Oil reference

Palm Kernel Oil in Soap

SAP value, how much lye it needs, its fatty-acid profile, and what it brings to a bar.

Palm Kernel Oil has a saponification (SAP) value of 0.1761 for NaOH (bar soap) and 0.247 for KOH (liquid soap). It's typically used at 5-20% of the oils.

How much lye for Palm Kernel Oil?

Lye at 0% superfat = oil weight × SAP. Apply your superfat to reduce it (e.g. ×0.95 for 5%).

Palm Kernel OilNaOH (0% SF)NaOH (5% SF)KOH (0% SF)
100 g17.6 g16.7 g24.7 g
250 g44 g41.8 g61.8 g
500 g88.1 g83.6 g123.5 g

What Palm Kernel Oil does in soap

PropertyValue
Hardness74
Cleansing64
Conditioning17
Bubbly lather64
Creamy lather10
Longevity10

Values are the oil's solo contribution (SoapCalc-style property model). Real bars blend several oils — build the full recipe to see the combined profile.

Fatty-acid profile

Fatty acid%
lauric48%
myristic16%
palmitic8%
stearic2%
oleic15%
linoleic2%

Build a recipe with Palm Kernel Oil in SoapCalc — it computes the exact lye for your oils at any superfat and saves the recipe. See all soap-making oils or the SAP value chart.