Posted by Cassie Durant on November 29, 2013 •Categories: Soap: Cold Process, Tips & Tricks
We recently had a wholesale client ask us how long their soap will last (we assume customers were asking him). Here’s what we told him:
There’s no set shelf life for handmade soap. A lot depends on the oils used and how it’s stored. Like a fine wine or cheese, soap that is stored in a cool, dark place gets better with a little aging. Time mellows the soap and allows it to get harder, helping it to last longer in the shower. I have some bars that are over 3 years old and still look great!
What you may notice about an older bar is that the scent may be a bit fainter than a fresher bar. This difference is usually less noticeable as you use the bar & “release” the fragrance. The action of wetting the bar and rubbing it will allow the fragrance to bloom and be released more easily than when it is dry.
But if you ever have a bar that smells rancid or starts to feel sticky or oily, then it’s probably started to oxidize and it’s best not to use it.
4 Responses to Shelf Life for Handmade Soap
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Lori Brinkworth June 5, 2014 at 9:19 am #
I’ve had soap that has sat for two years and still smells great I would however keep your fragranced soap seperate from each other as the scents blend together otherwise.
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Lori at The Nova Studio June 5, 2014 at 10:16 am #
Great point, Lori! Cassie threw a bunch of soap into a bag at home and forgot about it. They ALL smell the same now.
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Caitlin May 22, 2023 at 6:01 pm #
I was wondering the same thing about natural soaps. I also wonder if you have natural bar soap that hasn’t been used yet what the shelf life of those would be obviously longer than if it was being used I would think.
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Cassie Durant May 25, 2023 at 10:06 am #
Hi Caitlin, I think you’re asking if the answer would be different if we were talking about natural soaps in this post? If so, good news – we are talking about natural soap! So you’ll find your answer above :)
For a bar of soap that is in the soap dish, it’s our experience that the bar of soap gets used up far faster than it could possibly go bad. However, if you just mean if it’s been used for a couple weeks and then put away, as long as it’s completely dry when it’s put back in storage, it should still have its full shelf life!
I hope that helps :)
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