Cantaloupe FO. Now the waiting begins again....

 

[green soap]

Thank you all for your responses, I am making this some to experiment and some for my partner, so will see what he thinks Does a salt bar need the same cure time as a regular soap? I am guessing yes, but wanted to make sure.

I cure mine for double the time, 8 weeks minimum, 3 months better....

 

[Badger]

I cure mine for double the time, 8 weeks minimum, 3 months better....

Thank you, I am glad that I asked. I will aim for at least ten weeks. I am going to try with the coarse grain and see how it works out and then play with things from there

 

[Genny]

I cure mine for double the time, 8 weeks minimum, 3 months better....

Me too. It's definitely a lot more mild feeling at 3 months than it is at 4 weeks.

 

[MaitriBB]

I bought both coarse and fine from my supplier and soaped with both, and I prefer the fine.