How to Make Your Soaps Harder & Last Longer

Normally you’d never want to add a SALT to any soap — because salt, as a rule, decreases the lather and bubbles you enjoy when washing with it. And as a soaper, we ALWAYS want more bubbles in our lather!

One of the secrets I immediately implemented in our shop soap bars is the addition of Sodium lactate.

Yes, Sodium lactate is indeed a salt, but it behaves differently from table salt (sodium chloride) or other salts like Himalayan or Sea salt when used in soap-making.

Here’s the unique way sodium lactate works in soap:

Effects of Sodium Lactate in Soap:

1. Hardens the Soap: Sodium lactate is commonly added to soap to help it harden faster and become more durable longterm. This makes it particularly useful in cold-process soap recipes, as it helps unmold the soap more easily. It keeps it lasting longer for your customers also!
2. Preserves Lather: Unlike sodium chloride, sodium lactate does not significantly reduce lather. In fact, it can help maintain a creamy, stable lather by promoting better soap texture.
3. Moisturizing Properties: Sodium lactate is a humectant, meaning it helps attract and retain moisture. This can make the soap feel more conditioning on the skin.
4. Improves Bar Longevity: By hardening the soap, sodium lactate helps the bar last longer during use, reducing how quickly it dissolves in water. This means your customers get a great product that lasts it’s worth.

Seriously, there aren’t many downsides to adding in some Sodium lactate to your soap… at least, I haven’t found any yet!

Key Differences Between Sodium Lactate and Sodium Chloride:

When I fist heard about Sodium lactate being used in soap, I immediately thought of Sodium chloride and wondered if there were any similarities.

It turns out they really are different, and you should NEVER add table salt (Sodium Cholride) to your soap unless it’s a special projects like making Sea Salt Soap, which in that case, you need to balance it out with other ingredients to increase the lather.

Here are the main differences —

• Sodium Chloride (Table Salt): Can reduce lather and bubbles in higher concentrations and hardens the soap primarily by adjusting the solubility of soap molecules.
• Sodium Lactate: Hardens the soap without negatively affecting lather and contributes to a more skin-friendly product due to its moisturizing properties.

If you’re a soaper like me, hopefully I’ve convinced you by now to try adding Sodium lactate to your soaps.

For a great option that enhances your soap without compromising its lather, sodium lactate is an excellent choice!