superfatting

[Jade_84]

my soap recipe calls for super fatting it to 10 % so do i just add it at the beginning of the soap making process or at the end when i add the essential oil?

 

[lsg]

If you can post your recipe, that would help. I use SoapCalc and the superfat is figured right in, so I guess you can just add the excess oil in the beginning. The lye will only saponify so much fat or oil.

 

[AlchemyandAshes]

Lye will indiscriminately saponify any available fatty acid, so adding an oil at trace to superfat is a myth, with the exception of adding an oil after cook using the hot process method, where most of the saponification has already taken place. Use a lye calculator with the superfat/lye discount set a 10% ( or whatever % you prefer), and that will give you enough lye to saponify 90% of your combined oils, leaving you with 10% unsaponified (superfat). Hope that makes sense! :wink:

 

[Jade_84]

Oils: Coconut Oil, Organic: 80.0 ounces
Lye/Water: Potassium Hydroxide (KOH): 20.2 ounces
Water: 30.0 ounces
Additives: Coconut Oil, Organic (10%): 8.0 ounces
Total of Essential/Fragrance Oils: 3.5 ounces Essential Oil: Essential Oil: Neroli, Morocco

@alchemy i think i get what your saying: either add less lye or after the trace is finished cooking is that right ?

 

[AlchemyandAshes]

Are you Hot Processing the soap? If so, you can figure your lye amount with the Superfat discount for the entire 88 oz, HP the 80 oz of Coconut Oil, and after saponification (gel stage), add your 8 extra oz of Coconut Oil. If you are CPing, just add all 88 oz in the beginning before adding your lye.

 

[AlchemyandAshes]

I just realized you're using KOH, not NaOH...are you making liquid soap or bar soap?

Either way, whether you CP or HP this batch, since your only using Coconut Oil, I would add all 88 oz up front, take a 33% water discount, and superfat at 15% (because Saponified Coconut Oil is drying)...so it would look like this:

88 oz Coconut Oil
29 oz Liquid (Water or Milk or split)
19 oz KOH (for liquid soap) *OR* 13 oz NaOH (for bar soap)

If you we're trying to superfat with a specific/special oil, I would suggest HP and adding the superfat at the end of cook. Since you are only using one oil, I don't see the point of adding afterward and would just add it upfront with my lye discounted.