Help with percentages for recipe

[Finner21]

Hi! I am new here I have some ingredients that I want to use for a soap recipe but I am not sure what percents to use for what oil, any help with this would be fabulous.
Coconut oil
Rice bran oil
Olive oil
Lard
Castor oil

 

[amd]

It depends on what you want the soap to do.

Castor oil is best at around 5% - although I have seen some soapers use it up to 10% - it's one of those oils that is not good in large quantities and works best in a less-is-more kind of way. By itself castor does not make good soap, but it works as an amplifier to the other oils in the recipe.

Lard - my opinion 20-50%. More than that and it smells too much - but I have a sensitive nose. Even at 25% I can smell the "piggyness". It makes excellent soap though with many nice properties so you can go up to 100% if you can stand the smell.

Olive Oil - I no longer use it due to cost, but when I did use it I didn't go above 40%. More than that and the soaps became too slimey (snot-like lather) and needed more cure time to reduce that effect.

Rice Bran Oil - it has a lot of similar properties to olive oil but without the slimey/snot factor, but I still follow the 40% rule.

Coconut Oil - becomes drying in soap form, so if you are formulating for drier skin, it's best advised to keep at 20% or lower. If dry skin is not a concern, it makes the best lather and you can crank that up to 30% if you want. I wouldn't go above 30% unless you're making a specialty soap (salt or brine soap), as it does make your soap more soluble and won't be as long lasting.

These are just my preferences, you'll find a variety of opinions on the forum. You may find this link helpful for guidelines: Free Beginner's Guide to Soapmaking: Common Soapmaking Oils - Soap Queen

 

[lsg]

I often substitute rice bran oil for olive oil in my soap recipes. If you are worried about rice bran oil causing DOS, add a little rosemary oleoresin. I would use either rice bran or olive oil, not both; but that is just my opinion. Others might disagree.
Here is a good place to start.

8% Castor Oil
22% Coconut Oil
35% Lard
35% Rice Bran or Olive Oil

 

[Obsidian]

My recipe, 5% sf

Lard 50%
Olive 25%
Coconut 20%
Castor 5%

 

[Finner21]

I often substitute rice bran oil for olive oil in my soap recipes. If you are worried about rice bran oil causing DOS, add a little rosemary oleoresin. I would use either rice bran or olive oil, not both; but that is just my opinion. Others might disagree.
Here is a good place to start.

8% Castor Oil
22% Coconut Oil
35% Lard
35% Rice Bran or Olive Oil

Thank you I am looking for a creamy, bubbly lather

It depends on what you want the soap to do.

Castor oil is best at around 5% - although I have seen some soapers use it up to 10% - it's one of those oils that is not good in large quantities and works best in a less-is-more kind of way. By itself castor does not make good soap, but it works as an amplifier to the other oils in the recipe.

Lard - my opinion 20-50%. More than that and it smells too much - but I have a sensitive nose. Even at 25% I can smell the "piggyness". It makes excellent soap though with many nice properties so you can go up to 100% if you can stand the smell.

Olive Oil - I no longer use it due to cost, but when I did use it I didn't go above 40%. More than that and the soaps became too slimey (snot-like lather) and needed more cure time to reduce that effect.

Rice Bran Oil - it has a lot of similar properties to olive oil but without the slimey/snot factor, but I still follow the 40% rule.

Coconut Oil - becomes drying in soap form, so if you are formulating for drier skin, it's best advised to keep at 20% or lower. If dry skin is not a concern, it makes the best lather and you can crank that up to 30% if you want. I wouldn't go above 30% unless you're making a specialty soap (salt or brine soap), as it does make your soap more soluble and won't be as long lasting.

These are just my preferences, you'll find a variety of opinions on the forum. You may find this link helpful for guidelines: Free Beginner's Guide to Soapmaking: Common Soapmaking Oils - Soap Queen

Thank you! This was soo helpful, I am looking for a creamy , bubbly lather , interesting feedback in the lard smell, I also have a keen sense of smell, but have read soo many good reviews on lard

 

[AliOop]

To create more lather, dissolve some form of sugar in your water before adding the lye. I use plain white sugar or sorbitol at 1% of oils.

 

[Dalia]

For the lather you can also use honey, and a lot of times I put 10% castor oil and it make beautiful lather