Adding Coconut Milk to Cold Process Soaps

[TheGecko]

Do you use your lye-milk solution right away? Or do you make it in advance? I like to make my lye-water solutions in advance, more for the easier clean-up; the cooling time is really just an extra bonus for me.

Have to. Remember, the milk has fat that that lye is binding to, so the longer it is left, the more it would saponify and eventually turn into soap...a really, REALLY lye heavy soap.

It takes me about 30 minutes to make my GM Lye Solution. If first let the bowl with the cubes chill thoroughly in the ice batch and then start adding in the Sodium Hydroxide and stirring well and then letting it sit to cool back down again. In between, I'm going other stuff so it's not I'm just sitting there.

I do Master Batch my regular Lye Solution...I make up a gallon or two of ready-to-use at a time, cap it tightly, keep it in the back of my soap cart. Don't forget to clean and dry the cap and spot after you're done to keep a tight seal. I also Master Batch my oils/butters and clean up is a breeze because I clean up as I go. Nothing worse than going through a mad soap session and having to face a mountain of dirty dishes.

 

[DianaMoon]

Have to. Remember, the milk has fat that that lye is binding to, so the longer it is left, the more it would saponify and eventually turn into soap...a really, REALLY lye heavy soap.

Thanks for answering that question, which occurred to me yesterday as I was buying a can of coconut milk.

Why add coconut milk at all? What properties does it give to soap?

 

[TheGecko]

Why add coconut milk at all? What properties does it give to soap?

I have no clue...why add avocado or cucumber or pumpkin or any other number of things? I did it the first time because I wanted to make an ALL 'coconut' salt soap. It didn't turn out well, but that doesn't mean anything since 'salt soap' and I don't seem to get along (I have yet to make a decent salt soap). But I still plan on making another all Coconut Soap...I have the Coconut Milk and the Coconut Oil...just need to get some Coconut FO.

 

[DianaMoon]

I have no clue...why add avocado or cucumber or pumpkin or any other number of things? I did it the first time because I wanted to make an ALL 'coconut' salt soap. It didn't turn out well, but that doesn't mean anything since 'salt soap' and I don't seem to get along (I have yet to make a decent salt soap). But I still plan on making another all Coconut Soap...I have the Coconut Milk and the Coconut Oil...just need to get some Coconut FO.

I think people add those things for marketing purposes.

I am also interested in making an all coconut bar of soap.

 

[AliOop]

The fat in coconut milk makes for a creamy, non-drying lather. And although it has minimal sugars it seems to increase lather for me, as well. I can feel the difference between soaps with it, and soaps without it.

 

[DianaMoon]

The fat in coconut milk makes for a creamy, non-drying lather. And although it has minimal sugars it seems to increase lather for me, as well. I can feel the difference between soaps with it, and soaps without it.

Do you use it as an additive or as a water sub?

 

[AliOop]

I use it for some of the recipe water.

 

[KiwiMoose]

Yes - I use the split method - and reduce by superfat to account for the fat in the coconut milk.

 

[SoapLover1]

You can also just skip the liquid form of coconut milk, and use dehydrated coconut milk. I mix directly into the oils before adding lye solution. Then you don't have to worry about water calculations.

Hi!
I concur! This is The Method that I use, too! I personally think it’s best for me! Blessings!

 

[DianaMoon]

Yes - I use the split method - and reduce by superfat to account for the fat in the coconut milk.

Are you very science-y about it, or do you just reduce the superfat by 1% or 2%?

 

[TheGecko]

Do you use it as an additive or as a water sub?

I do a full water replacement. I freeze it into cubes like I do my goat milk, but noted that it doesn't react to Lye in the same manner as goat milk because of the lack of sugars.

 

[KiwiMoose]

Are you very science-y about it, or do you just reduce the superfat by 1% or 2%?

I think I was being science-y at the time I worked out my recipe. I worked out how much of the coconut cream was actually fat, and how much was water and made my split and reduced superfat calculations based on my estimates. I also increase my lye concentration to 44% in contrast to my usual 30%. I can't for the life of me figure out why I did that but I've been using that recipe now for over two years and it always works out well, so if it ain't broke...

 

[DianaMoon]

I think I was being science-y at the time I worked out my recipe. I worked out how much of the coconut cream was actually fat, and how much was water and made my split and reduced superfat calculations based on my estimates. I also increase my lye concentration to 44% in contrast to my usual 30%. I can't for the life of me figure out why I did that but I've been using that recipe now for over two years and it always works out well, so if it ain't broke...

OK. I'd do it by just decreasing the superfat to 3% - which is what I'm going to do anyway with my next batch. The extra with the coconut milk couldn't possibly push it up that much.

 

[DeeAnna]

...The extra with the coconut milk couldn't possibly push it up that much.

Depending on the particular product you buy, the extra fat supplied in coconut milk can add another 2% to 8% extra fat to your batch. Maybe 2-8% more fat isn't a lot of extra to you, but it would be to me, since I want my soap to have around 2-3% superfat. I crunch the numbers at least once so I know if it's reasonable to ignore a tad of extra fat or if it's smart to do the math every time.

 

[DianaMoon]

Depending on the particular product you buy, the extra fat supplied in coconut milk can add another 2% to 8% extra fat to your batch. Maybe 2-8% more fat isn't a lot of extra to you, but it would be to me, since I want my soap to have around 2-3% superfat. I crunch the numbers at least once so I know if it's reasonable to ignore a tad of extra fat or if it's smart to do the math every time.

That does make a difference! I'm trending towards the lower superfat soap. I do not want 8% superfat.

My coconut milk product has 12 grams of fat in 80 ml (1/3 cup). Do you simply add those grams into the overall weight of the oils?

If I do a batch that's 500 grams of oil, just add 12 grams of fat?

I did an experiment on SoapCalc w/500 and 512 grams of oil. First I chose 100% olive oil, 3% SF, 33% lye, 1 gram of fragrance, and then 512 grams of oil. It's 65.7/67.28.

HO Safflower oil 500/512 grams is the same: 65.7/67.28

I realize that the fat in coconut milk safflower/olive oil isn't exactly the same as the fat in coconut milk but... that's the limit of my skill set in this area.

 

[DeeAnna]

The fat in coconut milk is coconut oil, not olive oil or safflower.

Otherwise you're on the right track -- the 12 g of coconut oil that is in the milk is added to your recipe just like you are doing.

 

[linne1gi]

Okay I underst

Depending on the particular product you buy, the extra fat supplied in coconut milk can add another 2% to 8% extra fat to your batch. Maybe 2-8% more fat isn't a lot of extra to you, but it would be to me, since I want my soap to have around 2-3% superfat. I crunch the numbers at least once so I know if it's reasonable to ignore a tad of extra fat or if it's smart to do the math every time.

I understand you are trying to keep your superfat to 2-3%, but why? So many soapers use 8-10% and even higher in some countries.

 

[AliOop]

For me, lower superfat means way less soap scum, better lather, less grease to wash off my soap-making utensils dishes, and lower cost per bar.

This is especially true for me since I use high lard recipes. Someone else - maybe @Obsidian? - recently mentioned that they get more soap scum from high-lard soaps. I’ve always thought that as well, so I was glad to have someone else confirm that as their experience, too.

 

[DeeAnna]

@linne1gi -- I also don't perceive my usual bath soap to be more stripping or drying to my skin when made with 2-3% superfat compared with the same soap made with a higher superfat. I can prove the lower superfat soap has more lather. If I saw a measurable benefit to using more superfat in my usual bath soap, I'd definitely increase the superfat. But I see more downsides than advantages, so I don't see any reason for increasing the superfat.

I am well aware other soap makers use much more superfat in their soap, but I don't know the basis for their decision. It may be some soap makers are basing this choice on provable benefits they get from soap made with a higher superfat. It may be others are using soap recipes that would be harsh and stripping to the skin if made with a lower superfat. It's also pretty likely that at least a few are simply following a fad -- "everyone's doing it, so it must be good."

When I mention I use 2-3% superfat, I am not trying to convince people to do as I do. What I am trying to do is provide a more nuanced point of view. I don't think it's useful to buy into the "common wisdom" that using more superfat equates to making the soap better or milder or more "conditioning". I have not found a high superfat to be provably better when making soap with a balanced blend of fats. So ... sometimes more superfat can increase mildness, but sometimes it doesn't.

 

[Quilter99755]

When I found this site I devoured both current and old threads. We had moved to Idaho and bought an older home. One person said that their older home's sewer pipes reacted to a higher superfat and the absence of a chelator. After calling a plumber to clear our pipes I decided to take a clue from that post. We are on well water that is hard so I added a chelator and keep my superfat to 2%. My daughter and I saw an immediate difference in the amount of soap scum left in sinks and tubs and the feeling that the soap rinses off easier from our skin. Since I did it at the same time, I have no idea how much each brought to the table. But we haven't needed to call the plumber back, so I'm a happy camper.

I can't imagine going back to a high superfat, but have been hesitant to add goats milk or any fat in an additive. I will definitely add a bookmark to this page so I can figure it out. Thanks @DeeAnna for providing that insight.