Hi Susie,
If you were to replace lard with palm or shea butter would your other percentages change? That looks like a nice recipe. I have been making my recipes at least 45% OO but am trying to rethink how I do things.
Thanks!
Scooter-I have recently done the "Great Value Shortening Percentage Test" for every 5% change between lard and GV shortening (tallow and palm) from 5% GV to 60% (of the total oil %) to 60% GV shortening and 5% lard. With AND without 5% KOH added. So, take the following with that in mind.
I like high lard soap with and without the KOH 5%. I like it with KOH best, though. It just helps the lather tremendously.
I long ago (seems like forever, but it was only 3 years or so) tried all the expensive oils in soap, milks, additives of most every kind. I, and all my testers, liked the high lard soaps best. Across the board. And I was the only person who knew what change went to what soap. So, I gave up on the "special" oils and such.
However, I am about to (hopefully, if we can get major appliances to stop breaking down) start selling. I will have to use other recipes and use oils I would not normally for label appeal. So, I have been retesting the whole butters thing, and the milks, and the clays. Just to get recipes that behave, smell good, and people besides me like.
So, if I had to choose a favorite alternative recipe that used an alternative oil to the one above, it would be this:
Lard 45%
GV Shortening 20%
Coconut Oil 15%
Shea Butter 10%
Olive Oil 5%
Castor Oil 5%
However, I can now add every oil, butter, or wax to some amount for label appeal. Even if it is just a tiny bit (beeswax). It does not mean I love them, though.