Lanolin for Soap Making
Lanolin is a liquid animal fat dominated by . Its mixed fatty-acid profile contributes a bit of everything, so it works flexibly in mid-size proportions across many recipe styles.
Quick Facts
How Much Lye for Lanolin?
With a SAP value of 0.076, fully saponifying lanolin takes 0.076 grams of sodium hydroxide per gram of oil (at 0% superfat):
| Oil amount | NaOH (0% superfat) | KOH (liquid soap) |
|---|---|---|
| 100 g | 7.6 g | 10.6 g |
| 500 g | 38 g | 53 g |
| 1000 g | 76 g | 106 g |
Real recipes use a superfat discount (typically 5%) and almost always blend several oils. Always run your full recipe through the Soaply lye calculator rather than weighing lye from a single-oil table.
Predicted Bar Properties
Derived from the fatty acid profile, for a bar made of 100% lanolin:
Fatty Acid Profile
| Fatty acid | Percentage |
|---|
Substitutes for Lanolin
The closest matches by fatty acid profile, which is what actually determines how an oil behaves in soap. Swap by weight and re-run the lye calculation, since SAP values differ:
Build a recipe with Lanolin
The free Soaply calculator handles the lye math, water, superfat, and property predictions for any blend of 100 oils.
Open the lye calculatorMore Animal Fats
Soap Making Tips in Your Inbox
Get practical tips, new recipes, and guides. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.