Just my thoughts, I make mine in the garage, it's winter, temps vary between 5 and 15 degrees celcius and I have never had the flaky chalky problem ( except for the batch that I got mad at). I have wrapped some, and not wrapped others, same difference.
I have Hp'd a batch, Cp a lot, CPOP a couple and basically tried to abuse most of my batches to get them to fail so I can find a set point. So far, all I have failed at was a super coloured, super scented CP batch of 100%canola. But I went way offbase with that. It wouldn't trace. so I actually (carefully I might add) added what I know to be a saponifiable oil, PO, and then more lye/water solution 2x to finally get light trace with the understanding that I may be handing it over for disposal. As it is, it turned out, I checked all sides of the cut product with Phenophaline to check alkalinity and even though it is flaky, dry, chalky, ugly, it is not alkaline. I don't know how much faith I put in gellimg a soap as I've done it both ways with practically the same result. I do believe that some insulation helps set up the soap faster but whether or not it makes better soap is up for debate. If you are from a warmer clime I would suggest forgetting about insulation and seeing what happens naturally.
