This is what is called ‘soap sweating’ or a ‘glycerine dew’. The beads of sweat or wet stuff is actually the highly desirable glycerine dew and a sign of a quality natural soap.
What is actually happening, is that the natural glycerine that exists within the oils used to make soap, attracts moisture from the air in times of high humidity. When humidity is low, soap actually loses water and is dry to the touch. Soap sweating occurs only when humidity is high (moisture in the air).
Is Glycerin good?
Glycerine is the magic ingredient in our natural handmade soaps that is a humectant that helps to keep our skin hydrated. Commercially produced supermarket soap has had its glycerine removed, so while it doesn’t really sweat it also helps explain why your skin feels dry and itchy.
What should I do if my soap is sweating?
- Immediately upon noticing the sweating you can wipe the watery substance away from the soap with a paper towel or similar. The soap itself is not damaged in any way and will dry out again when the air dries. This is the time to ensure that your remaining supply is protected from the ambient moisture.
- In high humid regions, place your soap in an airtight container and store in a cool, dry cupboard or space. Traditionally soap is cured open to the air and in dry conditions this is what we’d also recommend but at times of high humidity we need to stop moisture build up so a sealed container is the best option.
- When using your soap, ensure you use a soap dish to lift your soap out of water and keep away from moisture to dry out during the day. We do our bit by ensuring your bars are formulated for hardness and longevity, so simple strategies like ensuring good drainage mean you’ll get great value from our soaps.