How to increase soap lather?

[fnddoctor]

Hi everyone,
I need an expert help to improve me my soap lather .
I am facing lather issue in my soap. I heard from someone that sugar can increase the soap lather. So now my question is how much sugar can I use in a 1kg of oils?
I am beginner soap maker

Thanks

 

[Mobjack Bay]

I usually add sugar to my recipes at 1.5% of oil/fat weight. You can also use sorbitol which is a sugar alcohol. I’ve used as much as 2% of both, but decided on 1.5% as the sweet spot . I also settled on using sugar because I didn’t notice a big difference between the two in my recipes, sugar is less expensive, and I always have sugar on hand.

You will need to dissolve the sugar or sorbitol in the recipe water before you add the lye. This is important because the sugar will not dissolve in lye water. Another approach is to split the water to use a portion to dissolve the NaOH and a portion to dissolve other additives, like the sugar. I also use sodium citrate, so I dissolve it with the sugar in a split of the water or other liquid for the recipe and have a separate portion for lye. You can add the sugar water to the lye water after everything is dissolved, or add each portion separately, which is what I do.

 

[AliOop]

I do pretty much as @Mobjack Bay described, above.

You can also increase lather by decreasing your super-fat; using a chelator (especially if your water is hard); or increasing the “bubbly” oils, which include coconut, babassu, and palm kernel oil (not palm oil, palm fruit oil, or palm olein).

 

[squidstings]

Functionally, I've always found the lather is determined by the dirt,and water purity, more than the soap.

 

[Zing]

I also use white sugar dissolved in water, before adding lye. Bubbles are a must for me and I'm pleased. Note that when you add lye that it turns a slight yellow that has no effect on the final color. I use 0.5 tablespoon per pound of oil.

 

[Ekuzo]

Functionally, I've always found the lather is determined by the dirt,and water purity, more than the soap.

I get where you're coming from, there's truth to that. It is however possible to make a bar lather better (even a little bit, even with hard water and lots of dirt) if certain conditions are met. It depends on so many factors actually.

But I get your point, it makes sense. I've observed something similar and to some extent, I agree. It's really hard to get good suds in certain conditions, no matter what you add to your soap

 

[melinda48]

I usually add sugar to my recipes at 1.5% of oil/fat weight. You can also use sorbitol which is a sugar alcohol. I’ve used as much as 2% of both, but decided on 1.5% as the sweet spot . I also settled on using sugar because I didn’t notice a big difference between the two in my recipes, sugar is less expensive, and I always have sugar on hand.

You will need to dissolve the sugar or sorbitol in the recipe water before you add the lye. This is important because the sugar will not dissolve in lye water. Another approach is to split the water to use a portion to dissolve the NaOH and a portion to dissolve other additives, like the sugar. I also use sodium citrate, so I dissolve it with the sugar in a split of the water or other liquid for the recipe and have a separate portion for lye. You can add the sugar water to the lye water after everything is dissolved, or add each portion separately, which is what I do.

I use powdered sugar and add it to my oils not water. I do 1tsp. PPO and get great bubbles.

 

[LidiaG]

I use powdered sugar and add it to my oils not water. I do 1tsp. PPO and get great bubbles.

Interesting!!! Thanks for sharing! Just to confirm, this is what's also called icing sugar?
And you don't have any issues with it dissolving in the oils.

 

[LidiaG]

I do what @Mobjack Bay has already mentioned.

And use Citric acid because its cheaper/ easier to buy ( it will become sodium citrate, just use soapmaking friend calcular to adjust the the lye amount for you)

You can also replace some or all the water in the recipe with Aloe vera to increase bubbles.

And I also decrease the super fat amount, but I make a more conditioning than cleansing recipe so it is not too harsh on my skin.

 

[Soaper2024]

FYI, powdered sugar generally

contains between 2% and 5% of an anti-caking agent—such as corn starch, potato starch or tricalcium phosphate[1][2]—to absorb moisture, prevent clumping, and improve flow.

I was rather bummed to discover this as I don't eat any of those.

Would this point need clarification on a label, or can one simply put 'powdered sugar' and be done with it? Would 'Sugar' be acceptable without listing 'anti-caking agent,' since the powdered sugar bags (usually) don't say which anti-caking agent they're using?

 

[CLMP]

I haven't learned how to use sugar, sorbitol, or sodium citrate yet so this is a good thread for me but what I use to get a nice lather is 5% Castor oil. Also I noticed that when I use citrus scents my soaps are more bubbley.

 

[melinda48]

Interesting!!! Thanks for sharing! Just to confirm, this is what's also called icing sugar?
And you don't have any issues with it dissolving in the oils.

Yes - one and the same.

 

[The Bearded Beekeeper]

Yes - one and the same.

No they are not , check other answers about icing sugar, the same reason beekeepers don't feed it to bees

 

[squidstings]

I get where you're coming from, there's truth to that. It is however possible to make a bar lather better (even a little bit, even with hard water and lots of dirt) if certain conditions are met. It depends on so many factors actually.

But I get your point, it makes sense. I've observed something similar and to some extent, I agree. It's really hard to get good suds in certain conditions, no matter what you ad

I've never seen a post where someone tested/demonstrated a fresh batch with dirty hands.

Not being one to begrudge a targeted purpose for a batch of soap, wouldn't additives like sugar, salt, superfats, EOs or anything else that doesn'y saponify, pre-load the soap? I've had salt suggested for micro-exfoliation. Is there a formula or technique to make sure your recipe isn't too full of itself to clean anything else away?

 

[squidstings]

FYI, powdered sugar generally I was rather bummed to discover this as I don't eat any of those.

Would this point need clarification on a label, or can one simply put 'powdered sugar' and be done with it? Would 'Sugar' be acceptable without listing 'anti-caking agent,' since the powdered sugar bags (usually) don't say which anti-caking agent they're using?

"icing" sugar isn't just sugar. "confectioners" sugar might be a better term that "powdered".

 

[squidstings]

Yes - one and the same.

I used to believe the same thing.

There's a difference between fine, powdered "confectioners" sugar and "icing" sugar. One actually is "sugar". However "Icing sugar" is a mix of different powders/ingredients.

 

[ScentimentallyYours]

Powdered sugar contains cornstarch.

 

[squidstings]

Powdered sugar contains cornstarch.

Actually, we're probably all correct!

Simple solve... check the ingredients list lol

Companies love to play, or dare I suggest, mislead, with wording. lol

Here in Canada, "powdered sugar" would be classed as "single ingredient product". Strict laws here. "icing" would allow for something other than "sugar". I've heard it's different in the US.

That info is years old however. And I'm not a lawyer.

 

[CLMP]

Hi I'd like to try sorbitol too I'm trying to order it but I can't decide if I should buy powdered sorbitol or the liquid sorbitol. So I'm wondering which one works better for making soap or do they both work the same?

 

[dibbles]

I’ve never used liquid, but I do dissolve the powdered sorbitol in some of the batch water (I warm it up a bit). I think @AliOop has said she dissolves it in the batch liquid before adding the lye. FWIW, it dissolves easily so if there is a big cost difference, I’d use the powder.