Avocado Oil

[Dean]

As reported in a single oil soap test, AO produces a slimy lather and leaves a greasy feeling on the skin. I know that soap isn’t moisturizing but can AO’s greasy quality trnslate to a “moisturizing” effect if it is used in lower amounts? If so, what percentage is recommended to get the “moisterizing” effect without slime?

Thx in advance.

 

[Jill B Blasius]

I use AO at 10-15% and don't have slimy soap.

I have "chart" from Modern Soapmaking that suggests nourishing soft oils can be used from 20%-30%. I used less due to it's cost ($15/67oz).

 

[shunt2011]

I too like Avocado in my soap. I use it mostly in my salt bars but will use in my regular soap sometimes. Generally at 15-20%

 

[Alfa_Lazcares]

I also use it on my salt bars and sometimes on my regular bars at 5-10% (if i run out of almond i use avocado, not the same, but i like both).

 

[Cellador]

I really like avocado in soap. I use at about 12%.

 

[jcandleattic]

I use it in my main recipe at only 5% but what I consider my "luxury" recipe I use it at 15%

 

[KiwiMoose]

I recently tested one of my batches of soap, in which I had used for the first time, avocado oil. The soap had a luxury - soft, creamy feel to it, which is what prompted me to go back and see which recipe I used. It was the recipe that I used a lot of ad-hoc oils because I had run out of what I usually use. I added 13% avocado oil and I thought - aha! this must be contributing to the creamy feel. I then noticed that I had also used 17% shea butter, whereas I normally just use 10%, so now I need to run some more tests to see if it was the avocado oil or the shea that created this lovely soap.

 

[Zing]

Thanks to this forum, in my basic recipe, I replaced grapeseed oil with avocado oil at 12% to shorten unmolding time and increase hardness and haven't looked back. My go to guide says up to 20% (https://www.soapqueen.com/bath-and-...s-guide-to-soapmaking-common-soapmaking-oils/) I love the lather and it's not greasy or slimy. (Slimy lather for me is when I use shea butter but my wife loves the feeling, to each her/his own).

 

[Dean]

Im wondering how it will perform in high amounts (30-40%) and how much hardening oil is needed to counteract the softening effect of the unsaponfiables. Has anyone tried it in high amounts?

 

[Steve85569]

The fatty acid profile of Avocado oil should help you decide how much to use. Each fatty acid has properties associated with it when saponified. The FA profiles are what is used to calculate the approximate properties in a given recipe.
For an example:
Hardnes= Lauric + Myristic+Palmetic+Stearic acids
Lasting= Palmetic + Stearic acids
The conclusion I draw from that is if you choose hard oils or butters that are high in palmetic or stearic acids you can increase the longevity of a given recipe. Since Lauric and Myristic acids produce a soap that is soluable in water they do not help with lasting but do produce a hard soap.

Avocado oil is high in oleic acid as is olive oil so that's where the slime ( castile sliminess) comes from.

Watching the numbers is only one part of the art of soap making so try not to put too much faith "in the numbers". Each of us have own ideas of the perfect soap.

 

[KiwiMoose]

I like that avocado oil scores quite high in palmitic yet still brings the oleic ( admittedly not in the same amounts as almond oil) . It seems to me that it would also contribute more to the hardness of the bar compared to other 'soft' oils.

 

[penelopejane]

I use it at 20-30% and I love it.
I don’t get slime from it and my bars are pretty hard. I generally use about 45% OO with it.

 

[Dean]

I like that avocado oil scores quite high in palmitic yet still brings the oleic ( admittedly not in the same amounts as almond oil) . It seems to me that it would also contribute more to the hardness of the bar compared to other 'soft' oils.

I was surprised by the high palmitic too. Its reported to be high in unsaponifiables which must cancel out the palmitic, causing bar softness in high amounts.

 

[penelopejane]

I was surprised by the high palmitic too. Its reported to be high in unsaponifiables which must cancel out the palmitic, causing bar softness in high amounts.

Are you sure it’s the AO leading to the soft bar?

http://alchemyandashes.blogspot.com/2014/03/single-oil-soap-experiment-phase-3-one.html?m=1

 

[Dean]

Are you sure it’s the AO leading to the soft bar?

http://alchemyandashes.blogspot.com/2014/03/single-oil-soap-experiment-phase-3-one.html?m=1

Definitely not sure. Although, I read it several places online so it MUST be true. Here's another single-oil soap test that supports your doubt.

If I recall Ginny's beloved shampoo bar had a lot of AvO and some soapers said it was soft. I'd go back and check but that thread heckish long.

Hopefully those with AvO soaping experience will chime in a AvO unsaponfiables and softness.

 

[shunt2011]

I make Gennys recipe (not for hair) and it’s quite hard. I love it for a facial soap. I keep a bar in the shower and it lasts a long time.

 

[smengot0]

The fatty acid profile of Avocado oil should help you decide how much to use. Each fatty acid has properties associated with it when saponified. The FA profiles are what is used to calculate the approximate properties in a given recipe.
For an example:
Hardnes= Lauric + Myristic+Palmetic+Stearic acids
Lasting= Palmetic + Stearic acids
The conclusion I draw from that is if you choose hard oils or butters that are high in palmetic or stearic acids you can increase the longevity of a given recipe. Since Lauric and Myristic acids produce a soap that is soluable in water they do not help with lasting but do produce a hard soap.

Avocado oil is high in oleic acid as is olive oil so that's where the slime ( castile sliminess) comes from.

Watching the numbers is only one part of the art of soap making so try not to put too much faith "in the numbers". Each of us have own ideas of the perfect soap.

Thanks for this analysis. Very educative indeed.