Traverse Bay Bath and Body Avocado Oil Soap Making Supplies Cold Pressed 7 lbs Gallon Review (2026)

What this avocado oil is

Traverse Bay Bath and Body markets this as avocado oil for soap making specifically, cold pressed and described as a higher quality oil with a deeper natural color rather than a clear, heavily refined cosmetic grade. It ships in a 7 pound gallon size, and like the rest of the brand's soap oils, it is meant to be weighed on a digital scale rather than measured by volume, since cold process recipes are formulated by oil weight. Being labeled specifically for soap making, rather than sold as a general cosmetic carrier oil, signals the grade and packaging are aimed at soap formulators rather than a broader skincare audience.

Why soap makers reach for avocado oil

According to Traverse Bay, avocado oil is an emollient, highly penetrating oil containing vitamins A and E, a nutritional profile the company says makes it well suited to skin care recipes for dry, dehydrated, and mature skin. In soap making specifically, the seller describes avocado oil as contributing to a creamy lather, and it is typically used as a superfatting or conditioning oil within a broader recipe rather than as the main structural oil, since soap makers usually pair it with harder oils like coconut or palm for a firm, long lasting bar. Many cold process formulas keep avocado oil to a modest share of total oil weight, letting the harder oils carry most of the bar's structure while avocado adds its conditioning benefit.

Handling a gallon of avocado oil

Avocado oil, like other unsaturated plant oils, can go rancid over time, particularly with repeated exposure to air, heat, and light once the container is opened, so a 7 pound gallon is a real commitment for anyone who does not soap on a frequent schedule. Traverse Bay's own guidance is that its products are for external use only unless otherwise indicated, and the practical way to manage a gallon size is decanting a working portion into a smaller bottle for weighing, while keeping the bulk of the container sealed and stored somewhere cool and away from direct light between soap sessions. A permanent marker note on the jug with the date it was opened is a simple way to track how quickly it is being used.

Bulk size versus smaller avocado oil bottles

Buying a 7 pound gallon lowers the cost per ounce substantially compared with avocado oil sold in smaller bottles, which benefits a soap maker or seller using it regularly across many batches. For an occasional hobbyist, though, the rancidity risk of a large, slow-to-use container usually outweighs the per-ounce savings, since half-used bulk oil that turns rancid before it is finished ends up wasted regardless of its lower unit price. Matching the container size to actual soaping frequency, rather than chasing the lowest unit cost alone, is the more reliable way to get real value from either option here.

Verdict and who should buy less

This cold pressed avocado oil suits a regular soap maker who wants a deeper, less processed grade specifically packaged for soap use and can work through a gallon before it turns rancid. Its emollient, vitamin-rich profile makes it a good superfatting choice for bars aimed at dry or mature skin. Anyone soaping only occasionally, or new to using avocado oil in a recipe, is better served starting with a smaller bottle, both to limit rancidity risk and to confirm how the oil performs in their own recipes before buying at gallon scale.

Frequently asked questions