About
Palm oil, taken from the pulp of the oil palm fruit, contains almost as many saturated fatty acids (44% palmitic acid) as unsaturated ones (39% oleic acid). It makes a hard, long-lasting, mild soap with a creamy rather than bubbly lather. That is why it has long been the base of industrial soaps and of many handmade recipes, combined with olive and coconut oils.
It is generally used at 20 to 40% of the oils. On its own it makes a hard soap that lathers little.
Its production is linked to heavy deforestation, particularly in South-East Asia. If you use it, choose oil from certified sustainable supply chains (segregated RSPO or organic). To do without it, it is commonly replaced by tallow or lard, or by a blend of butters (shea, cocoa): use the calculator to adjust the lye.
Not to be confused with palm kernel oil, extracted from the kernel of the fruit, which is a lauric oil similar to coconut oil.
SAP value: 199 mg KOH/g, i.e. about 135 g of sodium hydroxide for 1 kg at 5% superfat.
Recommended usage rate
From 20 to 40% of the oils in the recipe.
Values
How much lye for 1 kg?
For 1,000 g of Palm Oil with 5% superfat:
These amounts apply to a soap made with this oil only. For a blend of oils, use the calculator.
Fatty acid profile
Soap qualities (oil used alone)
Values for a soap made with 100% of this oil, compared with the recommended range for a complete recipe.
Oils with a similar profile
Fats whose fatty acid composition is closest to this one: useful to find a substitute.