Wanting Good Lard Recipe - What do you think?

[Sonya-m]

Thanks!! You are the fountain of all knowledge!!

 

[Luckyone80]

Unfortunately I've not had chance to make it yet but I'm hoping so as that's my main reason for formulating it. Studying for an exam right now so having to put off trying it for now.

Sonya - have you made your recipe yet? Wondering how it came out.

 

[Luckyone80]

Would there be a benefit to super fatting? I mean I want the bar to be hard and long lasting, not soft, wouldn't SF make it softer?

 

[Sonya-m]

Still not had chance. My exam is Monday so will aim to do it Monday evening

 

[Sonya-m]

I'm SF as I've discovered CO is quite drying on my skin. Think I read somewhere on here that it shouldn't effect the softness of the bar unless the SF is much higher so hoping my 8% won't produce a soft bar

 

[Susie]

Would there be a benefit to super fatting? I mean I want the bar to be hard and long lasting, not soft, wouldn't SF make it softer?

Superfatting is what leaves your skin feeling conditioned after you bathe. I use 5% superfat during the warmer/more humid months(8 months of the year here), and 8%-10% during the colder/dryer months.

Your bar hardness depends more on the oils used and the length of cure than superfat.

 

[Susie]

I'm SF as I've discovered CO is quite drying on my skin. Think I read somewhere on here that it shouldn't effect the softness of the bar unless the SF is much higher so hoping my 8% won't produce a soft bar

I learned the hard way that 20% is my max on CO. Any more than that, and I don't care how high the superfat is, it still makes my skin feel dry and tight. 8% superfat should be great with those recipes.

I do use EOs in my soap as I do not love the smell of lard. I love how the soap feels, but not the lard smell. The good news is that it does not take much EO to cover the lardy smell.

 

[Obsidian]

I use a 8% SF with my high lard recipe and its still very hard. You have to have a pretty high SF before it effects the hardness.

 

[Luckyone80]

Wonderful, thank you both!

 

[DeeAnna]

I want to add that bar hardness is not the same as bar longevity. A bar with a high superfat may be about as hard as one with lower superfat, but high-superfat bar soap may not last as long in the shower.

 

[xoticsoaps]

Since you guys are 'lard addicts' I have a quick question: When soaping with a high percent of lard or tallow (50% or more), what percentage of fragrance oil do you guys use to cover up the smell?

 

[snappyllama]

I actually don't think my lard has any noticeable odor at all, but I buy it commercially. If you're rendering your own, I think triple processing it removes most odor. Avocado Oil on the other hand, I can pick-up a vegetable aroma to that...

 

[fuzz-juzz]

Sorry, I joined in late, but to still answer OP question, I think lard and OO are very conditioning and mild in soap, and whatever percentages are used, they will make mild soap. CO on the other hand, some people find drying even at the small %. 20% of CO in a recipe is the highest I would go and for us it would make a really cleansing bar. So if one wants to make mild, conditioning bar, CO % should be quite reduced or even completely taken out of the recipe.
I make facial soap just from lard, OO and a bit of castor. It is lovely and mild and bubbles just fine, no CO needed. I use 50% in that recipe and never get piggy smell. I don't even use FOs in my facial bars. It might have something to do with my close to 0% and all of the oils used up. In soaps with higher % there are some oils left in the bars and might emit odour. But if the lard is homemade it should really have that strong smell most shop bought ones have. My mum has access to the butcher that sells pig fat for rendering and is now my main supplier of lard. I was disappointed when local shops stopped selling it, but I now find homemade one is so much better.

 

[reinbeau]

I render my own and it does not smell what so ever (I think the truck to that is dry rendering, just leaf lard, on low heat). It's pristine, white, hard (for lard) and soaps up beautifully. I use the same amount of scent in it as I do in any soap./

 

[Susie]

I use the recommended 0.5 oz PPO rate for EOs(unless it is an irritant, then I use less). It truly does not take much scent to cover it, it just takes using something.

I do buy commercial lard. Armour brand from Walmart in the 4 lb tub. I can still smell lard in soap unless I use some sort of scent. I can even smell the lard if I use 0.5 oz grated bar soap containing lard in a 2 lb oil batch of 100% coconut oil laundry soap once I have washed and dried the clothes. Had to throw the whole batch out.

 

[Dahila]

#2 is exactly the same I make and we my family loves that, so do I.

 

[Luckyone80]

#2 is exactly the same I make and we my family loves that, so do I.

Thank you! I think I will make both #2 & #4 and see which I like better. Thank you for the input!

 

[Sonya-m]

Thank you! I think I will make both #2 & #4 and see which I like better. Thank you for the input!

When are you attempting these? I'm going to attempt #4 but with my 8% SF on Monday.

If you do yours first report back how it went ie how fast it traced, temp you soaped at etc. I know our colours and fragrances will different but interested to see how it goes

 

[Luckyone80]

When are you attempting these? I'm going to attempt #4 but with my 8% SF on Monday.

If you do yours first report back how it went ie how fast it traced, temp you soaped at etc. I know our colours and fragrances will different but interested to see how it goes

I don't have the lard yet and I've got things going on tomorrow night and Friday night so at the earliest maybe this weekend.
I changed my #4 recipe (yours too) to the 8% SF and discounted the water to 36%. I will report back if I get to make it this weekend.

 

[Sonya-m]

I don't have the lard yet and I've got things going on tomorrow night and Friday night so at the earliest maybe this weekend.
I changed my #4 recipe (yours too) to the 8% SF and discounted the water to 36%. I will report back if I get to make it this weekend.

Well my exam is today so I will be making this recipe once I get back from it. Have you made it yet?