How Long Does a Handmade Soap Last?
If you’ve ever pondered the question, “how long does a handmade soap last?” you’re not alone. As more people transition to eco-friendly lifestyles, they often turn to handmade soaps, appreciating their natural ingredients and minimal environmental impact. However, understanding the longevity of these artisanal products can help maximize their benefits and ensure you’re making the most of your investment. Let’s delve into the factors affecting how long a handmade soap lasts and explore tips for prolonging its shelf life.
Handmade Soap vs. Commercial Soap
Before switching to a zero-waste lifestyle, people are usually excited about helping the environment and finally being conscious about their product consumption. Together with these feelings, however, there come also uncertainty and anxiety. "Will I be able to really do this?" Fairly speaking, that's a tough question, but an important one. We should manage expectations realistically, after all.
Once we start decluttering, especially reducing plastic in our households, we notice that the products we buy tend to stick around us for quite some time. For example, handmade shampoo bars are said to last as much as two bottles of regular-sized shampoo in plastic bottles. Crazy, right? Such a small product, yet so wallet-friendly.
So what is different between handmade soap, produced in small batches and the commercial soap that we buy at big chain stores? And how do we realistically measure the end product we get, at the price we paid in terms of money, and the wellbeing of our skin? Then we can have a calculated estimate toe precisely answer the question "how long does a handmade soap last?".
First of all, there's quality. Have you noticed how store-bought soaps have a list full of ingredients on the back that you don't really recognize? One reason is that cosmetics companies write out the latin names of their ingredients, which makes it a bit difficult to understand if you are not a Chemist or a Pharmacist.
The second reason, is that this list is really long, isn't it? Who has time to read through all that? Well, many people do, and in fact, they do understand what's behind those fancy names. And that's not good. Full of sulfates, parabens, artificial scents and colors - no wonder some of us get allergic to certain hand creams, face masks or lip balms. Large cosmetic corporations prefer to use cheaper or even toxic ingredients, in order to make big batches of the same product that supply the consumer demand. That is of course, at the expense of quality. Quality of ingredients, quality of production processes, quality of you guessed it - the end product.
Alternatively, handmade cosmetics (when done in line with cosmetic production guidelines and using high quality ingredients) focus on using only raw materials that do have value to the skin on their own. Soap bars, in particular, are made of two main things - lye solution and base oils (usually plant-based, but also animal by-products, such as tallow, for example).
Therefore, the only care we need to have regarding these materials, are the lye to oils ration, if we want to have a "safe" soap. And then again, we need to carefully choose ingredients that have long shelf life. Because there are no extra artificial ingredients added (in the case of simple handmade soap bars), you don't need to worry about being allergic to a certain chemical or a fragrance.
To sum up, store-bought soaps are mass-produced with a myriad of synthetic ingredients, often including sulfates, parabens, and artificial fragrances. These additives can be harsh on the skin and have a longer shelf life due to preservatives. In contrast, handmade soaps are crafted in small batches with natural ingredients like plant-based oils and essential oils, which are gentler on the skin but may have a shorter shelf life.
When does a handmade soap expire?
That depends. On who produced it, what is the expiration date of the products, how was the soap stored, how often was it used, etc. Of course, answering "how long does a handmade soap last?" depends on the aforementioned variables, meaning the pre-purchase phase (which is the production of the soap), but also the "after-care", which depends solely on the user.
At Soapmate EU we write out an approximate best-to date on the back of the label. This date is exactly a year after the soap has cured. Usually, handmade soaps are good for usage within two years of curing, or until the soonest expiration date of any of the ingredients.
The oils we use have a long shelf life and we change them frequently, as we don't buy much of them in bulk and we create only small soap batches. So, we change the oils every 5-6 months, meaning the soaps we make are good for at least two years after being made. Still, we don't want people to keep them too long in their households, as at one point they will lose their properties.
Handmade soaps often come with a “best by” date, usually about a year from the curing date. However, this doesn’t mean the soap will go bad immediately after this date. It may lose some fragrance and color but can still be used effectively. When asking, “how long does a handmade soap last,” it’s useful to know that its effectiveness can extend beyond the suggested date if stored properly.
Factors Influencing the Longevity of Handmade Soap
Ingredients: The type and quality of ingredients used in handmade soap significantly affect its shelf life. Oils like olive and coconut have longer shelf lives, while others like flaxseed or hemp might spoil faster. High-quality essential oils can also prolong the soap’s life.
Curing Process: Proper curing is essential to ensure the soap is safe and long-lasting. Handmade soap typically cures for about four to six weeks. During this period, the water content evaporates, making the soap harder and longer-lasting.
Storage Conditions: How you store your handmade soap plays a critical role in its longevity. Keeping it dry and away from direct sunlight or excessive heat will help maintain its integrity and prevent it from melting or becoming mushy.
How to store handmade soap?
To ensure your handmade soap lasts as long as possible, follow these storage tips:
Keep It Dry: Store your soap on a well-drained soap dish that allows excess water to escape. Prolonged exposure to water can cause the soap to dissolve faster.
Avoid Direct Sunlight: UV rays can degrade the essential oils and other natural ingredients in handmade soap, reducing its shelf life.
Cool and Dry Environment: A cool, dry place like a cupboard or drawer is ideal for storing handmade soap. Avoid humid areas like the bathroom, where moisture can accelerate the soap’s degradation.
Use a Soap Saver: Soap savers or mesh bags can help use up every last bit of your soap, ensuring none of it goes to waste while also providing a good lather
How long does it take to make a handmade soap?
That's something many people do not think about when buying handmade soaps or ordering customized ones.
The process of making the soap from start to finish takes around 1-2 hours, depending on the recipe, materials and speed you work at. However, building up and calculating the ingredients for recipe that is good to the skin, ordering and buying the ingredients, planting and then harvesting whatever decoration you want to put on top (for example, lavender, calendula petals, herbs, etc.) - these are all a part of the preparation activities, which together with packaging, shipping and delivery are a let's say a variable cost (in time units), as it depends mostly on the preparation and time management of the soapmaker.
However, soap needs to cure and that we cannot influence. Curing is the process when the oils connect with the lye, so that no NaOH is present at the end product, as well as the process of "dehydration" when excess water evaporates from the soap.
For soaps with an average amount of light oils, e.g. olive or sunflower (under 40%), curing takes 28 days. This is the time when we let go of watching and overprotecting the bars, and let the oils do their magic. After these four weeks, the soap is ready for use. If a soap contains a higher percentage of light oils, such as a Bastille soap or our You are Supherb! then the curing time extends to 42 days. Almost three months! Then we ask customers to wait patiently, as soap making is really not something you can rush or speed up just for the sake of it. It needs time, patience and peace. That's what we love about it!
How Long Does a Handmade Soap Last?
Typically, a well-cured handmade soap lasts for about two years if stored properly. This timeframe can vary based on the factors mentioned earlier. For instance, soaps with higher concentrations of unsaturated oils might have a shorter shelf life. When considering “how long does a handmade soap last,” it’s also important to note the usage frequency. Daily use will naturally wear down the soap faster than occasional use.
Practical Tips for Extending the Life of Your Handmade Soap
To further extend the life of your handmade soap, consider the following practices:
Cut the Soap: Slice your soap into smaller pieces. Using one piece at a time will keep the rest of the soap dry and extend its overall lifespan.
Rotate Soaps: If you have multiple handmade soaps, rotate their use. This practice allows each bar to dry completely between uses, preventing them from becoming soggy.
Use a Soap Dish with Drainage: Ensure your soap dish has proper drainage to keep the soap dry between uses. Standing water can quickly break down the soap, reducing its lifespan.
Avoid Excessive Heat: Keep your soap away from heat sources. Excessive heat can melt the soap or cause it to lose its fragrance and beneficial properties.
In conclusion, understanding "how long does a handmade soap last?" involves considering several factors, including ingredients, curing process, storage conditions, and usage frequency. By storing your soap properly and following best practices, you can extend its life and continue to enjoy its benefits for an extended period. Whether you’re a seasoned user or new to handmade soaps, knowing how to care for them ensures you get the most out of these delightful, eco-friendly products.
Handmade soaps offer a unique, natural alternative to commercial soaps, with the added benefit of being gentle on the skin and environmentally friendly. By understanding and implementing the tips provided, you can confidently answer the question, “how long does a handmade soap last,” and enjoy your artisanal soaps for as long as possible.
So next time you purchase a beautifully crafted bar of handmade soap, remember these tips and appreciate the artistry and care that went into making it. Your skin, wallet, and the environment will thank you.
This post was all about answering the question "how long does a handmade soap last?".