Teach Soap

I'm still planning out that first batch of CP soap, and I'm having a hard time finding Palm Oil. The only thing I can seem to get my hands on is RED Palm oil, which I have come to understand is the same thing, just unrefined. I am also under the impression that this will discolor my soap a slightly orange/red color. It's not a big deal for this batch as I had planned to color my soap to a nice burgandy shade, but I was wondering...where do you find refined palm oil that is less likely to discolor the batch? Do you order from a certain vendor online, or do you know of any grocery chain that would carry such an oil?

Most 'soap making supply' stores should carry it.
BB has some here http://www.brambleberry.com/Palm-Oil-P3210.aspx

since this is your first batch of CP why not use lard ( get it in any grocery store) it does the same thing in soap as palm oil. and no shipping charges , till you get the hang of making soap. just make sure you run your recipe through a lye calculator first cause the sap numbers might be slightly diffrent.

Thanks for the tip, I'm definitely going to try it. A lot more readily available and much less expensive.

also, palm oil is also made by a company called spectrum, and i buy it in the health food section of my regular grocery store, it's called "organic shortening".... kind of like an organic Crisco.... altho i don't think Crisco is palm oil. anyways, of you read the ingredients label, it will say something like 100% palm oil....

Hi Newmoon -

you can also try local Indian grocery stores...I believe they also call Palm oil "Vegetable Ghee" - or Whole Foods sell it in a tub.

Isn't Vegetable Ghee just the liquid portion of the oil and the solid parts removed? If so, that could make for a soft soap as it would change the SAP value.

What other oils/butters are you planning on using?

The recipe is:

8 oz Coconut Oil
8 oz Canola Oil
8 oz Lard
3.4 oz Lye
8 oz Water


The lard was originally Palm Oil in the recipe, but after running it through several calculators I verified that the amounts would work for either substance. Since I could find Lard more easily, that's what I purchased.

if you used olive oil instead of canola i think you'd have yourself a nice little recipe there.

I agree. Forget the canola. You could also use rice bran instead.

Now that you mention that I believe you are correct -

Well...it's made now, so hopefully it turns out nicely.