Lard

[Angela]

This is probobly a silly qustion, but I read that lard is very moisturizing. I bought some yesterday. My question is do I use it in place of Palm, and what % can I use it as? How do most of you feel about lard like it or hate it? Thanks
Angela

 

[dagmar88]

Yes, you can use it instead of lard; just run all recipes you come up with yourself through a soap calculator like www.soapcalc.net
A lot of people like lard; some even make 100% lard soap.

 

[honor435]

it is moisturizing, and cheap, thats why the store industry uses it, i tried it, i thought a weird smell came through? I dont use it, just becuase one of my selling points is that my soap isnt like your store bought soap made with animal fat. But people swear by it and love it.

 

[Angela]

thanks for the info, I think I will make a 1llb batch just to see how I like it. I sure hope that wierd smell wasn't like a piggy smell.......

 

[carebear]

I use it, and get no scent.
It's very similar to palm - tho I cannot say that any SOAP is MOISTURIZING, if you replace palm 1:1 you may find the resulting soap less drying I guess (I don't but my soap isn't drying anyway AFAIK).

I choose it because it's cheap and easy to get.

 

[honor435]

ok, maybe not moisturizing, ok hemp is though, it makes your skin feel smooth!

 

[Twilitr]

lard is a staple in almost all my recipies, i love it. you get a really hard bar in the end, i made a batch for my SIL due to my niece having eczema. i just did 24oz lard and 4oz castor to help with bubbles and she loves it. i also SF mine to 8%.

 

[dagmar88]

ok, maybe not moisturizing, ok hemp is though, it makes your skin feel smooth!

Soap is never moisturizing; it is cleansing.

 

[donniej]

Lard is mostly stearic acid, which won't make much lather. I'd add 10%+ coconut oil for lather. It will make a very hard bar.

I've read that the smell can be nuetralized with vinegar but then you need to nuetralize or wash out the vinegar. But if you're buying your lard already rendered, this shouldn't be an issue.

 

[IrishLass]

I use lard a lot. It's a great fat to soap with, and so far I've never had any lard smell come through in my soap, even when I've soaped it hot.

IrishLass

 

[Dixie]

Makes a nice lathery and a white bar of soap. This fat should be combined with vegetable oils such as coconut or palm to compensate for the lard's shortcomings Without other oils it can tend to be soft. Use it as a base oil. Recommended at 70% max of total oils.

 

[Angela]

Thanks for everyones input.

 

[carebear]

Makes a nice lathery and a white bar of soap. This fat should be combined with vegetable oils such as coconut or palm to compensate for the lard's shortcomings Without other oils it can tend to be soft. Use it as a base oil. Recommended at 70% max of total oils.

My 100% lard bars are rock hard. I do think it benefits from the addition to a high bubbling oil like coconut, but not for hardness sake. And a touch of liquid oils makes for a more luxurious feeling soap sometimes, depending.

I find lard very comparable to palm in most ways, since the fatty acid profiles are so close it's not surprising - so I don't find a benefit to combining those two. adding palm KERNEL oil is like adding coconut, tho - and will increase the big bubbles.

 

[Pepper]

If "palm kernel" oil is made from the seeds, what is "palm oil" made from? :? Until recently, I had always assumed palm oil was made from the seeds :shock:

 

[donniej]

palm oil comes from the fruit, kernel oil comes from the seeds.

 

[joeleitz]

I've used lard but I find that quality oils work better, especially olive oil. Animal fat tends to go rancid if you aren't careful. At least that's been my experience but perhaps I was doing something wrong. Good oils aren't cheap but they do produce beautiful soaps. I found a supplier that sells everything that I could hope for in the way of oils, scents and packaging for my soaps. It's a great place for soap making supplies. I especially like the cute little tins they sell and the various jars and whatnot for liquid soap!

 

[Pepper]

Thanks DonnieJ, clear and concise as always. Thanks again

 

[mandolyn]

I've subbed lard for all my palm. I've never had any rancidity issues. I have soaps that are now a year old & still no rancidiy.

I love the silky quality of the lather! I really don't think it's inferior to palm in any way!

 

[orangetree71]

I only make soap for friends and family, but I'm curious, are customers not put off by the word "lard" in the ingredients?

 

[mandolyn]

I only make soap for friends and family, but I'm curious, are customers not put off by the word "lard" in the ingredients?

My entire line of Rennaisance Fairre soaps are made with lard. I do a huge business with them at the fairs!

Most commercial soaps have tallow as an ingredient & no one goes "Ewwwwwwwwww!" They just buy it. LOL!