Lard recipes

[idreamaboutsoap]

Any favorite lard recipes anyone is willing to share with this new soaper?? I've been using and tweaking vegan recipes but the more I read I want to use lard....TIA if you're willing to share personal recipes or links!

 

[Obsidian]

Here is a real basic recipe I use. You can sub palm kernel oil for coconut. I use 8% superfat with this one since I have dry skin. If it seems like it might be too drying for you, increase the OO to 55% and lower the coconut to 15%

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

 

[doriettefarm]

My basic lard recipe is pretty similar to Obsidian's. I'm sensitive to coconut and use PKO as she suggested. I also bump the castor up to 10% because I'm a lather freak.

 

[idreamaboutsoap]

Ok I'm trying to run this through brambleberry's lye calculator bc it's the only one I've been able to figure out how to figure out so far and it's not working bc I don't have a total weight of oils. How would I figure out water and lye amounts to use with a percentage recipe? I've been using recipes with the ounces already figured and have adjusted hose according to what I've wanted to accomplish.

 

[lpstephy85]

Soapcalc is fairly easy to use and you can put in percentage. How large of a batch do you want to make?

 

[Obsidian]

On the calculator it says are you measuring in grams or ounces, there is a box to check for percentages instead. Then you just put in the % amount for each oil. Don't forget to set your superfat level at the bottom of the page.

 

[idreamaboutsoap]

Soapcalc is hieroglyphics to me. I'm sure it's simple once I'm shown but I just don't get it. Brambleberry I get and I even changed it to percentage and put the 8% super fat at the bottom so do I just put whatever amount I want in the "total oil weight" box or does it have to make sense in the total equation? I'm a math derp lol

 

[Obsidian]

Yeah, just put in the total weight of the batch you want. I generally do 32 ounces, not too small and not too big.

 

[idreamaboutsoap]

Ok, one more question...why so high on the super fatting? I'm used to 3%. Any particular reason for 8?

 

[Obsidian]

With 20% coconut, its too drying for me so I need a higher superfat. You can change the SF to whatever you like or think will work best for you. I have extremely dry skin, 8% SF is the lowest I can go.

 

[PinkCupcake]

I have used a recipe similar to Obsidian's (but a little less OO, and a little more lard) and I SF at 20%. I still got a nice, creamy lather, and my skin feels fantastic after a shower. I've only started using lard recently, but I love it!

 

[Susie]

I pretty much use the same as Obsidian. It is a good, basic, balanced bar.
Be sure to use some sort of EO or FO. Lard continues to smell porky to me if not scented. I love and adore lard soaps, but the smell is there.

I had a lot of trouble using SoapCalc also. I just let all those options intimidate me. Then I could never get the correct oil in the box. But one day I got mad at myself and sat down to learn it. Now it is my favorite. You can do it. Just hang in there.

 

[Arthur Dent]

I use a similar recipe and my unscented soaps have never had the "porky" smell after they have cured.

 

[idreamaboutsoap]

I'm definitely an EO and FO girl! I always go for the stronger side of the fragrance calculator so hopefully any porky smell won't be an issue.

I'm taking Soapcalc as a personal challenge now! I will learn it lol. It's that dang water percentage in the beginning I'm like what??? Then it's just a maze from there on out.

Anywho thanks for being so helpful! I'm gettin' on the lard bandwagon

 

[idreamaboutsoap]

Omg I'm a dork! It's been what 5-10 mins since my last post and I've got Soapcalc nailed lol. If I'd clicked on the little i for information it would've explained it all for me. Thank you for the encouragement Susie

 

[AustinStraight]

I've wanted to try lard soap for awhile. I asked my great-grandma how she made soap in her childhood, and she said they used wood ashes & lard. She also said it was the mildest soap she's ever used.

 

[Susie]

You are most welcome! I knew you could do it!

I can't help that I have a sensitive nose guys. It does not take much EO to cover it up, but the smell is certainly there before adding EO. And I LOVE soap with lard in it. To the point that I bought a 4lb bucket of the stuff the last time. I won't be making any more bar soap without lard.

 

[Obsidian]

I have a sensitive nose too but I can't smell the lard in this recipe, even if left unscented. A 100% lard soap definitely has a slight piggy smell though.
I love lard, even use a small amount in salt bars. I bought some palm to try and hate it, once its gone I will stick with lard. Another plus for lard is it slows down trace so you have more time for swirls.

 

[dixiedragon]

I love Kathy Miller's page:
http://www.millersoap.com/soapanimal.html#BlendedCoc

Blended Soap Using Beef Shortening (or Lard)/With Coconut [SIZE=-2](Kathy Miller)[/SIZE]

45 oz. beef shortening
20 oz. olive oil
20 oz. coconut oil
12 oz. lye crystals
32 oz. cold water

I like to add some castor and some sunflower seed oil to this. I use lard, or half lard and half tallow.

 

[athallr]

I really like millersoap.com too Do you use lard in place of where she has beef shortening? I am planning on making lard soap tomorrow...can't wait!