Wassup with my Cella?

[ChiefBroom]

I bought this tub of Cella in Lawrence, KS in mid-2011. Hard to say how old it was then. I used it a lot in rotation with Proraso for a few months, and then discovered Tabac and MWF, which became my main soaps. I recently started to use Cella again on a fairly regular basis. Last week I got into what appear to be hardened globules of soap. I tried to soften and mix them in with my finger, but they just came loose, broke up, and released tiny crystal-like bits. I lathered up anyway, thinking it would all dissolve, but the hard bits mostly remained hard bits. Ended up having to start over with Cella from a different (newer) tub.

Is this a a common occurence? I've been thinking about getting a brick of Cella, but that would only make sense if it has a long shelf life.

The "crystal" like flecks show up a little in the bottom photo.

 

[demaro]

That happens if you let Cella sit for a while , it is fine , no problem.. Nothing to worry about..

 

[ChiefBroom]

That happens if you let Cella sit for a while , it is fine , no problem.. Nothing to worry about..

Thanks. Probably should have just left it alone. Poking around in it is what created the problem. I'll try it again today.

 

[sychodelix]

I think some of the ingredients are starting to "unmix". I've seen lots of soaps do that, but it's usually the older ones. Softer soaps can do it too. It's still pretty much fine to use, just a little weird.

 

[demaro]

After you use it a few times it will be back to as you are used to..

 

[jjgold]

NO NO!!! It is toxic....you let it sit far too long. Hopefully, uh I mean terribly if you have other soaps you MUST throw away...luckily if you pm me I will take uh I mean dispose of all of them.....

 

[ChiefBroom]

NO NO!!! It is toxic....you let it sit far too long. Hopefully, uh I mean terribly if you have other soaps you MUST throw away...luckily if you pm me I will take uh I mean dispose of all of them.....

I hear you.

 

[nwjs]

Looks like it's dried up a bit... that being said, the tub says you should use it up within 12 months after opening it (same as with many other creams). Since it contains a lot of water and no preservatives, I'd use it up quickly, once opened. This is not a product you should keep in your bathroom cabinet for years.

 

[tmurzz]

You're fine haha.

 

[ChiefBroom]

Not dead yet.

I scooped the soap out with a spoon and was a little surprised to observe that the little globules (kinda looks like the soap is granulizing) appear to be equally distributed throughout. I made a ball and kneeded it in my hand like bread dough (didn't think about find a rolling pin) for a couple of minutes. That didn't seem to change anything. If the globs and tiny bits resulted from dehydration, I'd think there would be more at the surface than toward the bottom of the tub, which wasn't the case. That makes me wonder if it isn't just a time-related process.

If that's what it is, as has been suggested, my question becomes is it a bad idea to buy a 1 kilo block of Cella, which I haven't done yet, or a 1 kilo block of P.160 (Tipo duro), which I have done (it's due to arrive any day)? Is there there a proper way to store this stuff so it stays "fresh"? I'm sure as hell not going to get through a kilo of Cella or P.160 in a year.