Do natural soaps have a definite shelf life?
Yes. As explained above (“How do natural soaps differ from commercially-produced soaps?”) most natural soaps contain unreacted fats. While unreacted fats add beneficial qualities to the soap, fat can spoil over time. Commercially-produced soaps typically minimize the extra fat in their soaps and include preservatives. Many natural soap makers also include a natural preservative but ultimately the oils will still go rancid. We don’t use any preservative at Bryn Mawr Soap because the bars hold out well on their own. In fact, our bars become milder with age. Some shrinkage in the size of the bars should be expected as they cure, due to continued evaporation of water. We recommend that you use the bars within a eight to twelve months.
