Coconut oil is the basis of many kinds of soap. It makes soap harder, so the bars last longer, and it makes large bubbles and a rich lather. It is combined with other oils that contribute their own qualities to make a rich luxurious bar of soap. Coconut oil soap has a mild fragrance and is creamy white.
Types of Coconut Oil
The favorite coconut oil for makers of hand-crafted soap is 76 degree coconut oil. It melts at 76 degrees Fahrenheit, is easy to use and produces a hard bar of soap with luxurious lather. Coconut oil that melts at 92 degrees F makes a harder bar of soap, with less lather. Fractionated coconut oil has had the long-chain triglycerides removed, has a longer shelf life and tolerates higher temperatures, which makes it better for hot-process soap-making.
Virgin Coconut Oil
"Virgin Coconut Oil" is not a regulated term, so there are no standards defining it. Usually it means that the coconut oil was extracted from fresh coconut meat, rather than dried coconut meat, by blending the coconut meat with water, straining out the solids and allowing the resulting coconut milk to sit until the fat rises to the top. Oil from dried coconut meat, copra oil, is extracted using a press.
Additives
Usually coconut oil comprises less than 30 percent of the oil in soap because soap made with 100 percent coconut oil can be drying. Soap makers add other oils that are more moisturizing, such as olive oil or avocado oil. Soap makers also add dyes for attractive coloring, fragrances, herbal tea or ground herbs for their healing qualities and exfoliants like colloidal oatmeal, ground loofah or ground herbs for smoother skin.
Cold-Process Soap-Making
In cold-process soap-making, lye is added to oils at about 120 degrees F, and the mixture is stirred until it begins to set. Then fragrances, dye, herbs and exfoliants are added and mixed thoroughly before the soap is poured into molds. It takes another two weeks or so for the lye and oil to completely transform into soap, so it shouldn't be used before then.
Buy or Make?
If you want to purchase high-quality coconut oil soap, look for soap that is made with organic ingredients and essential oils with no chemical additives like dyes or synthetic fragrance. Coconut oil soaps come with a wide variety of ingredients, making it easy to find a soap that meets your specific needs and preferences.
Hand-crafted soap has a distinct advantage. Large manufacturers of soap typically remove the natural glycerin from soap and sell it separately. When you make your own soap or buy it from a small manufacturer, it naturally contains glycerin and is extra-moisturizing.
References
- Soap Making Resource: Coconut Oil for Soap Making
- "Soap Maker's Companion"; Susan Miller Cavitch; 1997
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