Coconut Oil

Coconut Oil, also known as Copra Oil, is obtained from the fruit of the cocos nucifera or coconut palm tree. This is a wonderful oil and I use it in almost all of my recipes.

Coconut

- this semi-hard, white oil produces soap that is hard, cleansing and has a beautiful full lather.

- it has excellent storage qualities (lasts a long time) and produces a quick trace.

- has a light and non-greasy feel and is easily absorbed into the skin.

- great for dry and itchy skin.

- is very moisturising if you use less than 30% of it in your soap formula. Use too much and it will do the opposite, dry out your skin.

*update - I've noticed many people using more than the recommended 30% and superfatting the soap up to 20% for some soap recipes. As with most soap making ingredients, you will have to experiment to see what works best for your skin type.

The chart below shows the approximate percentages of fatty acids present in Coconut Oil. As you can see, the first four acids will lend your soap an incredible amount of hardness as well as a full and stable lather that is very cleansing. The remaining acid present will lend the soap very little in the way of conditioning due to the extremely low percentage of oleic and linoleic.

Lauric	Myristic	Palmitic	Stearic	Ricinoleic	Oleic	Linoleic	Linolenic
48	19	9	3		8	2
Hardness
Cleansing
Full Lather				F/L
		Stable Lather
				Conditioning

Mountain Rose Herbs. A Herbs, Health & Harmony Com

Leave Coconut Oil and Return to Fats and Oils Page

Soap Making Essentials Home Page

This information is provided for reference use only and is not meant to substitute the advice of a licensed health care professional.

Template Design