8. DOS Sunflower soap with salt and baking soda small batch test (3 round pieces) 23/11/2025
Recipe Instructions
Just 3 circular bars approx 70g each in my muffin silicon baking tray.
When I added the baking powder and salt, it got a bit lumpy, so I blended the lye with the stick blender, and then strained the remainder of the lumps out and carefully disposed of them.
4-6 weeks cure time, unmold and cut 24-48 hours after pour
Ready after Jan 4th 2026
These experimental soaps developed rancidity (DOS - dosification of oils) due to sunflower oil's high polyunsaturated fats, accelerated by ~3.5 months curing in a kitchen environment. Specific issues stem from oil instability, improper additives, and storage. Primary Cause: Rancidity (Yellowing and Smell) Sunflower oil's fatty acid profile (70% linoleic acid, iodine value ~133) makes it highly prone to oxidation, causing yellowing (from oxidized compounds) and off-smells like "sweaty" or rancid within 1-3 months, even at 5% superfat. Kitchen exposure to light, heat, and air on a wire rack worsened this; high-oleic sunflower (low PUFA) is needed for stability.
Gritty texture from undissolved sea salt (2.87% of oils—far above 0.5-1% safe level, causing abrasion) and baking soda reaction with lye, forming sodium carbonate crystals/grittiness. Terrible smell intensified by additives, accelerating moisture retention/oxidation
Prevention Advice
Switch to high-oleic sunflower or blend with stable oils (e.g., 20-30% coconut/palm for hardness). Dissolve salt/sodium lactate in lye water (≤1%); add baking soda post-trace or avoid in CP. Store wrapped in cool, dark place. Test fresh oils and cure 4-6 weeks minimum
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Comments
Comment count:
eileen-2
3/8/2026 10:07:37 PM
3/8/2026 10:07:37 PM
These experimental soaps developed rancidity (DOS - dosification of oils) due to sunflower oil's high polyunsaturated fats, accelerated by ~3.5 months curing in a kitchen environment. Specific issues stem from oil instability, improper additives, and storage. Primary Cause: Rancidity (Yellowing and Smell) Sunflower oil's fatty acid profile (70% linoleic acid, iodine value ~133) makes it highly prone to oxidation, causing yellowing (from oxidized compounds) and off-smells like "sweaty" or rancid within 1-3 months, even at 5% superfat. Kitchen exposure to light, heat, and air on a wire rack worsened this; high-oleic sunflower (low PUFA) is needed for stability.
Soap Properties
Highlighted gray ranges represent recommended ranges for each property.
100
80
60
40
20
0
INS: 63 (low)
iodine: 133 (high)
Calculated Values for Oils and Preferences
| Superfat % | 5% |
| Saturated | 15.33 Gram(s) |
| Mono-Unsaturated | 22.29 Gram(s) |
| Poly-Unsaturated | 98.92 Gram(s) |
| Saturated:Unsaturated Ratio | 88.78:11.22 |
| Lye concentration | 100% |
| Weight Unit | Gram(s) |
| Soap type | solid |
Fatty Acid Profile
| Oleic | 16% |
| Linoleic | 70% |
| Linolenic | 1% |
| Ricinoleic | 0% |
| Lauric | 0% |
| Myristic | 0% |
| Palmitic | 7% |
| Stearic | 4% |
Recommended Additive Amounts
Swipe on table to see all values
For Advanced Soapmakers
| Sodium Lactate (60%)
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| Recommended Essential/Fragrance Oil | 6.10 Gram(s) | ||||||
| Ascorbic Acid
| 1.39 Gram(s) | ||||||
| Extra Lye to Neutralize Ascorbic Acid for A.A. | NaOH: 0.28 Gram(s) | ||||||
| Lactic Acid
| 1.04 Gram(s) | ||||||
| Extra Lye to Neutralize Lactic Acid for L.A. | NaOH: 0.62 Gram(s) | ||||||
| Tetrasodium EDTA
| 1.05 Gram(s) | ||||||
| Sodium Citrate
| 1.81 - 5.43 Gram(s) | ||||||
| Potassium Citrate
| 2.23 - 6.69 Gram(s) | ||||||
| Rosemary Oleoresin (ROE)
| 0.06 - 0.07 Gram(s) | ||||||
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Citric Acid Powder (anhydrous) |
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Extra Lye to Neutralize Citric Acid Powder for C.A. |
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