Did you know that handmade soap takes a month to cure? Once bars are cut, they get put on drying racks where they remain until they are ready to be sold (much like gourmet cheese or fine wine!). During their weeks of undisturbed rest, excess moisture in the bars evaporates, leaving a firmer, harder, longer-lasting bar. Additionally, the pH will change slightly over time, with the resulting bar imparting a more gentle feeling to the skin.  And that’s the reason The Soap Chest invests the extra time to make sure each hand cut bar is cured and ready for their discerning customers (whose patience and understanding are rewarded if they have to wait for the next batch to be ready and at its best!).