All About Oils
When making handmade soap, oils are chosen for the qualities they can bring to the final bars of soap. I have a list of the common oils I use in my soaps and the specific properties they add to each bar of soap.
1. Sweet Almond Oil: Sweet almond oil provides moisture to the skin and helps create a creamy lather in soap. It is a gentle, nourishing oil suitable for all skin types.
2. Apricot Kernel Oil: Apricot kernel oil contributes to a mild and moisturizing soap. It is rich in vitamins and is easily absorbed by the skin.
3. Argan Oil: Argan oil adds moisturizing and conditioning properties to soap. It is known for its high content of vitamin E and antioxidants.
4. Avocado Oil: Avocado oil is deeply moisturizing and helps create a stable lather. It is rich in vitamins A, D, and E.
5. Avocado Butter: Avocado butter is a luxurious, rich butter that adds intense moisture to soap and promotes a creamy texture.
6. Babassu Nut Oil: Babassu nut oil contributes to a hard bar of soap with a fluffy lather. It has cleansing and moisturizing properties.
7. Beeswax: Beeswax is often used in soap recipes to add hardness and texture. It can also act as a natural emulsifier.
8. Canola Oil: Canola oil is a cost-effective choice for soapmaking. It provides moisture and helps create a stable lather.
9. Cocoa Butter: Cocoa butter is a firm butter that adds moisture and hardness to soap. It has a rich, chocolate-like aroma.
10. Coconut Oil: Coconut oil creates a bubbly and cleansing lather in soap. It adds hardness but can be drying in high concentrations.
11. Evening Primrose Oil: Evening primrose oil is known for its skin-soothing properties and can add moisturizing benefits to soap.
12. Flaxseed Oil: Flaxseed oil is high in omega-3 fatty acids and adds a silky feel to soap. It can be used as a superfatting oil.
13. Grapeseed Oil: Grapeseed oil is a lightweight, moisturizing oil that can create a silky texture in soap.
14. Jojoba Oil: Jojoba oil closely resembles the skin's natural sebum, making it a good choice for balancing moisture in soap.
15. Kokum Butter: Kokum butter is a firm, non-greasy butter that adds moisture and hardness to soap. It is excellent for dry or damaged skin.
16. Lard: Lard is a traditional soapmaking fat that produces a hard, long-lasting bar with a creamy lather.
17. Mango Butter: Mango butter is a rich, moisturizing butter that adds a luxurious feel to soap. It is high in vitamins A and C.
18. Murumuru Butter: Murumuru butter is a creamy butter that adds moisture and hardness to soap. It has a slightly sweet aroma.
19. Neem Oil: Neem oil has antibacterial properties and can be used in soap for its skin-soothing and cleansing benefits.
20. Olive Oil: Olive oil creates a gentle and moisturizing soap with a creamy lather. It is a staple in many soap recipes.
21. Olive Oil Pomace: Olive oil pomace is a lower-grade olive oil suitable for soapmaking. It contributes to soap's mildness and lathering properties.
22. Palm Kernel Flakes: Palm kernel flakes add hardness and lathering ability to soap. They are derived from palm oil.
23. Palm Oil: Palm oil is a common soapmaking oil that contributes to hardness and stability in soap recipes.
24. Rice Bran Oil: Rice bran oil is a mild and moisturizing oil that adds a silky texture to soap.
25. Sunflower Oil: Sunflower oil is a lightweight and moisturizing oil that can be used in soap for its skin-loving properties.
26. Sesame Oil: Sesame oil adds a rich, silky feel to soap and is known for its antioxidant properties.
27. Shea Butter: Shea butter is a highly moisturizing and luxurious butter that adds creaminess to soap while nourishing the skin.
These oils and butters offer a range of benefits, and soapmakers often use them in various combinations to create soaps with different qualities, such as hardness, moisturization, lather, and skin benefits. The choice of oils and butters depends on the desired characteristics of the final soap product.