Clear globules forming on my soap?

[roboboticus]

I have a puck of Ogallala unscented shave soap that I was transferring to a different mug when I noticed its underside was covered in little clear globules, like glycerine or some other ingredient oozing out of it. Crystalline looking, but consisting of viscid droplets rather than anything solid and jagged.

I'm curious what it might be, so I took a pic to see if anyone here might know. I had noticed one or two little globs forming on top of the puck (I haven't used it much lately), but the bottom was nearly covered in them.

I believe this soap contains glycerine and shea butter, but I'm not sure what else.

Not sure how well you can see them in the picture, but I did my best...

 

[kingfisher]

Interesting.

If you rub them off with your finger, what do they feel like? Do they readily brush right off? Are they smooth/slippery between your fingers?

 

[pezdaddy]

I believe its glycerin dew. A google search will bring up many articles about it.

 

[roboboticus]

Well, they are stuck on the surface of the soap but you can rub them off with a little pressure. They have the consistency of fruit preserves (minus the seeds).

 

[Mama Bear]

in higher humidity like we are seeing now, the dampness in the air will actually attract the glycerin and pull it out of the soap puck.. it will form a dew like covering on the exposed portion of the soap. Keep your soaps dry and covered and you won't lose the glycerin like this..

It won't hurt anything.. wipe it off and use the soap... no problem..

 

[3eff_Jeff]

in higher humidity like we are seeing now, the dampness in the air will actually attract the glycerin and pull it out of the soap puck.. it will form a dew like covering on the exposed portion of the soap. Keep your soaps dry and covered and you won't lose the glycerin like this..

It won't hurt anything.. wipe it off and use the soap... no problem..

Dry is important. Wet and covered encourages this (it happened a lot to my soap when traveling last month).

And +1 on the no big deal. Still using that bar of soap, and still getting good lather and shaves.

 

[roboboticus]

Cool, thanks guys. A "dew like covering" is a perfect description too!
Now I know.