ahahahaha you are joking right? My brother tried that battery thing on me before, NOT FALLIN FOR IT AGAIN!!!! NOT LICKIN SOAP EITHER!!!!That is good. Did you try the tongue test? Place a bar on the tip of your tongue and if there is a "tingling" sensation, like touching a 9 volt battery to your tongue, it is perhaps a bit lye heavy. 14 is kinda high for even a fresh cut bar. Mine run about 10.5 to 11. Like CP stated, soap is like a fine wine or cheese, it gets better with age. A 6 month to 8 month old soap is in it's prime, in my experience