I thought it would be interesting to write about some of the oils I use in my soap. After making soap for over 10 years I have found that different oils contribute different qualities.
Castor oil is derived from the seed of the plant. The castor plant is native to the southeastern Mediterranean basin, East Africa and India. India is the largest producer of castor oil followed by China and Brazil.
Traditionally, castor oil has many other uses. It is used as a laxative and to relieve stomache aches. It is also used as an industrial lubricant. Castor oil is also used to promote hair growth and is good for acne prone skin.
What makes castor oil different from other oils is the high concentration of ricinolein making it extremely thick and viscous.
In soapmaking, castor oil is invaluable. All of my soap contains castor oil. Like all oils you need to find the correct percentage to use. Too much castor oil will make your soap very soft and mushy. A little goes a long way unless you are making a shampoo bar. In shampoo bars a common usage rate can be as high as 25%. Soaps made with this much castor take much longer to cure. Shampoo bars take at least two months to harden.
In my regular bars I use 2-3% castor oil. It has natural emollient properties that adds conditioning qualities to the soap. The addition of castor oil creates rich, dense, thick bubbles. The biggest benefit that I see in my soap is that the lather is thick and luxurious.
Castor oil is one oil that I cannot go without!
