Palm Kernel Oil for Soap Making
Palm Kernel Oil is a hard hard oil dominated by lauric (49%), myristic (16%), oleic (15%). Very high in lauric and myristic acids, it makes a hard, fast-lathering bar but is drying on its own, so most makers pair it with conditioning oils.
Quick Facts
How Much Lye for Palm Kernel Oil?
With a SAP value of 0.176, fully saponifying palm kernel oil takes 0.176 grams of sodium hydroxide per gram of oil (at 0% superfat):
| Oil amount | NaOH (0% superfat) | KOH (liquid soap) |
|---|---|---|
| 100 g | 17.6 g | 24.6 g |
| 500 g | 88 g | 123 g |
| 1000 g | 176 g | 246 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% palm kernel oil:
Fatty Acid Profile
| Fatty acid | Percentage |
|---|---|
| Lauric | 49% |
| Myristic | 16% |
| Palmitic | 8% |
| Stearic | 2% |
| Oleic | 15% |
| Linoleic | 3% |
Substitutes for Palm Kernel 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 Palm Kernel Oil
The free Soaply calculator handles the lye math, water, superfat, and property predictions for any blend of 100 oils.
Open the lye calculatorMore Hard Oils
Soap Making Tips in Your Inbox
Get practical tips, new recipes, and guides. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.