Cocoa Butter Sticker Shock!!!

[TashaBird]

My original recipe is %50 tallow, %20 cocoa butter, %20 beeswax, %10 jojoba, and I'm not liking any of my new experiments nearly as much. I may just have to bite the bullet and use cocoa butter.
I keep trying to talk myself into palm kernel flakes, but I just can't.

 

[Tammyfarms]

I thought cacay was a typo and you meant cacao.

It’s not easy to find in the US. I have only ordered it from Canada, New Directions Aromatics carries it. I really like it in lotions too.

 

[AliOop]

Has anyone tried Sal (Shorea) butter in lieu of cocoa butter? It's on sale right now at WSP at just under $6/lb if you buy 5lbs. I haven't tried it, but from what I read, it is similar in hardness to cocoa butter. Here is how they describe it:

Shorea/Sal Butter is considered to have high levels of uniform triglycerides which are thought help with oxidation and stability in formulations. Most popular in lotion bars due to the high levels of stearic and oleic fatty acids. Shorea Butter can be used in silky body butters, lotion bars, lip balms and more!

 

[justsomeguy]

Has anyone tried Sal (Shorea) butter in lieu of cocoa butter? It's on sale right now at WSP at just under $6/lb if you buy 5lbs. I haven't tried it, but from what I read, it is similar in hardness to cocoa butter. Here is how they describe it:

Shorea/Sal Butter is considered to have high levels of uniform triglycerides which are thought help with oxidation and stability in formulations. Most popular in lotion bars due to the high levels of stearic and oleic fatty acids. Shorea Butter can be used in silky body butters, lotion bars, lip balms and more!

I've not tried it yet, but Jedwards has it on sale too. When I read the description it made me think of shea butter

 

[AliOop]

I've not tried it yet, but Jedwards has it on sale too. When I read the description it made me think of shea butter

I was reading through WSP's Q&A on Sal Butter, and one of responses indicated that it was similar in hardness to cocoa butter. I would love to hear from anyone who can confirm or deny. Otherwise, I might have to buy some. You know, for scientific research that can be shared with others.

 

[Ephemerella]

This seller has been a good source for me for cocoa butter and the best price I've found even with some sales going on: https://www.etsy.com/listing/669251...atural?ref=yr_purchases&variation0=1023498320

This isn't the most recent story, but its a good write up of what happened:
https://www.nytimes.com/2024/05/10/business/cocoa-prices-chocolate.html

Analysts are predicting Cocoa butter prices to stabilize as we go into the end of the year and then possibly start to slide back down next year. But that's just a prediction from the wall street types.

I've been experimenting with Sal butter. It's nice, but it's not a replacement, in my opinion. It does not have the same feel to me in the finished product. I'll be trying it in soap soon.

 

[AliOop]

I've been experimenting with Sal butter. It's nice, but it's not a replacement, in my opinion. It does not have the same feel to me in the finished product. I'll be trying it in soap soon.

Thank you for that information! May I ask, in which products have you tried it? Can you comment on how it compares with the hardness of cocoa butter (less, more?), and describe the difference in feel? Thanks!!

 

[Ephemerella]

I've used it in lip butter and solid lotion bars. I've tried it as a replacement for CB to no avail. It doesn't have the same wonderful combination of quick-melting silkiness and hardness. I've found that Sal is more on par with Shea Butter rather than CB. Its harder than Shea at room temp, more like mango butter.

CB just has such unique properties.

Where Sal does have merit, in my products anyhow, is a compliment to CB in lip butter. I'm finding similar properties as shea (but not as deeply moisturizing feeling) without AS MUCH graininess. My sal lip butter — when kept in a car, in your pocket, where it warms and cools frequently — still gets grainy after time, but not as much as shea. But, my lip butter with only sal, no CB, is sticky and grippy and not as firm and silky feeling.

I'll just keep hoarding CB for now, though its seriously cutting into the wine budget

 

[AliOop]

Fantastic info, thank you! Saved me from cutting into my budget... er, um, well, who am I kidding about budgets. Those are for other people in the house, right?

 

[Shelley D]

This seller has been a good source for me for cocoa butter and the best price I've found even with some sales going on: https://www.etsy.com/listing/669251...atural?ref=yr_purchases&variation0=1023498320

This isn't the most recent story, but its a good write up of what happened:
https://www.nytimes.com/2024/05/10/business/cocoa-prices-chocolate.html

Analysts are predicting Cocoa butter prices to stabilize as we go into the end of the year and then possibly start to slide back down next year. But that's just a prediction from the wall street types.

I've been experimenting with Sal butter. It's nice, but it's not a replacement, in my opinion. It does not have the same feel to me in the finished product. I'll be trying it in soap soon.

I know this may not be most people's choice for supplies, but I've been getting oils and butters on eBay for years. I particularly like the Dr. Adorable brand (sold by a few different sellers) and a few other sellers who also carry good products. I always search for "organic unrefined" items and have always gotten good products. I just got 24 oz of Golden raw cocoa butter for $20.79 and it was a Dr. Adorable brand sold by Pure Oils and More.
The cocoa butter came as two 12 oz jars. The other shots show the selection and prices from the seller I bought from and prices from another seller I buy buy from also. And then a couple shots showing my recent splurge ~ because it's time to make another crock pot of my body oil blend Honestly, I've quit checking all over the place because even if I find something cheaper somewhere else, the shipping usually cancels out the low price ~ but sometimes, I get free shipping on eBay If you check out my purchase list, they were all free shipping except for the hemp oil so

 

[AliOop]

I mentioned this over in the soapy thing thread, but wanted to share here as well. Today I bought some destash items from another soaper, including 5.6 lbs of cocoa butter for $15, and some other unopened oils. It was a 2-hour roundtrip drive, but even adding the price for two gallons of gas, that's still an amazing deal. It all smells fresh and looks great!

All that to say, I'd encourage folks to keep an eye on the local listings on CL or FB or whatever is used in your area. Without such deals, I wouldn't be in a position to make or donate as much as I do.

 

[dibbles]

I'm almost out of cocoa butter I only use 5-10% most of the time, but I love the feel of the lather with cocoa butter. I did some testing and have decided to use kokum butter until the price of cocoa butter comes down - if it ever does. I don't think anyone will notice a difference, but I do. Or at least I think I do

 

[not_ally]

I've been buying from Scented Expressions which was super cheap but has gone up like everyone else. I think it's still the cheapest I'm seeing out there, though, $11.40/lb for refined/deodorized. https://scentedexpressions.com/cocoa-butter-rbd-natural/

ETA: also flat $5.95 shipping fee for orders over (I think) $15.00 and 6% off with promo code "spooky".

 

[bookworm42]

I've been buying from Scented Expressions which was super cheap but has gone up like everyone else. I think it's still the cheapest I'm seeing out there, though, $11.40/lb for refined/deodorized. https://scentedexpressions.com/cocoa-butter-rbd-natural/

ETA: also flat $5.95 shipping fee for orders over (I think) $15.00 and 6% off with promo code "spooky".

Just be aware that their customer service is not the best and it takes about a month or more to get stuff. Or at least that's been my experience.

 

[not_ally]

I don’t remember exactly how long it took, I know it wasn’t fast. But worth it if you don’t have a quick deadline, I think.