Grapeseed Oil - has a light, satiny feel. Absorbs very well. Great for lotion. Offers some astringent properties and is good for oily & acne prone skin. A baby safe oil.
Olive Oil - Great for dry and irritated skin. A greasier oil in lotions, so use at lower concentrations. A baby safe oil. Creates a soap with a conditioning and stable lather (thin lather). This is the oil used to make castile soap (used at 100%).
Avocado Oil - Contains Vitamins A, B1, B2, D, E, and Beta Carotene. It is great for dry skin. Baby safe. Only use about 10-20% in soap. It contains a large amount of unsaponifiables (parts of the oil that do not turn into soap, so offer moisturizing properties), so it will make a softer bar.
Sweet Almond Oil - Softens and reconditions the skin. Contains proteins and vitamin D. Baby safe, although many people are weary to use it since it is a nut.
Hempseed Oil - is high in Omega fatty acids and proteins. The refined odor has next to no odor or colour; unrefined it has a strong odor and is a dark brown. This oil saponifies slowing in soap and should be used in smaller concentration. It produces a stable and conditioning lather.
Apricot Kernel Oil - Great for all skin types. It's rich and nourishing. Used in antiaging lotions. Produces a stable lather in soap.
Hazelnut Oil - Has astringent properties. Is deeply penetrating and stimulates the circulatory system. Used in antiaging lotions. Produces a stable and conditioning lather. Very slow to saponify, so use in small amounts or as a superfatting oil (add when adding essential oils and other additives).
Evening Primrose Oil - Has high levels of GLA essential fatty acids. Great for dry and mature skin, as well as eczema. Soothes inflamation, so is good for arthritis. Great for dandruff. In soap, use as a superfatting oil. Add 1tsp with essential oils per lb. of soap.
Calendula Oil - This is an herbal infusion, usually in olive oil. It has antioxidant, antiseptic, anti-inflammatory and regenerating properties, and is great for aiding in wound healing. This is fantastic for salves, lotions, and soap. Baby safe. For soap making, use at 10% or use it as a superfatting oil at 5mL per lb of soap.
Coconut Oil - Solid at room temperature. I incorporate this oil into all my soap except castile to create a hard, cleansing bar with great lather. Creates a quick trace. Use up to 30% in soap for great moisturizing properties.
Palm Oil - Rich in palmitic acid, vitamin E, vitamin K and magnesium has antioxidant properties. Great for use in soap to create a hard bar with great lather. Helps to speed up saponification. Use up to 40% in soap. Please obtain your palm oil from companies who purchase from sustainable forests, as palm trees are becoming endangered.
Cocoa Butter - Heals and moisturizes damaged skin. It is often used in pregnancy to keep the skin supple and avoid stretch marks. It is great in lotion bars, lip balms, body butters and soaps. It contains a high amount of antioxidants, making it slow to go rancid. In soap, it is best to use with an unsaturated fat like olive oil, as it has a slow absorption rate. Use at 5-15% or as a superfatting ingredient at trace (5mL per lb. of soap). This makes for a hard bar with a stable, conditioning lather.
Shea Butter - Has protecting and emollient properties. Rich in cinnamon acid and protects the skin from UV rays. Often used in massage butters, as a moisturizing agent in soaps and shaving creams, and to treat minor skin wounds and irritations. Has a large amount of unsaponifiables, so use smaller amounts in order to maintain a hard bar. Can be used in the base oils or as a superfatting oil (5mL per lb of soap).
Castor Oil - This oil is a humectant (draws moisture from air to skin). It offers conditioning and softening skincare properties. It also creates a great barrier between skin and elements (great for baby bum balms). In soap, it produces a stable lather and will speed up the saponification process resulting in a quicker trace. The lather will be quite bubbly with larger amounts. Be careful when making shampoo bars, as the soap may harden quicker than you can get it in the mold. I mold this at a light trace. For shampoo bars, use at around 20%. In regular bars, use at 5-10% or as a superfatting agent (5mL per lb. of soap).
Note: I generally use 25% coconut oil and 18.75% palm oil in my soap recipes. The rest is made up of liquid oils. Many soap makers use just olive oil for thier liquid.
Note: Superfatting is the act of adding a carrier oil during trace. It helps preserve the properties of the oil from destruction from the lye. This is often done with expensive and nutrient rich oils.
