Some of the oils we use and have used to make our soaps.
| Base Oil, Butter or Fat | Soft, Hard or Brittle | Properties in Soap | Recommended Usage | Breaking the Rules & Other Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Coconut Oil - Learn more about coconut oil in soap making. | Hard | Abundant lather, large fluffy bubbles, high cleansing, hard bar, white color | 15-50% | High amounts of coconut oil can be drying, however you can always use a higher superfat to counteract the drying effect. The more un-saponified oils in your soap the more moisturizing it is. Experiment with a 100% coconut oil soap with a 20% superfat. |
| Palm Oil | Hard | Mild stabilizing lather, hard, long lasting bar | 25-50% | Palm oil is great for those that don’t want to use animal fats such as lard or tallow. I personally do not use palm oil because of the environmental effects of producing it. |
| Olive Oil - Learn more about olive oil in soap making. | Soft | Low slippery lather, almost no bubbles, low cleansing | 25-80% | The low cleansing properties of olive oil make it very mild and nourishing. Soap for sensitive skin, elder skin or baby skin should include high amounts of olive (60%). Castile soap is made with 100% olive oil. I classify this as a soft/hard oil because it makes a very soft bar of soap initially upon unmolding but cures into a rock hard bar. Soaps high (50%+) in olive oil need longer to cure and unmold. |
| Lard | Hard | Mild stabilizing creamy lather, hard, white bar | 25-50% | 100% lard soap with no superfat makes great laundry soap, |
| Tallow (beef) | Hard | Mild stabilizing creamy lather, hard, white bar | 25-50% | 100% tallow soap with no superfat makes great laundry soap. |
| Babassu Oil | Brittle | Similar to coconut oil, large fluffy bubbles, high cleansing but a bit milder than coconut oil, white color | 15-30% | Babassu oil is a great oil to use in place of coconut oil for those that have a coconut allergy. |
| Palm Kernel Oil | Brittle | Similar to coconut oil, large fluffy bubbles, high cleansing but a bit milder than coconut oil, white color | 15-30% | Palm kernel oil is a great sub for coconut oil. You can also use it with coconut oil to add some hardness to your bar. If you have a recipe that calls for 20% coconut oil…try using 10% coconut oil and 10% palm kernel oil. |
| Cocoa Butter | Brittle | Mild stabilizing lotion-like lather, hard, long lasting bar | 5-15% | You can experiment using cocoa butter and other butters in high amounts – up to 80%. Try a bar made from 60% cocoa butter and 40% coconut oil. You might like it! |
| Shea Butter - Learn more about shea butter in soap making. | Hard | Mild stabilizing lotion-like lather, medium hard, long lasting bar | 5-20% | Same as cocoa butter. I typically use 5-15% but experiment with using up to 20%.occasionally will |
| Mango Butter - Learn more about mango butter in soap making. | Hard | Mango butter helps with the hardness of the soap, and it adds luxurious conditioning and moisturizing values as well. | 5-20% | I typically use 5-15% but occasionally will experiment with using up to 20%. |
| Castor Oil | Soft | Boosts lather by making a soap more easily dissolved in water | 5-10% | Some soap makers like to use 15-20% castor oil in their shampoo bars or shaving bars. |
| Apricot Kernel Oil | Soft | Medium lather, mild cleansing | 5-12% | Apricot Kernel is a wonderful sub for some of the olive oil in a recipe. |
| Avocado Oil - Learn more about avocado oil in soap making. | Soft | Medium lather, mild cleansing | 5-12% | Avocado oil is a wonderful sub for some of the olive oil in a recipe. It is high in vitamin E and other vitamins and minerals making it a great addition to facial bars or bars for elder skin. |
| Jojoba Oil | Soft | Stabilizes and suspends lather | 5-8% | Jojoba oil, a liquid wax, can kill lather when used in high amounts. Keep below 8%. |
| Sunflower Oil | Soft | Medium lather, mild cleansing | 5-12% | Sunflower oil is a wonderful sub for some of the olive oil in a recipe. Use high oleic sunflower for a longer shelf life. |
| Grapeseed Oil | Soft | Medium lather, mild cleansing | 5-12% | Grapeseed is a wonderful sub for some of the olive oil in a recipe. |
| Hazelnut Oil | Soft | Medium lather, mild cleansing | 5% | Hazelnut is a wonderful sub for some of the olive oil in a recipe. |
| Hemp Seed Oil | Soft | Medium lather, mild cleansing | 5% | Hemp Seed is a wonderful sub for some of the olive oil in a recipe. |
| Safflower Oil | Soft | Medium lather, mild cleansing | 5-12% | Safflower oil is a wonderful sub for some of the olive oil in a recipe. |
| Soybean Oil | Soft | Medium lather, mild cleansing | 5-12% | Soybean oil is a wonderful sub for some of the olive oil in a recipe. UPDATE: I quit using soybean as it is the only oil that I got rancid soap with. |
| Rice Bran Oil | Soft | Medium lather, mild cleansing, gives soap a sheen making it look less dull | 5-12% | Rice Bran oil is a wonderful sub for some of the olive oil in a recipe. |
| Almond Oil, sweet | Soft | Medium lather, mild cleansing | 5-12% | Sweet Almond oil is a wonderful sub for some of the olive oil in a recipe. |