How this bar will behave

The dark band is the range most balanced bars fall in. The dot is your recipe: green when it sits inside the range, orange when it falls outside. Values are estimated from typical fatty acid profiles of each oil.

Formulator's notes

What does your soap look like?

Curing your bars

1. Unmold and cut once the loaf is firm, usually after 24 to 48 hours. Wear gloves, since fresh soap can still be caustic.
2. Separate the bars. Stand them on a rack or parchment with space between each one so air reaches every side.
3. Choose a cool, dry spot with good airflow, out of direct sunlight. Avoid bathrooms, kitchens and humid basements.
4. Turn the bars once a week so all sides cure evenly.
5. Wait to wrap. Don't box, wrap or seal bars until the cure is complete.

pH test before you use it

At the end of the cure, wet a corner of the bar with distilled water, work up a little lather, and press a pH strip into it. Well-made, cured cold process soap normally reads between 8 and 10. If it reads higher than 10, let it cure longer and test again. If it stays high, don't use it and contact ABD Naturals with your recipe.

Storing cured soap

• Keep it in a cool, dry place away from sunlight, which fades colour and scent.
• Wrap in paper or cotton, not airtight plastic, so the bar can breathe.
• Keep it away from humidity, which causes beads of moisture on the surface.

Making each bar last

• Use a soap dish that drains, so the bar never sits in water.
• Keep it out of the direct stream of the shower.
• Let it dry fully between uses. Cutting a large bar in half helps.

• 01Recipe review. Send one recipe a season for a personal review from Sawsen.
• 02Early booking for advanced classes before they open to the public.
• 03Member pricing on soap kits, molds and supplies.
• 04Bring a friend to your next class at the group rate.