I have a question if anyone can help. I have read that coconut oil should not be used at more than 30% when mixed with other oils, but you can use it at 100% with a 20% superfat. What if you made a 100% coconut soap and a 100% olive oil soap seperate but poured them into the same mold. Would that work?
Mixing different soaps
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hmlove1218
Well-Known Member
That would be the same as making a 50%/50% olive oil and coconut soap only, if I'm understanding correctly, it would have ~25% superfat (20% for coconut soap and 5% for olive oil). I don't see this as really being worth the hastle. Wht not calculate the same 50/50 split with a 10%-15% superfat to counteract the drying of the coconut?
The overall superfat would be the weighted average between 20% and 5%. If the two soaps are 50:50 of the total, then the superfat would actually be (20+5)/2 = 12.5%.
An analogy: I have 4 candies and you have 2 candies. We pool them together for a total of 6 candies. If there was only one of us, that one person would get all 6 candies. But there's two of us, so the 6 candies have to be spread between the two of us. The end result is you get 3 candies and I get 3 -- we don't both get 6 apiece.
As far as the overall properties of this two part soap, I agree with HM. The end result is not going to be any different really than making an all-blended-together coconut and olive soap. You might be fine with a CO-Olive soap at 12.5% superfat regardless of how you make it. Some folks don't mind a high % of CO in a soap if the superfat is on the higher side.
An analogy: I have 4 candies and you have 2 candies. We pool them together for a total of 6 candies. If there was only one of us, that one person would get all 6 candies. But there's two of us, so the 6 candies have to be spread between the two of us. The end result is you get 3 candies and I get 3 -- we don't both get 6 apiece.
As far as the overall properties of this two part soap, I agree with HM. The end result is not going to be any different really than making an all-blended-together coconut and olive soap. You might be fine with a CO-Olive soap at 12.5% superfat regardless of how you make it. Some folks don't mind a high % of CO in a soap if the superfat is on the higher side.
I think new soapers tend to get overly scared of "too much" coconut oil. A higher percentage may not bother you at all.
Is there a particular reason you want to do 50% Coconut oil? No harm in trying it out. Decide what you want in a soap and then tweak your oils to get there.
Is there a particular reason you want to do 50% Coconut oil? No harm in trying it out. Decide what you want in a soap and then tweak your oils to get there.
hmlove1218
Well-Known Member
That makes sense when explained like that lol.
To OP: While yes, a higher superfat may contribute to some cases of DOS, OO has a long shelf life. I doubt it would give you any problems. It might be different if you used 50% hemp with a 12.5% SF, but I think it'll be fine with a 50/50 split of OO and CO. Try it out and you might like it!
Can I also ask what you are looking to have at the end of it? A cleansing but conditioning bar? There are many different ways of getting to that.
I'm not suggesting that you don't make this, but if we know your goal then we might save you a lot of time
I'm not suggesting that you don't make this, but if we know your goal then we might save you a lot of time
Ah! I think I'm following your point now. If I get it correctly, you want to have a single soap, but you want to make sure the olive is saponified to, say, 5% superfat and less of the CO is saponified to 20% superfat.
To absolutely make that happen, assuming that is your goal, I can think of several ways you could go about it.
(1) Make two batches of soap and hot process each batch separately, so all of the fat in each batch is saponified as much as possible. Then mix the two together and put into the mold.
(2) Make a combined CO and OO batch at zero superfat. Hot process the whole. Mix in CO after the cook to = 12.5% superfat of the whole. (Or whatever blend of OO and CO superfat you want.)
(3) Make two batches of soap and bring them to medium trace. Pour one in the mold to make a layer. Pour the second batch over the first. Do not swirl or otherwise mix the soap batters together.
I don't think you can stir up two separate batches of soap, swirl or mix them together at trace, and absolutely ensure that more of the OO and less of the CO is saponified. Lye just doesn't work that way.
To absolutely make that happen, assuming that is your goal, I can think of several ways you could go about it.
(1) Make two batches of soap and hot process each batch separately, so all of the fat in each batch is saponified as much as possible. Then mix the two together and put into the mold.
(2) Make a combined CO and OO batch at zero superfat. Hot process the whole. Mix in CO after the cook to = 12.5% superfat of the whole. (Or whatever blend of OO and CO superfat you want.)
(3) Make two batches of soap and bring them to medium trace. Pour one in the mold to make a layer. Pour the second batch over the first. Do not swirl or otherwise mix the soap batters together.
I don't think you can stir up two separate batches of soap, swirl or mix them together at trace, and absolutely ensure that more of the OO and less of the CO is saponified. Lye just doesn't work that way.
Actually any fat can go rancid, including CO. It is true the polyunsaturated fats tend to oxidize quicker than the monounsaturated fats, which may go rancid quicker than saturated fats. There are many factors that contribute to rancidity (DOS), however, so controlling superfat is not a single, surefire solution to the problem.
Ah! I think I'm following your point now. If I get it correctly, you want to have a single soap, but you want to make sure the olive is saponified to, say, 5% superfat and less of the CO is saponified to 20% superfat.
yes, sorry I just realized my question wasn't very clear
Thank you for your answers
yes, sorry I just realized my question wasn't very clear
Thank you for your answers
