Coconut oil allergy

by Dee
(Omaha, NE)

I have an allergy to coconut oil and am looking for a good natural substitue for coconut oil in my soap recipes. Any suggestions?

Answer:
On my Soap Making Oils page you will find information about the different types of oils used in soap making. In addition to listing links to the individual oils, you will find groupings of oils that share similar qualities and can be substituted for each other.

Babassu and Palm Kernel oil can both be substituted for Coconut oil in a soap recipe (be sure to run the recipe through a soap calculator before making) but you may find that the qualities that make you allergic to Coconut oil are present in Palm Kernel or Babassu.

Before making soap with either oil, I would do a test patch with just the oil. Rub a small amount of oil on the inside of your elbow and leave for 24 hours to see if there is a reaction. Remove immediately if you do start to experience any adverse effects.

If you happen to be allergic to all of those oils, you will need to create soap using other oils. You can still make great soaps but they will not have quite the bubble factor that a soap containing coconut, palm kernel or babassu has.

Try substituting in butters like shea butter, mango butter, cocoa butter and/or oils like rice bran and avocado and/or tallow or lard.

Good luck,
Cathy