Spec sheet
Palm Oil (RSPO)
Elaeis guineensis
hard
trace neutral
max 50%
workhorse
01
Saponification & chemical numbers
- NaOH SAP (pure)
- 0.1420g NaOH / g oil
- KOH SAP (pure)
- 0.1990g KOH / g oil
- KOH SAP (90% reagent)
- 0.2211g 90% KOH / g oil
- Iodine value
- 53g I₂ / 100 g
- INS
- 145KOH SAP − IV
02
Fatty acid spectrum
- LauricC12:00.0%
- MyristicC14:01.0%
- PalmiticC16:044.0%
- StearicC18:05.0%
- RicinoleicC18:1-OH0.0%
- OleicC18:139.0%
- LinoleicC18:210.0%
- LinolenicC18:30.0%
- UnlistedC8–C10+1.0%
- Saturated
- Monounsaturated
- Polyunsaturated
- Hydroxy
03
What it does in the bar
Hardness
Lauric + myristic + palmitic + stearic · target 29–54
Cleansing
Lauric + myristic · target 12–22
Conditioning
Oleic + linoleic + linolenic + ricinoleic · target 44–69
Bubbly lather
Lauric + myristic + ricinoleic · target 14–46
Creamy lather
Palmitic + stearic + ricinoleic · target 16–48
Longevity
Palmitic + stearic · target 25–50
Max 50% of oils
hardening
- Recommended maximum 50% of total oils.
- High palmitic/stearic — accelerates hardness and can crack if overused.
04
INCI names for the label
Pre-saponification INCI
Elaeis Guineensis (Palm) Oil
The oil left over as superfat, by name.
Post-saponification NaOH salt
Sodium Palmate
How to list it on a NaOH soap label.
Post-saponification KOH salt
Potassium Palmate
How to list it on a KOH soap label.
Head-to-head: can you swap it?
Library
- Coconut Oil (76 deg)0.1830
- Olive Oil0.1340
- Castor Oil0.1280
- Shea Butter (Unrefined)0.1280
- Cocoa Butter0.1370
- Babassu Oil0.1750
- Mango Seed Butter0.1371
- Sweet Almond Oil0.1360
- Avocado Oil0.1330
- Rice Bran Oil0.1340
- Beef Tallow0.1410
- Lard0.1390
- High Oleic Sunflower Oil0.1350
- High Oleic Safflower Oil0.1360
- Canola Oil0.1330
- Jojoba Oil0.0660
- Hemp Seed Oil0.1370
- Kokum Butter0.1370
- Neem Oil0.1387
- Palm Kernel Oil0.1770
- Sunflower Oil0.1340