Sorbitol in liquid form - how much to use ?

Soapmaking Forum

Help Support Soapmaking Forum:

Joined
Jan 13, 2021
Messages
109
Reaction score
252
Location
Perth; Western Australia
Hello all you lovely people,

I've been interested in some posts about sorbitol . I have read Kenna's posts as well.
Trying to source it, and can only find in liquid form at a good price.
One poster mentioned used 2% of total batch weight.
Can anyone please confirm useage rates?
Please advise how and when you add it in.

Thank you so much.
 

lsg

Staff member
Admin
Moderator
Supporting Member
Joined
Oct 14, 2007
Messages
16,543
Reaction score
7,386
 
Joined
Nov 15, 2018
Messages
10,076
Reaction score
17,719
Location
US
I use the powdered form (purchased from Amazon) at 1% of oil weight. I dissolve it in some of my batch water.

If you can only find it as a liquid solution, you need to check the concentration and then do some math to figure out how much of the solution to use. For instance, if you have a 50% solution, you’d have to use that at 2% of oil weight to get the same amount of sorbitol that I get from using the powder at 1%. Hopefully that makes sense. 🤪
 
Joined
Jan 13, 2021
Messages
109
Reaction score
252
Location
Perth; Western Australia
Thank you so much both of you.

@ AliOop, the concentration is not available online, I'll need to call the supplier. Thank you so much for your information.

It appears that some have used 5% of total oil weight, as per link shared by Isg - no concentration specified.
 
Joined
Nov 15, 2018
Messages
10,076
Reaction score
17,719
Location
US
Yes, some people use quite a bit more. I am cheap like to be cost-effective, so I use the least amount needed to get the level of bubbles that I want.

My typical soap recipe has about 20% CO (or CO+PKO blend), plus 5% castor. Starting from there, I only need to use sorbitol at 1% of total oil weight to get really nice bubbles. If you use less (or more) of the bubble-making/bubble-supporting oils, or if you prefer more or less bubbles than I do, then you might use a different percent of sorbitol than I would.

The liquid sorbitol solutions that I've seen have always been 60%, but I'm in the US, so I don't want to assume you would have the same there in Oz. Hopefully your supplier responds soon, and hopefully they use 50% to make the math ever so much easier!! 😁
 
Joined
Jan 13, 2021
Messages
109
Reaction score
252
Location
Perth; Western Australia
Thank you AliOop.
I found out, it’s 70% so I’ll need to calculate.
Mine is 15% co; 5 each of PKO and castor.

So maybe I’ll try 2% of total oil weight and see how it goes, or I’ll calculate.
Just too busy atm to do the math offhand.

Thank you so much for your advice.
 
Top