In roughly 24 - 48 hours the soap mixture heats up (this is called an exothermic reaction), goes thru a gel phase and then solidifies.  At this point we remove the soap from the mold, cut the loaves into bars and allow the soap to completely dry out and neutralize.  We cure Moxxie bar soaps for  a full 4-6 weeks.  During the cure time the water in the bar soap evaporates and the bars harden. The longer the cure, the harder the bar, the longer the bar soap lasts and more gentle the soap is on your skin.