How well should it hold up?

[SoapBee]

Hi All,

So I have decided to get back into soap making after taking a few years off. For the most part I consistently used the same oils. Very recently I visited a family member and to my surprise, there was a bar of my soap in the shower from years ago. There wasn't an unpleasant odor, just a little browning around the edges.

I guess my question is, are handmade soaps supposed to last forever? What is reasonable? What oils do you avoid to prevent your soap from going rancid?

Thanks for your input!

 

[pixybratt]

welcome soap bee. Sorry I don't have the answer to your question but I'm wondering the same thing.

 

[fionab]

Apparently Rosemary Extract/Oleoresin and Vit E can retard rancidity.

With some of my batches I have found that keeping the soap ventilated and away from light has kept them in good condition even after 2 years.

I think that it's reasonable to expect a soap to last for 12 months. Handmade soap consists of a lot of natural goodness which shouldn't be expected to last forever. Oil in your cupboard for cooking has a shelf life of about 12 months so as soap is composed of oils I reckon it should be about the same.

 

[Guest]

Sorry this is totally off topic but fionab, your soaps are gorgeous!!! Love, love, love them! The supernova one is really unique and I love the honeycomb effect on the honey oatmeal soap. Very creative!

 

[evatgirl73]

I think 1-2yrs shelf life is pretty standard, and I would expect most quality handmade soap to last even longer. I have bars here that are 3+yrs old and still look/smell great.

 

[heartandsoap]

here's my 2 cents. When I first started making soap I stirred by hand. Those soaps will last forever, like 8 yrs or more. With a good recipe good ingredients and no DOS. If you are using a stick blender the life span will be less. They will still be good soap...but you will be able to make an income from it.

 

[kelleyaynn]

Um, how can you even tell when soap goes rancid?

 

[newbie]

Why would the method of stirring change the life expectancy of a soap?

Also, from prior threads, the most experienced soapers here think shelf life should be much longer than 12 months.

Rancidity- DOS, off smells

 

[MrsFusion]

Yes, why would the stirring method change the life of the soap?

 

[TessC]

I'd be very interested in hearing the reason behind that, too. I've never heard anyone say that the stirring method affected the longevity of the soap before.

 

[Guest]

Sounds like an experiment in the making. Mix up a batch, divide in half, stick blend and mold; other half stir until trace and mold. Cure them side-by-side carving some identifier in it. Store side-by-side. Blind test bars (your friends are gonna love this one) and get feedback. Do this several months apart and go out to 2 years...................

Long experiment. Ongoing updates. Would be interesting.

Who wants to sign up?

 

[heartandsoap]

I'd be very interested in hearing the reason behind that, too. I've never heard anyone say that the stirring method affected the longevity of the soap before.

Sorry guys I don't know 'why' it was just a personal observation. I stirred by hand for years and a couple of those soaps made in 2001 are still around.