Thoughts on Recipe

[twinkiesmommy2009]

I've been working with herbs & essential oils for awhile making my own creams, salves, etc. I'm relatively new to soap making and I've only been making proven recipes from books and such so far. This will be my first attempt at making a soap using a recipe of my own design. Thoughts?

Olive Oil 35%
Coconut Oil 20%
Avocado Oil 16%
Almond Oil 10%
Shea Butter 9%
Castor Oil 5%
Cocoa Butter 4%
Beeswax 1%

I'll be making it in a soapnut tea instead of water and adding sugar.

 

[FlybyStardancer]

Why so many oils/butters? Any particular reason? That little beeswax won't affect much, and simpler is usually better, especially for beginners.

 

[twinkiesmommy2009]

I didn't want to use Palm oil or tallow but also would like to have a really nice, long lasting hard bar. I've used these oils before, just in other people's recipes. I'm using the butters to get the high stearic acid content, and I'm using both Shea and Cocoa because I don't have much left of either. Almond & Avocado because I love both and was having trouble deciding. Their properties are similar. I added the beeswax just to try and harden it a little. I started with 5% but in tweaking the oils ended up down to 1%. Will it add to hardness at all or is it pointless to bother at such a small percentage?

How could I improve the recipe?

 

[Susie]

I am with Flybystardancer. Too many oils, too much going on for a relative beginner to be able to tell what went right or wrong with a batch of soap. I get that you want to use up the last of the shea and cocoa. I would do the same. However, you need to either use the almond or the avacado, not both. I find there is a noticeable difference between the two when used in bar soap. If you use both, you will never know for yourself.

I notice there is no palm or animal fats in there, which would help with bar hardness. I am going to assume there is a reason for that. But 1% beeswax is not enough to affect the bar, and is just one unnecessary step, IMHO.

 

[Obsidian]

While a recipe with many oils does have more opportunity for mistakes due to forgetting a oil, there really isn't anything wrong with using that many. I don't see it being any more complicated, just more steps involved due to measuring.

I would change things up a bit though. No reason to use more then one oil if they have similar properties. run this through soapcal and see how you like the numbers. I wouldn't bother with the beeswax. 1% won't do much and if used at high %, it can cause trouble and leave a weird film on your skin.

OO 45%
coconut 20%
avocado 15%
shea 10%
castor 5%
coco butter 5%

 

[twinkiesmommy2009]

Thank you for all the replies! Obsidian, I'm going to plug it in and try that. Can I add some salt to increase hardness without making a salt bar? How much/when would I add it to the batch?

 

[Obsidian]

Yes, you can add a bit of salt for hardness. I use 1-2 tsp per pound of oil in the recipe. Dissolve it in your water before adding the lye.

 

[twinkiesmommy2009]

What common EO's would be safe to add to this batch without it being likely to effect anything? I want scent but I don't want to deal with seizing or anything that might result.

Thoughts?

 

[Susie]

Lemongrass is normally well behaved. I have also never had an issue with cinnamon(cassia) bark EO, clove bud, nutmeg, or ginger. But those are my favorites, so I use them all the time.

 

[karenbeth]

I created a similar recipe recently, but without the cocoa butter. I was trying to use low comedogenic oils to see how it would go in a facial bar. Yet to make it so I'm interested to see how yours comes out. Lemongrass sounds great.

 

[twinkiesmommy2009]

We're making it tonight. I found some more cocoa butter so I'm using that and eliminating the Shea.

I'm nearly out of Lemongrass and they don't have it at the local store, I checked. My husband wanted a 'manly' scent that he found in one if my books that will be good for muscles so it looks like we're using a blend that is 6 parts Lavender (manly? Lol), 2 part Eucalyptus, and 1 part Peppermint. Anything to be worried about?

I'll share and post pics when I'm done.

 

[Obsidian]

Occasionally lavender or eucalyptus can cause acceleration but it shouldn't be too bad. I would plan uncolored or a single color until you know how the EO behaves. I'd also add it at thin trace and get ready to pour right away just in case.

 

[twinkiesmommy2009]

Thanks Obsidian! I didn't make it last night. I'm prepping now so I'll watch for that. I was going to use one color, a clay

 

[twinkiesmommy2009]

Accidentally pressed send. A Rose clay I got in a sample from Brambleberry. I was just going to add it to half and pour for a two tone look. I guess this will be a low risk test to work fast!