Intro

This is the Coconut Oil Soap part of my blog series of giving you more exact soap recipes because y’all asked for them! This recipe is for coconut oil that is solid at room temperature, the basic kind that almost everyone gets from the grocery store.

I want to be clear that I’m not here to be a soap expert. I’m here to show you that you can take steps towards soap-making and other healthy changes in your home WITHOUT being an expert. I’ve been making all of my family’s soap for 4 years with the same simple recipe and I have personally not adjusted it for different fats or oils. I’ve just been okay that my soap comes out with slightly different textures each time lol.

However, many of you wanted my help formulating your recipes for more consistent bars of soap. Here are the calculations for a bar soap made with 100% coconut oil.

Coconut Oil Soap

They way coconut oil reacts with lye can make a particularly drying bar of soap. We don’t want a soap that will strip our skin and not moisturize at all! To remedy this issue, you want to aim for a 20-25% superfat when using 100% coconut oil. (This is higher the typical desirable superfat ranges of 5-15%).

Recipe for 100% Coconut Oil Soap

Materials

Vinegar
Eye protection
Stainless steel pot or bowl
Immersion blender
Kitchen scale
Soap mold

Ingredients**

8oz filtered water
22oz coconut oil, melted
3.2oz lye

Instructions

Melt your coconut oil (try to keep it under 120 degrees)
1. This recipe is for coconut oil that is solid at room temperature, also known as 76°F Coconut Oil
Pour 8oz water into pot
1. Tap water is fine as long as it’s not “hard” water
Pour 3.2oz lye into water and stir to combine
1. Go slowly, *don’t put your face directly over pot, fumes can be strong*
Pour 22oz melted coconut oil into pot and begin immersion blending
Keep stirring/blending until you get trace (pudding consistency)
Pour soap mix it into soap mold
Let cure for 1-2 weeks to solidify before cutting
Then cure cut soap for 1-2 more weeks before using (do zap test)

If you want more expert opinions on soap making, I think https://www.ellyseveryday.com/ has a wealth of useful information.

To calculate your own soap recipe with varying ratios: https://soapcalc.net/calculator

Types of Coconut Oil in SoapCalc.net

If you use a soap calculator, you will see different types of coconut oil to choose from. The numbers 76°F and 92°F for coconut oil in soap calculators like SoapCalc refer to the melting point temperature in degrees Fahrenheit of that specific type of oil.

76°F Coconut Oil: This is the most common, standard, and unrefined or refined coconut oil. It remains solid at room temperature and melts once it hits 76°F (24°C).
92°F Coconut Oil: This version has been hydrogenated, which changes its crystal structure and raises its melting point to 92°F (33°C). Soap makers in hot climates often use it so the oil stays solid at higher ambient room temperatures.
Fractionated Coconut Oil: This is liquid at room temperature because specific long-chain fatty acids are removed. It is rarely used for regular soap making because it behaves differently and yields poor lather/hardness properties.

Links for Tools and Supplies

For your convenience, here are the links to all of the tools/supplies I personally use! If you do not want to purchase on Amazon, another option would be to check Facebook Marketplace. Often, people are getting rid of their hobby items right when you are starting, so you can buy a whole bundle of supplies for much cheaper! Worth a check.

Happy soap making and remember, all glory to the One who created it all!

❤️ Rachel

Print Pin