About
Sweet almond oil is one of the most popular "skin care" oils in soap making. Rich in oleic acid (71%) and linoleic acid (18%), it brings mildness and comfort, and gives a fine, creamy, stable lather rather than a big bubbly one.
Like olive oil, on its own it makes a soft soap that lathers little: it is usually used at 5 to 20% of the oils, alongside a lauric oil for lather and a saturated butter or fat for hardness. It traces slowly and suits recipes for dry or sensitive skin and baby soaps.
Its linoleic acid content makes it slightly more prone to rancidity than olive oil: above 20%, use fresh oil, store it somewhere cool and add an antioxidant (vitamin E). As it costs more than olive oil, it is often used in small proportions.
SAP value: 195 mg KOH/g, i.e. about 132 g of sodium hydroxide for 1 kg of oil at 5% superfat.
Recommended usage rate
From 5 to 20% of the oils in the recipe.
Values
How much lye for 1 kg?
For 1,000 g of Sweet Almond 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.