Characteristic of Various Soap Making Oil and Butter

Bagi yang pengen tahu fungsi masing2 oil yang kami gunakan sebagai bahan baku, artikel ini wajib untuk dibaca ;)

Different oils add different qualities to your soap. The combination of oils you choose will determine the hardness or softness of your soap, how well it lathers, and even how mild the finished soap will be. 

Castor oil

Acts as humectant, so is moisturizing; use in combination with other oils (too much castor oil produces soft, sticky soap with sparse lather).

Canola Oil

Contributes to: stable lather, conditioning, slower trace, softer soap.  Use it to partially replace more expensive oils like olive. Canola oil is actually from a modified variety of rapeseed.

Coconut oil

Contributes to: soap hardness, fluffy lather, quicker trace. Coconut oil makes soaps lather beautifully but can be drying when it makes up an overly large portion of your soap's fats. It will make a very hard, white bar of soap that lathers well even in very hard water - even in sea water. Coconut oil is light and not greasy and is resistant to spoiling. Used in skin care formulations, coconut oil is emollient, moisturizing, conditioning and protecting to the skin. 

Olive oil

Contributes to: soap hardness, stable lather, slippery feel, conditioning, moisturizing,  Olive Oil attracts external moisture to your skin, helping to keep skin soft and supple. Traditionally "Castile" soap was made using only olive oil, but the term has loosened now to include soaps that have olive oil as a major proportion of the oils in them.

Grapeseed Oil

Used in soaps as a superfatting oil, grapeseed oil is a lightweight oil that absorbs into the skin quickly without leaving a heavy greasy feeling. It has mildly astringent qualities and is said to be useful for acne and other skin complaints.

Macadamia Nut Oil

Contributes to: stable lather, conditioning, moisturizing, silky feel.  Macadamia has a long shelf life. It is easily absorbed into the skin and acts as an emollient. It is said to protect skin cells from deterioration and thus lead to better skin condition.

Palm oil

Contributes to: soap hardness, stable lather, conditioning, silky feel, quicker trace.  Palm oil makes a hard bar that cleans well and is also mild.

Rice Bran Oil

Rice bran oil is moisturizing and is a good choice for inclusion in formulations intended for mature, delicate or sensitive skin.

Soybean oil (vegetable shortening)

Makes mild soap with good lather; add coconut oil and olive oil for better lather and conditioning.

Sweet Almond Oil

Contributes to: stable lather, conditioning, moisturizing. Often used for superfatting soaps. Sweet almond oil is often used as an emollient in skin creams and balms.

Makes very mild soap with good lather; emollient; excellent superfatting oil.

Sunflower Oil

Contributes to: stable lather, conditioning, silky feel, softer soap, slower trace.  Sunflower oil contains Vitamin E, so it naturally resists going rancid.

Sesame Seed Oil

Contributes to: stable lather, conditioning, moisturizing, silky feel, softer soap. Sesame oil makes a good superfatting oil. Has a strong nutty

scent. Sesame oil has excellent longevity in massage preparations and is said to be good for psoriasis, eczema, rheumatism, and arthritis.

Avocado oil

Often used for superfatting soaps, avocado oil contains vitamins A, D, and E, which makes it healing as well as moisturizing.

Moisturizing and healing for sensitive skin; rich in vitamins A and D, proteins, and amino acids.

Jojoba

Contributes to: stable lather , conditioning, moisturizing, quicker trace. Pronounced "ho-ho-ba".  Actually mostly a liquid wax, jojoba does not lather much of itself, but rather acts to make existing lather from other oils more stable and long lasting.  Jojoba is good at conditioning skin. Because of its expense, it's usually used to superfat soap batches or in shampoo bars. It is said to be an excellent emollient for skin conditions like psoriasis or acne and has a chemical composition very close to the skin's own sebum. Jojoba oil is easily absorbed by the skin and promotes silky smooth skin. Jojoba Oil is stable and long lasting.

Very mild and soothing, especially to dry skin; contains natural antioxidants; excellent superfatting oil.

Cocoa Butter

Contributes to: soap hardness, stable lather, conditioning, moisturizing, quicker

trace. When used as a superfatting oil it acts to lay down a protective layer which holds moisture to the skin. It has a natural chocolate scent but it is also available in an unscented version. Cocoa butter contains natural antioxidants that help to prevent rancidity. It is an excellent moisturizer that melts at body temperature, leaving the skin feeling soft and silky smooth.

Shea Butter

Contributes to: soap hardness, stable lather, conditioning, silky, slippery feel, quicker trace. Shea butter is a popular superfatting agent and contains a large percentage of ingredients that do not react with the lye, thus remaining in the soap to nourish your skin. Shea butter is said to be beneficial for treating dry skin, blemishes, skin discoloration, scars and wrinkles.