While Easy Homemade Soap got us started down the road, the art of soapmaking has so much more to offer. For starters, soapmakers refer to the “qualities” of a bar of soap. Stability and hardness contribute to a long-lasting bar of soap. A good lather is important in some instances (such as shaving soap). The moisturizing and conditioning qualities are discussed at a couple of levels. Many different ingredients contribute to these qualities (such as salt or goat milk), but one that can make a huge difference is the type of oil that you use.
Here’s a quick list of the qualities and the types of oil that affect them.
- Hardness, stability – palm, beef tallow, lard
- Lather – coconut, castor, palm kernel
- Moisturizing, conditioning – olive, canola, sunflower, soybean
Some oils provide more than one quality, for example, shea butter and coconut make hard bars of soap in addition to their moisturizing and lathering capabilities.
A check out this site to learn more about the qualities of soap making oils.
