<p>As hlg said, cold process takes 4 to 8 weeks to dry.
Also, each oil sets differently and gives the soap a different hardness.</p>

<p>I don't have a link in English, but here's a good one in French (that you may translate using Google): <a href="http://www.soapacadabra.fr/archives/2011/08/10/21768903.html" rel="noreferrer">http://www.soapacadabra.fr/archives/2011/08/10/21768903.html</a></p>

<p>It says that:</p>

<ul>
<li>Coco oil dries fast and makes a hard soap.</li>
<li>Olive oil dries slowly and makes a very hard soap.</li>
<li>Sunflower oil dries very slowly and makes
a soft soap.</li>
</ul>

<p>Good luck.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-09-18T23:23:27.690Z
2019-09-18T23:23:27.690Z
Oli vier
<p>Cold process soap usually needs 4 weeks minimum to set up completely.  You may just need to give it more time. </p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-09-18T02:16:29.057Z
2019-09-18T02:16:29.057Z
hlg
<p>I am tried to make soap using cold process saponification.</p>

<p>I used 25% coconut oil, 25% olive oil and 50% sunflower oil (what I had in my kitchen for this first try) and used a lye calculator to define the amount of lye and water for a 7% superfat.</p>

<p>To try to give it some spice,  I infused the sunflower oil with sage leaves.</p>

<p>After 3 days in the molds the soap is still very soft, more like a paste at the bottom, and cannot be unmolded without tearing.</p>

<p>Any idea on what can make a soap keep soft?</p>

<material-selection><soap-making>
Soap not hardening
Oneira
# Soap not hardening

(Asked by: username_0 on 2019-09-10)

I am tried to make soap using cold process saponification.

I used 25% coconut oil, 25% olive oil and 50% sunflower oil (what I had in my kitchen for this first try) and used a lye calculator to define the amount of lye and water for a 7% superfat.

To try to give it some spice, I infused the sunflower oil with sage leaves.

After 3 days in the molds the soap is still very soft, more like a paste at the bottom, and cannot be unmolded without tearing.

Any idea on what can make a soap keep soft?

**Tags:** material-selection, soap-making


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## 2 answers

### Answer by username_1 on 2019-09-18. Score: 5 | Accepted answer

As username_2 said, cold process takes 4 to 8 weeks to dry.
Also, each oil sets differently and gives the soap a different hardness.

I don't have a link in English, but here's a good one in French (that you may translate using Google): <http://www.soapacadabra.fr/archives/2011/08/10/21768903.html>

It says that:

* Coco oil dries fast and makes a hard soap.
* Olive oil dries slowly and makes a very hard soap.
* Sunflower oil dries very slowly and makes
  a soft soap.

Good luck.


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### Answer by username_2 on 2019-09-18. Score: 2

Cold process soap usually needs 4 weeks minimum to set up completely. You may just need to give it more time.


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