Oils & Butters

Oils and butters decide hardness, lather and how conditioning a bar feels. Balancing hard oils, soft oils and a lather booster creates a long-lasting, gentle soap.

A natural, eco-friendly soap set with eucalyptus in a wicker basket, perfect for organic lifestyle promotions — Photo: Feyza Yıldırım on Pexels

Best Shea Butter for Soap Making

Shea butter for soap making compared: raw, refined and organic picks, how each affects scent and color, and how much to use (5 to 15 percent of your oils).

Best Coconut Oil for Soap Making

Find the best coconut oil for soap making and big, bubbly lather. Learn what to check for grade, melt point, and purity before you buy.

Best Olive Oil for Soap Making

Compare the best olive oils for soap making and gentle Castile bars. See what to check for grade, purity, and freshness before you buy.

Best Cocoa Butter for Soap Making

Compare the best cocoa butter for soap making and hard, moisturizing bars. See what to check for grade, scent, and purity before you buy.

Best Castor Oil for Soap Making

Find the best castor oil for soap making and creamy, stable lather. Learn what to check for grade, purity, and viscosity before you buy.

Best Palm Oil for Soap Making

Compare the best palm oil for soap making and hard, stable bars. See what to check for sustainability, grade, and purity before you buy.

Best Sweet Almond Oil for Soap

Find the best sweet almond oil for soap making and silky, conditioning bars. Learn what to check for grade, purity, and freshness before you buy.

Best Avocado Oil for Soap

Compare the best avocado oil for soap making and rich, gentle bars. See what to check for grade, color, and purity before you buy.

Best Mango Butter for Soap

Find the best mango butter for soap making and smooth, conditioning bars. Learn what to check for grade, refinement, and purity before you buy.

How to choose

Balance hard oils like coconut and palm with soft oils like olive.
Keep coconut oil around 30% or less to avoid drying bars.
Add castor oil at about 5-10% for lather.
Run every recipe through a lye calculator.

Common questions

What oils make a hard bar of soap?

Coconut, palm, tallow, lard, cocoa butter and shea butter add hardness. Olive oil makes a gentler bar that needs a longer cure.

What oils are most conditioning in soap?

Olive, avocado, sweet almond and butters such as shea add mildness and a conditioning feel.