{"id":43,"date":"2026-03-16T18:52:50","date_gmt":"2026-03-16T17:52:50","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.7virides.com\/cs\/suroviny\/kokosovy-olej-mydlo\/"},"modified":"2026-03-25T11:19:31","modified_gmt":"2026-03-25T10:19:31","slug":"kokosovy-olej-mydlo","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.7virides.com\/en\/suroviny\/kokosovy-olej-mydlo\/","title":{"rendered":"Coconut Oil in Soap: Guide and Recipes"},"content":{"rendered":"
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TL;DR:<\/strong> Coconut oil adds hardness and foam - but only in the right amount (25-35%) with the corresponding super fat. Above 40% without super fat, the soap dries out. For 100% coconut soap, 20% super fat is required.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

Coconut oil is the most commonly used oil in home soap making - and for very specific reasons. It adds a hardness, lather and cleaning power that other oils simply cannot provide to the same degree. But it can also be overdosed, resulting in a soap that dries out the skin more than rainwater after a bath.<\/p>\n

This page will tell you how coconut oil in soap works, why it's so popular, how to dose it correctly and what happens when you make it into a 100% recipe.<\/p>\n

Why coconut oil belongs in (almost) every recipe<\/h2>\n

Lauric acid: the foundation of everything<\/h3>\n

Coconut oil contains approximately 48-52 % lauric acid<\/strong> (lauric acid, C12:0). It is a short-chain saturated fatty acid and is responsible for three key properties of coconut soap:<\/p>\n

Hardness.<\/strong> Sodium laurate crystallizes rapidly and forms a solid structure. Soap with a good coconut oil content is hard when removed from the mould - unlike pure olive soap, which tends to be soft for weeks.<\/p>\n

Big, thick bubbles.<\/strong> Lauric acid produces a big, fast lather - the type that most people associate with \"proper soap“. Olive or sunflower oil alone produces a fine, creamy lather, but without significant bubbles.<\/p>\n

Cleaning power.<\/strong> Shorter chain fatty acids are more effective in removing dirt and grease. Coconut soap cleans well. However, too much coconut can clean too much - and thus remove natural skin oils.<\/p>\n

Myristic and caprylic acid<\/h3>\n

Coconut oil also contains 18-20 % myristic acid<\/strong> (myristic acid, C14:0), which adds foaming and hardness, and small proportions of caprylic and capric acids (C8, C10), which further contribute to the cleaning properties.<\/p>\n

How much coconut oil to add to a recipe?<\/h2>\n

The correct dosage determines the quality of the soap. This is the most common question and the answer depends on the purpose of the soap:<\/p>\n

15-20 %<\/strong> - minimum for a good contribution to foam and hardness. Suitable for very mild soaps (for babies, sensitive skin). Soap will be less hard and lather less dramatic.<\/p>\n

25\u201330%<\/strong> - standard amount in recipes for normal skin. Optimal balance between lather, hardness and gentleness. This is where most recipes start.<\/p>\n

35-40 %<\/strong> - A stronger cleansing soap, suitable for normal to oily skin or as a hand soap. Super fat is important here (5-8%).<\/p>\n

50-65 %<\/strong> - distinctive cleaning soaps, laundry bars, camper soaps. Super fat required (20% for 100% coconut soap).<\/p>\n

The golden rule:<\/strong> The more coconut oil, the higher the super fat you need to keep the soap from becoming drying.<\/p>\n

What is superfat and why is it essential?<\/h3>\n

Super fat (overfatting) is the deliberate addition of slightly less lye than would be needed for 100% saponification of all oils. This leaves some of the oils unsaponified and creates a conditioning layer in the finished soap.<\/p>\n