Super-fatting Hot Process Soap

by Tamika

I want to super fat my batch of soap but don't know how much extra oil to use. Am making 1Lb of soap now as a test batch.


I know I can discount it on the Lye calc but I prefer to do it after the cooking process.

Am doing 6% now but it's calculated already in the recipe. How much is 6%?

Answer:

I've never added after the cooking process...only at a light trace or right from the start. Not sure what the result will be when it's added that late. I can advise for adding it at a light trace.

If your 1 pound recipe is already calculated with 6% more oil than is needed to saponify the sodium hydroxide, you can withhold approximately 1 oz. or 28 grams and add it to the soap once it reaches a light trace.

It really doesn't make any difference in the end if you add it at trace or right at the beginning since the lye will use up what it needs and leave the rest regardless.

Good luck,
Cathy

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starstarstarstarstar 		Superfatting Before or After Trace
by: Russ

Super fatting at trace gives you more control over which fats are in the superfat. For example, if you have a soap made up or three oils; olive, palm and coconut, then project 5% super fat from the lye calculation at start, you will end up with a combination of all three oils in your 5% super fat.

If you calculate the lye at 1% (for safety) then add the 5% super fat oil at trace you have more control over which oil is the super fat. For example in the same scenario, if you saved only olive oil as the 5% at trace for super fat, you know that the soap has been 5% super fatted with olive oil and 1% or so a mix of the rest. Super fatting at trace gives more control this way so that any expensive or deeply moisturizing oils like cocoa butter can remain in the soap unconverted.

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