Palm Kernel Oil

Palm Kernel Oil is expeller pressed from the fruit seed kernels of the Elaeis Guineensis tree, or as it is more often referred to, the African Palm tree.

As with Palm Oil, ask your supplier about their sourcing of this controversial oil. They should be able to tell you that their oil comes from a plantation that adheres to sustainable harvesting practices.

If they can't, don't fret...coconut and babassu oil both perform in much the same manner when used in a soap formula and can be used instead.

Palm Kernel Oil Properties

• This oil is high in lauric, myristic, and palmitic acids which will produce a hard, cleansing bar with a full lather when used in a soap making formula.

• Speeds up trace and causes soap formulas to saponify quickly. 

• As with coconut oil, up to 30% of this oil in your soap recipe is usually enough as it can become drying when used in volume.

• If you want to use more than the recommended 30%, be sure to superfat the soap up to 20% to counter the drying effects. As with most soap making ingredients, you will have to experiment to see what works best for your skin type.

Lauric	Myristic	Palmitic	Stearic	Ricinoleic	Oleic	Linoleic	Linolenic
47	14	9			18
Hardness
Cleansing
Full Lather				F/L
		Stable Lather
				Conditioning

This information is provided for reference use only and is not meant to substitute the advice of a licensed health care professional.

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