Neem Oil for Soap Making
Neem Oil is a liquid specialty oil dominated by oleic (46%), palmitic (21%), stearic (16%). Usually added in smaller proportions for its label appeal and skin-feel contribution rather than as a recipe base.
Quick Facts
How Much Lye for Neem Oil?
With a SAP value of 0.138, fully saponifying neem oil takes 0.138 grams of sodium hydroxide per gram of oil (at 0% superfat):
| Oil amount | NaOH (0% superfat) | KOH (liquid soap) |
|---|---|---|
| 100 g | 13.8 g | 19.3 g |
| 500 g | 69 g | 96.5 g |
| 1000 g | 138 g | 193 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% neem oil:
Fatty Acid Profile
| Fatty acid | Percentage |
|---|---|
| Myristic | 2% |
| Palmitic | 21% |
| Stearic | 16% |
| Oleic | 46% |
| Linoleic | 12% |
Substitutes for Neem Oil
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 Neem Oil
The free Soaply calculator handles the lye math, water, superfat, and property predictions for any blend of 100 oils.
Open the lye calculatorMore Specialty Oils
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