Is my recipe correct?

[harshaa25]

Hi guys,

I am from India and it is quite common here to use maximum percentage of coconut oil in soaps. I have made a couple of batches with 90% coconut oil and goatmilk & it turned out to be fine.

I made the following batch, and for some reason, as soon as I pat my skin with towel after shower, I see small white patches on my skin (hands/legs) which appear like small flakes. I wondered if it was lye heavy but after running the recipe through soapcalc, I found that is not the case.

Any insights on what could cause this?

Lye - 116 grams
Water - 266 grams

595 grams - Coconut oil
15 grams - Avocado butter
60 grams - Olive oil
20 grams - Sesame oil
10 grams - Castor oil
20 grams - Dried mint (ground)
5 grams - Lemon peel powder
10 grams - Peppermint E.O
10 grams - Bergamot E.O

FYI, instead of using blender, I used whisk to mix the lye/oil solution.

Thanks much!

 

[lenarenee]

Hi guys,

I am from India and it is quite common here to use maximum percentage of coconut oil in soaps. I have made a couple of batches with 90% coconut oil and goatmilk & it turned out to be fine.

I made the following batch, and for some reason, as soon as I pat my skin with towel after shower, I see small white patches on my skin (hands/legs) which appear like small flakes. I wondered if it was lye heavy but after running the recipe through soapcalc, I found that is not the case.

Any insights on what could cause this?

Lye - 116 grams
Water - 266 grams

595 grams - Coconut oil
15 grams - Avocado butter
60 grams - Olive oil
20 grams - Sesame oil
10 grams - Castor oil
20 grams - Dried mint (ground)
5 grams - Lemon peel powder
10 grams - Peppermint E.O
10 grams - Bergamot E.O

FYI, instead of using blender, I used whisk to mix the lye/oil solution.

Thanks much!

What is the superfat percentage for your recipe? When people use such high coconut oil, the super is often 15 - 20% because saponified coconut oil is so drying for the skin.

We have to get to sleep here, so I can't take the time to put your recipe through a soap calculator. But this might give you something to consider until another soaper can help.

 

[harshaa25]

Thanks for your reply. In this recipe, it was 5% only. That could be the issue?

 

[shunt2011]

5% for high coconut soap is going to be extremely drying to mist a lift everyone. What did you use for the additional 10%? 15-20% SF and a good cure will make it a better soap.

your second recipe I’d be concerned worth the Sesame Oil as it has a short shelf life and will be more prone to DOS. Also with the mint and lemon leaf they may be scratchy.

 

[lsg]

Do you have easy access to palm oil? If so, I would decrease the cocononut oil to 25%, eliminate the sesame oil and use palm oil to fill in for the eliminated and decreased amount of oil.

 

[AliOop]

I agree with all of the above. I would also ask how long you are letting the soap cure? At least four weeks should be the minimum.

Another choice to consider would be 10-20% neem oil. Although it is a bit stinky before curing and will turn your soap brown, it is wonderful on skin. And I’m guessing you would have good access to it there.