GUIDE TO S.A.P. VALUES IN SOAP MAKING

SAP values are the traditional numeric values that allow you to calculate the precise amount of sodium hydroxide required to fully saponify a given weight of oil/s. Below are both the SAP values of each oil you are likely to use, together with a guide to the mathemetics needed. There is also a simpler to use Saponification Chart further below which allows you to simply multiply the number of Ounces/Grams of each oil by a factor to give you the amount of sodium hydroxide in Ounces/Grams. If you need to convert ounces to grams simply multipy by 28.35.

Water is not a precise measurement. When calculating the amount of water to use in a soap recipe work on approximately 30-35% of the total weight of other ingredients used. i.e. 4lb of oils and 8.2oz sodium hydroxide will require approximately 1lb 8oz (1.5lb) of water.

SAP VALUES OF BASE OILS

Almond (sweet): 192.5
Apricot Kernel: 190.0
Avocado: 187.5
Babassu: 247.0
Beef Tallow: 197.0
Borage: 188.0
Calendula: 190.0
Castor: 180.3
Cocoa Butter: 193.8
Coconut: 268.0

Corn: 192.0
Evening Primrose: 191.0
Hazelnut: 195.0
Hemp Seed: 192.8
Jojoba: 97.5
Kukui Nut: 190.0
Lard: 194.6
Macadamia Nut: 195.0
Neem: 194.5
Olive: 189.7

 Palm Kernel: 219.9
Palm: 199.1
Peanut: 192.1
Pumpkin Seed: 193.0
Rapeseed: 174.7
Rosehip Seed: 193.0
Safflower: 192.0
Sesame Seed: 187.9
Shea Butter: 180.0
Soybean: 190.6

Sunflower Seed: 188.7
Wheatgerm: 185.0

Waxes

Beeswax: 88-100
Lanolin: 82-130
Lecithin: 110-140

HOW TO USE

To calculate the SAP value for a combination of oils first you need to calculate what percentage of the whole mixture of oils each oil makes up. For example. A mixture of oils consisting of 2 Lb Olive Oil: 1Lb 4oz Coconut Oil: 12oz Palm Oil will be: 50%Olive Oil: 31.25% Coconut Oil: 18.75% Palm Oil. Representing all the oils as 1, each percentage then becomes: 0.5: 0.3125: 0.1875

Next you multiply each figure by the Value in the table for each oil and add them all together. This will be:
0.5 (189.7) + 0.3125 (268) + 0.1875 (199.1) = 215.93 and divide by 1000 = 0.21593

Next, multiply the total 4Lb of oils by this figure:
4Lb x 0.21593 = 0.86Lb of sodium hydroxide.

Because SAP values pre-date our use of sodium hydroxide in soapmaking we have to make an adjustment. SAP values are for using potassuim hydroxide. To convert simply multiply the figure by 40/56.1:
0.86 x 40/56.1 = 0.61Lb

To convert into Ounces, multiply by 16: 0.61 x 16 = 9.76oz

Finally, as most of us work in grams this side of the Atlantic, convert this figure by multiplying by 28.35:
9.76 x 28.35 = 276 grams

Therefore, to produce a fully saponified soap using 2Lb Olive Oil: 1Lb 4oz Coconut Oil and 12oz of Palm Oil you will need 276 grams of Sodium Hydroxide.

To superfat your soap, simply discount this figure. As a guide, between 5 and 10% discount will produce a very good superfatted soap, i.e. 250g will be a satisfactory amount to achieve a good superfatted soap formula

 

SAPONIFICATION CHART (SODIUM HYDROXIDE)

As an alternative to using traditional SAP values, the following chart can be used. Each figure is a multiplication factor. Simply multiply the quantity of oil/s by the figure for that oil to arrive at the amount of sodium hydroxide required to fully saponify that oil. If you're working in grams the figure you get will be in grams. If you're working in Lbs & Oz the figure you get will be in Oz and fractions of Oz. If you need to convert Oz into Grams, multiply the resulting figure by 28.35. When working in combinations of oils, work out the figure for each oil separately and then add them together.

Almond (Sweet): 0.136
Apricot kernel: 0.135
Arachis: 0.136
Avocado: 0.133
Babassu: 0.175
Beef Tallow: 0.1405
Borage Oil: 0.136
Brazil Nut Oil: 0.175
Butterfat (cow): 0.1619
Butterfat )goat): 0.1672
Camelia oil: 0.136
Castor: 0.1286
Chicken fat: 0.1389
Chinese Bean: 0.135
Cocoa Butter: 0.137
Coconut (refined): 0.190
Coconut (virgin): 0.1946
Cod Liver Oil: 0.1326
Coffee Seed Oil: 0.130
Colza: 0.124
Corn (Maize): 0.136
Cottonseed: 0.1386
Deer Tallow: 0.1379

Earthnut: 0.136
Emu oil: 0.135
Evening Primrose: 0.136
Flaxseed: 0.1357
Gigely Tree: 0.133
Goat Tallow: 0.1383
Goose Fat: 0.1369
Grapeseed: 0.1265
Grapefruit Seed Oil: 0.123-0.135
Hazelnut: 0.1356
Hemp Seed: 0.1345
Herring Oil: 0.136
Jojoba: 0.069
Kapok: 0.137
Katchung: 0.136
Kukui Nut: 0.135
Lard: 0.138
Linseed: 0.1357
Loccu: 0.134
Macadamia Nut: 0.139
Mango Butter: 0.135
Mink Oil: 0.140
Mustard Seed Oil: 0.1241

 Myrtle oil: 0.069
Neat's Foot Oil: 0.1359
Neem: 0.1387
Niger Seed Oil: 0.1355
Nutmeg Butter: 0.116
Olive Oil: 0.134
Olive Butter: 0.185
Palm Kernel: 0.156
Palm: 0.141
Peanut: 0.136
Perilla: 0.1369
Pistachio Oil: 0.135
Poppy Seed Oil: 0.1383
Pork Tallow: 0.138
Pumpkin Seed: 0.1331
Ramic: 0.124
Rape Seed (Canola): 0.124
Rice Bran: 0.128
Ricinus: 0.1286
Safflower: 0.136
Sardine Oil: 0.135
Sesame Seed: 0.133
Sunflower: 0.134

Shea (Karite) Butter: 0.128
Sheeps Tallow: 0.1383
Soybean: 0.135
Sunflower: 0.134
Tung: 0.1377
Vegetable Shortening (hydrogenated mixed vegetable oils): 0.136
Venison Fat: 0.139
Walnut: 0.1353
Wheatgerm: 0.131

Waxes

Beeswax: 0.069
Carnauba Wax: 0.069
Lanolin: 0.0741

HOW TO USE

To use this simple chart, simply multiply the weight of each oil in Ounces by the value for that oil in the table above. This will give the amount of Sodium Hydroxide required to fully saponify that amount of that particular oil in Ounces. To convert that figure into grams, multiply by 28.35.

For combinations of oils, each oil should be calculated separately and then the figures added together to give the overall figure for the combination.