Palm-Free Soap Recipe Calculator
Calculate a balanced palm-free cold process soap recipe with proper hardness, cleansing, and conditioning values.
Why palm-free soap recipes matter:
Palm oil is a staple in traditional soap making because it contributes hardness, stable lather, and long bar life. Replacing it requires combining other oils and butters that collectively provide the same properties. A well-formulated palm-free bar is just as hard, lathery, and long-lasting as a palm-based one.
Key soap properties and their oil sources:
| Property | Target Range | Palm-Free Sources |
|---|---|---|
| Hardness | 29–54 | Coconut oil, cocoa butter, shea butter, lard, tallow |
| Cleansing | 12–22 | Coconut oil, babassu oil |
| Conditioning | 44–69 | Olive oil, avocado oil, sweet almond oil |
| Bubbly lather | 14–46 | Coconut oil, castor oil, babassu oil |
| Creamy lather | 16–48 | Cocoa butter, shea butter, lard, tallow |
| Longevity (INS) | 136–165 | Higher saturated fat content = longer-lasting bar |
The lye calculation formula:
Each oil has a unique SAP (saponification) value — the amount of lye (NaOH) needed to convert it to soap:
Lye required = Oil weight × SAP value
Total lye = Σ (each oil weight × its SAP value)
Water = Lye weight × Water:Lye ratio (typically 2:1 to 2.5:1)
Common SAP values (NaOH):
| Oil | SAP Value | Role in Recipe |
|---|---|---|
| Coconut oil (76°) | 0.178 | Hardness + cleansing (15–25%) |
| Olive oil | 0.134 | Conditioning base (30–50%) |
| Shea butter | 0.128 | Creaminess + hardness (10–20%) |
| Cocoa butter | 0.137 | Hardness + longevity (5–15%) |
| Castor oil | 0.128 | Lather boost (5–8%) |
| Sweet almond oil | 0.136 | Conditioning (5–15%) |
| Avocado oil | 0.133 | Luxury conditioning (5–15%) |
Example palm-free recipe (500 g oils):
- Olive oil 40%: 200 g × 0.134 = 26.8 g NaOH
- Coconut oil 20%: 100 g × 0.178 = 17.8 g NaOH
- Shea butter 15%: 75 g × 0.128 = 9.6 g NaOH
- Cocoa butter 15%: 75 g × 0.137 = 10.28 g NaOH
- Castor oil 5%: 25 g × 0.128 = 3.2 g NaOH
- Sweet almond 5%: 25 g × 0.136 = 3.4 g NaOH
- Total NaOH: 71.08 g (before superfat discount)
- At 5% superfat: 71.08 × 0.95 = 67.5 g NaOH
- Water (2.3:1): 67.5 × 2.3 = 155.3 g water
Superfat leaves a percentage of oils unsaponified for extra skin conditioning. Standard range is 3–8%. Higher superfat = softer, more conditioning bar but less longevity.