Coconut oil is widely used in many soap-making recipes because of its cleansing ability and its fantastic lather. It is a great choice for those with sensitive skin, as it is considered to be an “anti-allergenic” and non-irritating oil.
It is also known to be extremely moisturizing and conditioning, making it ideal for people with dry skin. Coconut oil also has low cleansing abilities, meaning it doesn’t strip away too much of the natural oils that your skin needs in order to stay healthy.
As a result, soap made with coconut oil creates a rich, creamy lather that won’t over dry your skin. Its hydrating properties also contribute to the soap’s longevity and ability to retain its scent. The oil’s concentration of Linoleic and Lauric acids also provide anti-bacterial, anti-fungal and anti-viral advantages, making it an ideal choice for people with compromised skin or living in warmer climates.
Coconut oil is one of the most commonly used ingredients in soap-making because it is so versatile, and it provides many benefits.
What properties does coconut oil add to soap?
Coconut oil is a popular choice for soap makers because of its many beneficial properties. Not only does it help to give soap a nice white or cream color, but it also adds a great lather to the final product.
The lather that coconut oil adds to soap is incredibly luxurious due to its high levels of saturated fats. After saponification, these fats form a wonderful bubbly, creamy lather that boosts the cleansing properties of the soap.
The oil also adds a wonderful moisturizing effect to the soap that helps to leave skin feeling more nourished and hydrated. It has different fatty acid lengths which is why it makes such a great moisturizer, since fatty acids penetrate the skin and help to seal in moisture.
Coconut oil also works to condition and soften the skin along with helping to preserve the scent of other oils and fragrances by slowing down their evaporation rate. Additionally, its antimicrobial properties can help fight the bacteria, fungi and other micro-organisms that can be found on the skin and in the soap.
All of these properties come together to make coconut oil an ideal choice for soap making.
Does coconut oil make soap hard?
Yes, coconut oil can make soap hard and improve lather, but the amount of coconut oil in a recipe should be carefully monitored. If the oil content is too high, the soap will be too hard and can be difficult to cut.
Generally, it’s recommended to use 15-20% coconut oil in a recipe. If you’d like an extra hard bar of soap, you can increase it to 30-40%. On the other hand, too little coconut oil can yield an insufficient lather.
For best results, it’s important to calculate the oil amounts carefully and conduct a few test batches to make sure you’ve achieved the desired hardness and lather combination. In addition to affecting soap hardness and lather, adding coconut oil will create a product with a longer shelf life, as the oil acts as a moisturizer for the skin and helps the soap last longer in storage.
What type of coconut oil is used in cold process soap?
The best type of coconut oil to use in cold process soap is unrefined, cold-pressed coconut oil. Cold-pressed coconut oil retains more of the natural nutrients, which are beneficial for the skin when used in a soap bar.
Refined coconut oil does not contain the same beneficial skin-loving nutrients and can be prone to oxidation, which can lead to a decrease in the shelf life of the soap bar. Coconut oil is a great ingredient to use in cold process soap because it provides rich lather, hardness and longevity to the soap bar.
How much coconut oil should I put in soap?
The amount of coconut oil you should add to your soap depends on the type of soap you are making and the properties you are wanting to achieve in the final product. Generally speaking, the higher the percentage of coconut oil you use, the harder and longer lasting the bar will be.
However, a high percentage of coconut oil can result in a soap that does not lather easily, so it is important to use a balance of other oils and fats to make a well-rounded soap, as well as to help combat any drying results from the coconut oil.
A good place to start is by using 15-30% of your total fats and oils to come from coconut oil and adjusting the percentage up or down depending on the final product desired. When combining the coconut oil with other oils, it is important to ensure you are using at least 50% of the sum of all oils as coconut oil.
This will ensure that you are making a soap that is cleansing, lathering, and conditioning.
What is the difference between refined and unrefined coconut oil?
The main difference between refined and unrefined coconut oil is the amount of processing they undergo. Unrefined coconut oil also known as ‘virgin’ or ‘extra virgin’ oil is cold pressed from the fresh flesh of a coconut and is considered to be in its purest form.
Its still has a light coconut flavor and scent and is usually clear in color. Due to the lack of processing and additives, the healthy fats and potential health benefits from consuming it are preserved.
Refined coconut oil, on the other hand, undergoes more processing. The copra (the dried out flesh) is treated with chemicals such as hexane to extract the coconut oil, then bleached and further refined at high temperatures.
This extends its shelf life and removes the coconut smell and flavor. Refined coconut oil is typically cheaper and has less nutrients than the unrefined variety.
What does coconut oil 92 degrees mean?
Coconut oil 92 degrees is a measure of the melting point of coconut oil. It describes the temperature at which coconut oil will change from a solid to a liquid state. The higher the temperature, the more liquid it becomes until it reaches its boiling point.
Because of its high saturated fat content, coconut oil has a higher melting point than other oils. Coconut oil 92 degrees is typically the melting point of unrefined extra virgin coconut oil, which is usually liquid above 76 degrees Fahrenheit and solid below 76 degrees Fahrenheit.
Can I make soap with fractionated coconut oil?
Yes, you can make soap with fractionated coconut oil. It is actually one of the most popular selections for soap-making, as it has a delicate scent and leaves skin feeling soft and hydrated. Unlike traditional coconut oil, fractionated coconut oil has had its longer-chain fatty acids removed, which makes it lighter in texture and easier to work with for soap-making.
In fact, it creates a super-stable, creamy lather, so it’s perfect for cold-pressed soaps. Because it is so light and can easily pass through the pores of the skin, it is great for those with sensitive skin or skin prone to irritation.
It also has anti-bacterial and anti-fungal properties, so it can potentially help fight off bacteria and infections. When making soap with fractionated coconut oil, it needs to be used in combination with other oils to create a good balance.
It is often paired with olive oil, castor oil, jojoba oil, and shea butter, just to name a few.
What oils are for soap making?
There are a variety of oils that can be used for soap making, each giving different skin care properties to the soap. The most common soap making oils include olive oil, coconut oil, palm oil, grapeseed oil, castor oil, sunflower oil, and shea butter.
The choice of oil will depend on the type of skin care benefits desired in the soap. For example, olive oil is a common oil used for soap making because it is rich in nutrients that helps to nourish and moisturize the skin.
Coconut oil is also a popular choice for soap making as its fatty acids help to hydrate and protect the skin from environmental damage. Palm oil is a heavier oil that helps soap to have a creamier texture.
Grapeseed oil is great for adding antioxidants to the soap, while castor oil helps to balance moisture in the skin. Sunflower oil is a light oil that helps make soap more bubbly, while shea butter helps soaps to be more moisturizing.
Choosing which oil to use depends largely on the desired outcome, making it important to consider the type of skin care that each oil provides.
Can I add coconut oil to melt and pour soap?
Yes, you can add coconut oil to melt and pour soap. Coconut oil is a great addition to soaps because it adds moisturizing properties, can help create a more luxurious lather, and helps to make the soap harder which increases its lifespan.
When adding coconut oil to melt and pour soap, the general rule of thumb is to use 10% of the weight of the base. However, the exact amount you choose to use may vary depending on preference. Firstly, it is best to thoroughly mix the oil with the soap base before pouring it into the mold.
Additionally, because coconut oil can increase the temperature of the soap base, it is best to keep an eye on the temperatures at which you handle the soap in order to prevent it from becoming too hot.
Finally, it is important to remember that coconut oil can contribute to bringing out colors in some melt and pour soap bases, so it is recommended to add a small amount of titanium dioxide to the mixture to keep colors bright and vivid.
What percentage of soap should be coconut oil?
The exact percentage of coconut oil that should be in your soap recipe will depend on a few factors, such as the type of soap that you are making and the desired lather texture. Generally, a good starting point is to use 25-30% coconut oil in your soap recipe, as it helps create a nice and light lather.
If you would like a more luxurious, creamy lather, you can increase the percentage of coconut oil up to 33%. However, if you would like more of a bubbly lather, you can reduce the percentage of coconut oil.
It is important to note, however, that using less than 25% coconut oil can negatively affect the soap’s cleansing properties and it may not lather well at all. Ultimately, if you want to customize your soap to create a unique lather, it might be best to experiment with different ratios of coconut oil until you find the perfect balance that meets your needs.
What oil makes the hardest soap?
The oil that makes the hardest soap can vary, depending on the recipe used to create the soap. Traditional hard soaping oils such as coconut oil, palm oil, lard, and tallow create a very hard and long lasting soap when used in high concentrations.
Additionally, adding butters such as cocoa butter and shea butter can increase the hardness of the final product. Furthermore, some less traditional soaping oils such as castor oil, avocado oil, and hemp oil, can help create a harder bar when used alongside the traditional soaping oils.
All of these oils can be used to create a hard soap when used in the right proportions. Additionally, a properly cured soap will tend to be harder than one that is not cured or is cured for too short amount of time.
What is the oil to make soap with?
The most commonly used oil to make soap with is olive oil. It is great for making both liquid and bar soap, and is especially well-suited for those with sensitive skin. Other oils that are typically used in soap-making include coconut oil, Palm oil, and vegetable oil.
Each oil has its own unique qualities that make it better suited to some recipes than others. For example, Coconut oil is highly moisturizing and produces a fluffy lather, while Palm oil provides bar soap with extra hardness and longevity.
When combined with other oils, Palm oil can create a wonderful creamy lather. Finally, vegetable oil can make a high sudsing soap with gentle cleansing abilities. Some soap-makers even use beef tallow, lard, and other animal fats in their recipes.