I believe I've read that the ideal value of Linolenic in a soap recipe is "1" however when I run my recipe through soapcalc. my recipe ends up being 3; hardness is 45 and oelic is 35. How will this higher linolenic rating affect my soap and what is a exactly would a good number be? I am using avocado, blk current, macademia nut oil and mango butter.
Linolenic rating in recipe
- Thread starter gsc
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"...the ideal value of Linolenic in a soap recipe is "1"..."
Not sure where you read that or what the thinking behind this recommendation would be. Can you find out? I'm curious.
Anyways, linoleic and linolenic acids are polyunsaturated fatty acids that tend to oxidize and go rancid fairly quickly. Soap high in these two FAs is at risk for DOS (dreaded orange spots aka rancidity).
The rule of thumb that I use is to keep the total percentage of these two FAs in my recipes below about 15%. I can't give you any scientific basis for this; just that it seems to work for those soapers from whom I learned this rule of thumb. I don't normally have to worry about going over 10% given the fats I typically use to make soap.
Your black current is very high in linoleic acid (about 46%) and linolenic (about 29%), so it won't take much of this oil to bump the combined total above what would make me comfortable.
I hope black currant oil is inexpensive for you to use it in your soap. If it's spendy, IMO you'd be better off using it in a balm or lotion where it will do your skin some lasting good, rather than in soap.
Not sure where you read that or what the thinking behind this recommendation would be. Can you find out? I'm curious.
Anyways, linoleic and linolenic acids are polyunsaturated fatty acids that tend to oxidize and go rancid fairly quickly. Soap high in these two FAs is at risk for DOS (dreaded orange spots aka rancidity).
The rule of thumb that I use is to keep the total percentage of these two FAs in my recipes below about 15%. I can't give you any scientific basis for this; just that it seems to work for those soapers from whom I learned this rule of thumb. I don't normally have to worry about going over 10% given the fats I typically use to make soap.
Your black current is very high in linoleic acid (about 46%) and linolenic (about 29%), so it won't take much of this oil to bump the combined total above what would make me comfortable.
I hope black currant oil is inexpensive for you to use it in your soap. If it's spendy, IMO you'd be better off using it in a balm or lotion where it will do your skin some lasting good, rather than in soap.
