ISO Guide for Oil Substitution

[QuanahRose]

Is there a guide or chart that lists equivalent oils that can be substituted for one another in CP soap recipes?

E.G. Recipe calls for grapeseed oil. All I've got on hand is rice bran oil. Is there some sort of reference material that would provide the information necessary to make that determination?

Perhaps there is a chart or list grouping oils with characteristics sufficiently similar that they can be interchanged without significantly changing the final product?

If no such information resource exists, what is the best way to determine which oil, if any, can be substituted in a recipe? E.G. - I know from reading that I can substitute Babassu oil for Coconut oil but I don't know what properties of each of these makes that possible.

My Google research has been unproductive. If what I'm looking for exists, the SMF folks are sure to know.

TIA.

 

[Yooper]

I use soapcalc software, and it has a great list of oils. You can click on the oil of your choice, and see the "numbers" of each soap so you can get one of a similar quality.

That helps, and then I use this spreadsheet: http://www.soapnuts.com/indexoils.html and this one: http://millersoap.com/PDF/OilProperties.pdf. Those help when I am using an unusual oil (for me) and want more specific information!

 

[AlchemyandAshes]

Try this and see if its helpful:
http://www.naturesgardencandles.com/mas ... apoils.pdf

You may be able to search by SAP values. Many soaps with similar SAP values should behave similarly in soap, though they may not have the same qualities.
Grapeseed SAP value: .129
Rice Bran SAP value: .128
Very similar Stearic & Linoleic Acid makeup, but Rice Bran is way higher in Palmitic & Oleic. Just depends on what properties you're looking for.

 

[Hazel]

Those are all good resources. Just remember to recalculate for the correct lye amount if you substitute an oil. :wink:

eta: You also might like this chart. http://www.soap-making-essentials.com/s ... -oils.html