Favorite "alternative" CP oils?

[PracticalDreamer]

Hi everyone,

Since I'm a newbie and would like to experiment with "alternative" oils, I was wondering what some of your favorites were. Anything beyond the basics, like palm, coconut, lard and olive. What are your favorite "alternative" or luxury oils to use in the CP process, and why? I'm planning to make a purchase with Soaper's Choice soon (I've searched about 5 huge Asian markets in the area and can't find coconut or palm oil - crazy!) and would like to branch out a bit, but I'm not very well-versed on the topic. Thanks for your input!

Christa

 

[LizRNBSN]

I really like shea butter added in my soaps. Do you live close to an HEB? They carry palm and coconut oil.

 

[holly99]

I also like shea but my faves are mango butter and avocado oil. I only add them at 5% though.

 

[carebear]

cocoa butter
crisco
kokum

 

[PracticalDreamer]

Hi there,

Thank you for your replies! I have been using unrefined shea and cocoa butter (purchased from TKB Trading) in some of my recipes and am going to try avocado next. What in particular do you like about those ingredients? Do they just create a silkier feel to the overall bar?

Also, have any of you used macadamia, kukui or babassu oil in your recipes? What type of results do you achieve with those ingredients? Thank you!

Christa

 

[carebear]

babassu is supposed to be marvelous - the bubblage of coconut but less harsh. don't know how it compares to PKO.

but a) I'm cheap and b) I try to keep things simple - so no new oils!

 

[topcat]

I love ricebran oil and macadamia oil in my soap. RBO is similar in its properties to OO and macca oil adds a silkiness to the lather and the feel of the bar imho. I usually soap macca oil at 10% but go up to 25% with the RBO. Avocado oil is beautiful too. Have fun!

Tanya

 

[xyxoxy]

Babassu makes a great bar of soap... especially when combined with a little castor oil. It is almost twice the cost of coconut... but when you make small batches like I do the extra cost isn't as meaningful and it lasts a long time.

I also like Borage and grapeseed and meadowfoam. These are all a little pricey also but being soft oils I use them at only 5-10% max. They really make a nice moisturizing lather.

 

[jadiebugs1]

Rice Bran and Cocoa Butter! Love the cocoa butter, I have a few pounds of FREE cocoa butter, that makes it EVEN BETTER!

 

[honor435]

My fav bar is co, po, oo, shea, i do like a little hemp oil for a spec bar, it is green oil and may change color of your soap.

 

[artisan soaps]

..

 

[TessC]

My skin loves avocado, and the bars I made with babassu were just lovely. Would have to say that those are my two favorites for now.

 

[IrishLass]

Mango butter
Cocoa Butter
Rice Bran Oil
Babassu Oil

IrishLass