Base recipes

[soapstarter]

Hi im new to soap making .... wondering who uses a base recipe and then mixes up colours and essential oils only ? Or are you using several different base recipes??

 

[lsg]

I usually use my old standby:
25% coconut oil
30% palm oil (may substitute lard or beef tallow)
40% rice bran oil
5% Castor oil

 

[katili]

I'm still experimenting, but I think my kind of 'default' recipe when I don't want to make something different for a specific reason will be one I got from here.
50% lard
20% coconut oil
15% olive oil
10% avocado oil
5% castor oil
5% super fat

 

[KiwiMoose]

My base recipe is always the same:
20% each of Soy wax, Coconut Oil, Olive Oil and Rice Bran Oil
10% Shea butter
5% each of castor and avocado oils

If I use goat milk, oat milk, coconut milk, aloe juice, beer or any other additives, that only affects my lye /water solution and I don't adjust any oils to compensate. I may adjust superfat or water quantity depending on what the additive is.

The only time I stray from this recipe is when I make Zany's no-slime castile.

 

[Firefly24]

I need opinions on this recipe I came across..
40% Olive Oil
23% Coconut Oil
18% Shea Butter
7% Avocado Oil
6% Cocoa Butter
6% Castor Oil
* 5% Superfat, 35% lye concentration (1:8571:1 ratio) & 45g fragrance ratio
I ran it through SoapCalc but I am not sure on soap bar "Qualities"
Just wondered what seasoned soapers think of this recipe.

 

[lsg]

I need opinions on this recipe I came across..
40% Olive Oil
23% Coconut Oil
18% Shea Butter
7% Avocado Oil
6% Cocoa Butter
6% Castor Oil
* 5% Superfat, 35% lye concentration (1:8571:1 ratio) & 45g fragrance ratio
I ran it through SoapCalc but I am not sure on soap bar "Qualities"
Just wondered what seasoned soapers think of this recipe.

I would either use shea butter or cocoa butter, not both. Cocoa butter will probably give you a harder bar. I usually go with just 15% butter in my recipes. You might try the followingr:
Olive Oil 35%
Coconut Oil 23%
Castor Oil 6%
Avocado Oil 21%
Shea Butter or Coca Butter 15%

 

[Firefly24]

I would either use shea butter or cocoa butter, not both. Cocoa butter will probably give you a harder bar. I usually go with just 15% butter in my recipes. You might try the followingr:
Olive Oil 35%
Coconut Oil 23%
Castor Oil 6%
Avocado Oil 21%
Shea Butter or Coca Butter 15%

Thank you

 

[KiwiMoose]

Unless you are going for a palm-free, animal fat free and soy-free bar, I would probably change it. I like @lsg 's suggestion of increasing the Avocado oil. It would be beneficial to put the soap calc screen grab on here so we can all see it.
The cocoa butter and shea butter are the only ingredients in that recipe providing any longevity ( avocado oil can help to, as can OO, but still, hard fats are best for this).