Single Oil Lather Test | Find Your Perfect Soap Recipe!
The oils and butters in a cold process soap recipe dictate how the soap lathers, feels on the skin, how firm the bar will be, and so many other factors! To demonstrate this, we created 10 bars of cold process soap only using one oil, then tested the lather and texture of the soap after 6 weeks.
But before we dive into making the batches, a refresher on the function of oil in cold process soap making. Cold process soap is created by combining oil with sodium hydroxide lye. This starts a chemical reaction known as saponification.
Cold process soap can be made with only one oil. A common example of this is 100% olive oil soap, known as castile soap. But, each oil contributes something different to create a more balanced bar. Some oils produce a fluffy lather, like coconut oil and castor oil, while some give moisturizing properties, like olive oil. This is why most cold process recipes are made with 3-6 different oils and butters - mixing the oils means a more balanced bar that contains properties of each oil.
The Experiment
To understand the function of different oils in soapmaking, let's experiment. We created ten batches of soap, each made from a single oil. The results after six weeks of curing were fascinating, showcasing variations in texture, color, and lathering ability. Here's what we discovered:
Avocado Oil: Using avocado oil alone produces a small, very slimy lather. The bar hardly lathered at all, but instead produced a very slimy film on the skin. This is why we always use avocado oil in combination with other oils.
Coconut Oil: Coconut oil is known for its excellent cleansing properties and its ability to produce a rich, bubbly lather. However, using 100% coconut oil can lead to a soap that is too drying for the skin, as it strips away natural oils. This is why coconut oil is typically balanced with other oils in a recipe.
Olive Oil: Olive oil, the star of Castile soap, produces a smooth, moisturizing bar with a gentle lather. However, it requires a longer curing time—up to 12 months—to fully develop its properties. When used alone and lathered up after a 4-week curing and dryng time, it lacks the rich lather many expect in a soap, feeling more slimy than soapy.
Palm Oil: Palm oil is often used to add hardness to a bar and support lathering, acting as a secondary lathering agent in conjunction with coconut oil. A bar made with palm oil alone is hard, white, and produces a more lotion-like lather with smaller bubbles, making it a valuable component in a balanced recipe.
Sweet Almond Oil: Sweet almond oil enhances soap's moisturizing and conditioning qualities. It produces a mild lather and is often used in small amounts (10-15%) to improve a bar's skin benefits. This lightweight oil helps create a soap that is gentle on the skin.
Shea Butter and Cocoa Butter: Both shea butter and cocoa butter are excellent for moisturizing but do not contribute much to lather when used alone. A recipe typically includes small percentages (5-10%) to add richness, hardness, and skin-nourishing qualities.
Castor Oil:Castor oil is unique in that it helps stabilize lather, making bubbles last longer. While it doesn't produce a fantastic bar on its own, it enhances the lather of other oils when combined, typically at 5-8%. A 100% castor oil soap produces stable bubbles, but the bar itself can be soft and sticky.
Important Takeaways
But don't let this limit you! A whole world of oils is waiting beyond the classic coconut-olive-palm oil blend. Experimenting with other oils, such as sweet almond, avocado, or exotic oils like hemp seed oil and shea butter, allows you to customize your soap for specific skin types or desired effects.
Conclusion: Find Your Perfect Recipe
Bramble Berry's Lye Calculator will help you figure out the perfect amount of lye for all of your custom DIY Soap Making creations.
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