Percentages vs Grams

[lillybella]

Can someone explain to me why some people do recipes in percentages?

This is really confusing to me.

I weigh everything whether liquid or solid.

 

[hmlove1218]

The people who state their recipes in percentages still weigh their recipe. It's just easier to state that your recipe contains 15% coconut than 351g of coconut.
And recipes are usually calculated online by percentages which then gives you the grams that you need

 

[new12soap]

Yes, when you write a recipe in percentages, you can make as much or as little as you like. It makes it MUCH easier to resize your recipe, and you get consistent results because no matter how much you make the ratios stay the same.

Yet another reason why soapcalc is my calculator of choice, easy to use percentages, weights, it converts everything to grams...

 

[Earthen_Step]

Can someone explain to me why some people do recipes in percentages?

This is really confusing to me.

I weigh everything whether liquid or solid.

It just depends on what the person is used to I'd imagine. It seems slightly easier for me to take a percent recipe and adjust than as a weight. You just take your total weight and multiply by that %.

500g total [take 500g x % = grams needed]
35% oil 1 = 175g (500x35%=175)
30% oil 2 = 150g (500X30%=150)
25% oil 3 = 125g
10% oil 4 = 50g

Now if you have grams instead of percents.

500g total [take total of all grams in the recipe and devide into 500 (so 500/100=5) now take the recipe #'s and multiply by that number you came up with (5).
35g oil 1 = 175g (35x5=175)
30g oil 2 = 150g (30x5=150)
25g oil 3 = 125g
10g oil 4 = 50g

If you want to shrink sizes you would divide instead of multiply.
100g total
175g oil 1 = 35g (175/5=35)
150g oil 2 = 30g (150/5=30)
125g oil 3 = 25g
50g oil 4 = 10g

Hope this makes sense and helps some.

 

[dixiedragon]

I state my recipe in percentages, b/c rather than doing the math somebody can take a quick look and say, "You are only using 10% coconut, more coconut will give you more bubbles" or something. Doesn't matter if I make 1 lb or 100 lbs.

 

[lillybella]

Thank you Earthen & Dixie
I really appreciate your help.

My problem is:

if the recipe calls for 24% Beeswax and I want to use Candellia Wax; so I would use 12% Candellia Wax.

The total recipe is now based on 86% not 100%.

Do I adjust the whole recipe?

 

[Dahila]

I had never use wax for soap, but whatever you do you need to have 100% add oil or water, depends what you make, When I make lotion and want to add honeyquat (in cold phase) I take out some water...........http://www.humblebeeandme.com/quick-guide-candelilla-wax-liquid-oil-ratios/
check this post please.

 

[lillybella]

Thank you, Dahila

I am referring to solid lotion bars & lip balms.

i will read the article

 

[IrishLass]

My problem is:

if the recipe calls for 24% Beeswax and I want to use Candellia Wax; so I would use 12% Candellia Wax.

The total recipe is now based on 86% not 100%.

Do I adjust the whole recipe?

Yes- you need to increase the amount of another one of your ingredients to compensate, or you can spread the increase out over several of your ingredients (instead of just one).

IrishLass

 

[lillybella]

Thank you, IrishLass

 

[lillybella]

Would the
fragrance 1%
dimethicone 2%
cyclomethicone 2%
IPM 5%

stay the same?

 

[IrishLass]

Would the
fragrance 1%
dimethicone 2%
cyclomethicone 2%
IPM 5%

stay the same?

Yes- I would keep those the same.

Just change the %'s of your oils and fats.

IrishLass

 

[lillybella]

Thanks again IrishLass