Cold Process and Hot Process (HP) are basic methods for making soap, but when it comes to the Cold Process (CP) soap making once it’s poured into the mold that doesn’t have to be the end of it. There is an additional process that is called Cold Process Oven Process or CPOP that is often used and it gives soap makers the best of both the CP and HP methods.
The CPOP method starts off just like CP soap, even to the point that it is poured into a mold, but the fun doesn’t stop there. In order to force the soap to finish the saponification process quickly the soap is then put into a preheated oven set at a low temperature and set to “cook” for several hours. Then the oven is turned off and the whole mold is allowed to cool undisturbed in the oven. Often this process is done in the evening and the soap is left in the oven overnight.
Once the soap has cooled it is cut and then set to cure. This makes the soap ready to use as soon as it is cooled and cut, but it gives you the smooth bar that is the usual look of CP soap.
