Palm-Free Soap Recipe Calculator
Calculate a palm-free soap recipe from batch size in oz or grams.
Returns oil weights for coconut, castor, olive, and shea butter with lye and water amounts.
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.
How we build and check this calculator
This calculator runs entirely in your browser, so the numbers you enter stay on your device. The math behind it is written by hand and tested against worked examples and standard references before the page goes live.
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