Differences Among High Oleic Oils

[DianaMoon]

I've counted three that are used in artisan soapmaking: Sunflower, Safflower, & Canola. Do they behave radically differently in soapmaking?

 

[dibbles]

I think for many it is a matter of cost. I use high oleic sunflower oil because it is reasonably priced and I can buy it locally. Safflower oil is available, but much more expensive. I can't find high oleic canola in any store in my area, and would have to add the cost of shipping to the price of the oil - making HO sunflower oil an easy choice for me.

 

[DianaMoon]

Cost is important, but I was really more curious about how they behave differently in soapmaking, if at all. I'm interested in this because I want an alternative to OO but in my area for whatever reason HO safflower oil is much easier to get that HO sunflower oil, but I gather that the latter is better. Maybe what I've gathered is wrong.

 

[Mobjack Bay]

I’ve use high oleic sunflower in many of my recipes as a way to adjust the oleic content, which I keep at 40-45% of the recipe. The behavior of a particular recipe doesn’t change noticeably if I keep the oleic percentage the same. On the other hand, if I sub HO sunflower in for rice bran oil at an equal percentage, the recipe will slow down, which I assume is because the sunflower doesn’t contribute much palmitic (3) + stearic (4) compared with RBO with palmitic (22j + stearic (3).

 

[Megan]

I’ve use high oleic sunflower in many of my recipes as a way to adjust the oleic content, which I keep at 40-45% of the recipe. The behavior of a particular recipe doesn’t change noticeably if I keep the oleic percentage the same. On the other hand, if I sub HO sunflower in for rice bran oil at an equal percentage, the recipe will slow down, which I assume is because the sunflower doesn’t contribute much palmitic (3) + stearic (4) compared with RBO with palmitic (22j + stearic (3).

I would add that RBO also about twice as much accelerating unsaponifiables as sunflower.

 

[DeeAnna]

I don't know that I'd say HO sunflower is better than HO safflower. Sun is somewhat lower in linoleic compared to saff according to the numbers I have, but otherwise they're not that hugely different. For soap making, I'd buy whichever one is lower in cost and has the best availability.

 

[DianaMoon]

Just as an example (suggested by Mobjack Bay) I did the following on Soapcalc. (Note: this is just for comparison. I don't intend to make a two-oil soap. I wanted to see how the three HO oils interacted with one commonly used oil.)

50/50 (Coconut Oil/HO Sunflower) and got this:

Lauric	24
Myristic	10
Palmitic	6
Stearic	4
Ricinoleic	0
Oleic	46​
Linoleic	3
Linolenic	1

50/50 (Coconut Oil/HO Safflower):

Lauric	24
Myristic	10
Palmitic	7
Stearic	3
Ricinoleic	0
Oleic	43​
Linoleic	9
Linolenic	0

The only big diff seems to be linoleic, which is said to lead to rancidity. Hm.....

HO Canola, for good measure:

Lauric	24
Myristic	10
Palmitic	6
Stearic	4
Ricinoleic	0
Oleic	46​
Linoleic	3
Linolenic	1

All quite similar, but though those diffs are small, dumb soapers like me never know whether they can make a big, or a small, difference.

Thank you all for your input.

 

[Megan]

dumb soapers like me never know whether they can make a big, or a small, difference

Don't talk like that!
We aren't dumb just because we are inexperienced with something!

With time, you can test the different oils and see what differences you notice when using different oils. These numbers above are a good starting point, and with experience you will get a feel for what they mean, but it really doesn't matter unless you do or don't like the final soap when you try it.

 

[cmzaha]

I did not use HO Safflower often but I used either Ho Sunflower or Ho Canola in almost my soaps except my avocado soaps and never noticed any noticeable difference between the two.