Grocery store vs. Soap Supply

[Lye-er_Lye-er]

Anyone have opinions on the pros and cons of using grocery store oils vs. those bought online made for soaping?

Currently buying from WSP, but would like to know if the option is a good one to go to the local grocery store for things such as safflower, sunflower, canola, etc?

 

[Candybee]

Depends on what is the best price and or most convenient for you. I buy a lot of soaping oils locally for convenience but I also buy in bulk online.

 

[The Efficacious Gentleman]

I find things in the supermarkets can be cheaper here in Austria, but then certain oils are hard to come by. I buy my castor online, and just bought some avocado oil online, too. OO, CO, palm and lard are all rather cheap in my local shop.

 

[Lye-er_Lye-er]

Depends on what is the best price and or most convenient for you. I buy a lot of soaping oils locally for convenience but I also buy in bulk online.

What about the quality of the oils? Ever notice a difference in the finished product?

 

[Dennis]

Anyone have opinions on the pros and cons of using grocery store oils vs. those bought online made for soaping?

Currently buying from WSP, but would like to know if the option is a good one to go to the local grocery store for things such as safflower, sunflower, canola, etc?

Lots of factors to consider.
Price - Buying a little or a lot?
Quantity - How much do you want/need? (There really is a difference.)
Storage - Do you have room to store?
Time - Can you wait? Do you want to wait?
Convenience - See Time above. Also, convenience often means higher prices.

I am in very close contact with someone who sometimes considers nothing but convenience. Scary.

I buy lard in buckets at WalMart and olive oil at Sam's, and get most other things from Soaper's Choice - most of the time.

In other words, it depends what you want to do. Be flexible.

 

[Lion Of Judah]

there are no pros and cons really. it all boils down to price/quantity and availability. i buy almond oil and avocado oil and castor online because of the amount i am getting for my money as oppose to buying it in the supermarket where its smaller and at times priced higher. those are the factors i personally look at . a 8oz of avocado oil may run me over $12 in the store and online it may cost me $10+ for 33.3 oz so in that case its better online.

 

[judymoody]

I suspect that for more exotic oils, turnover is going to be better from a dedicated soap supplier than on a grocery store shelf. I mail order just about everything except olive oil which is cheap and good quality at my local Costco. I don't see why there should be a quality difference in the finished soap if your oils are fresh.

 

[Candybee]

Basically the oils and the quality are pretty much the same. Its like buying one brand over another. You find out through using which ones you prefer. I find many oils at my grocers to be excellent for soaping.

 

[shunt2011]

I too purchase Palm, PKO and Butters from Soaper's Choice. I get my Olive Oil from Costco and my Coconut and Castor from a local restaurant supply who also has some soaping oils as well as lye. I've purchased my lye through them as well but it was quite the hassle as it came in a 55.5 lb triple lined bag and was a pain to transfer and store. I get my lye now from ED. As previously stated it depends on a lot of factors as to which is best. I make soap in volume so bulk works best for me.

 

[cmzaha]

I too purchase Palm, PKO and Butters from Soaper's Choice. I get my Olive Oil from Costco and my Coconut and Castor from a local restaurant supply who also has some soaping oils as well as lye. I've purchased my lye through them as well but it was quite the hassle as it came in a 55.5 lb triple lined bag and was a pain to transfer and store. I get my lye now from ED. As previously stated it depends on a lot of factors as to which is best. I make soap in volume so bulk works best for me.

I purchase my lye in the 50lb bags and we just open it and transfer it to a 5 gallon bucket. It is so much more cost effective. Less than $1.00 per pound and no shipping. With a savings like that I will pour it out into a bucket :-o

 

[green soap]

The problem with most grocery store oils is that they do not have a marked expiration date. This hardly matters for smaller quantities, sturdier oils, or fast usage. I buy small quantities of some oils from grocery stores and store them in my dedicated fridge.

 

[tyerod]

Cost, quantity and turnover are what factors into my decision. I started with purchasing most supplies at the grocery store. Now that I know what my base supplies are I tend to go for quantity. Buckets of lard and olive oil come from grocery. Buckets of coconut oil from soap supply stores. Specialty oils and fats tend to get ordered with coconut oil.

 

[kyliecoast]

I buy oils from the supermarket because it's more cost-effective. Delivering many KGs of oils by mail is expensive but picking up a 4 Ltr drum of olive oil from the shop isn't.

 

[fuzz-juzz]

I buy almost everything at the supermarket, purely because of price. I just bought 4l of RBO forn $9 which is fantastic price.
Palm and coconut oils are food grade for frying and I can get them cheaply through local soapmaker who makes soap on big scale. I get 20kg of coconut oil for $60, no postage, online price is probably 3-4 times more, at least and that's without postage. It has a long shelf life, and I can cook with it, so it pays of.
The only thing I buy online are shea butter, fragrance and colour.

 

[Relle]

The problem with most grocery store oils is that they do not have a marked expiration date. This hardly matters for smaller quantities, sturdier oils, or fast usage. I buy small quantities of some oils from grocery stores and store them in my dedicated fridge.

In Australia grocery store oils have an expiration date (it's law here).

 

[Dennis]

In Australia grocery store oils have an expiration date (it's law here).

Is it an expiration date or best if used by date?

 

[Relle]

Just checked my oil and it's only got the date, usually if its a best use by date it has that written on it.

 

[Relle]

I buy almost everything at the supermarket, purely because of price. I just bought 4l of RBO forn $9 which is fantastic price.
Palm and coconut oils are food grade for frying and I can get them cheaply through local soapmaker who makes soap on big scale. I get 20kg of coconut oil for $60, no postage, online price is probably 3-4 times more, at least and that's without postage. It has a long shelf life, and I can cook with it, so it pays of.
The only thing I buy online are shea butter, fragrance and colour.

Can you tell me who has the RBO on special for atm, and what state are you in to get the CO ? Is the CO RBD?

 

[fuzz-juzz]

Relle I found it at Coles the other day, but specials might have changed since then.
Yes, it's rbd co, I'm in Vic, Melb.