Coconut Oil, Refined, 5 l

Refined coconut oil is a base emollient for the oil phase and one of the most widely used oils in soap making. Refining and deodorisation have removed the coconut scent, so it does not interfere with the product's fragrance and allows both fragrance and essential oils to shine. The 5 l bucket packaging is intended for those who use it in larger quantities: soap makers, body butter producers and small workshops.

The oil is pressed from the flesh of coconuts (Cocos nucifera). It has food-grade quality, making it suitable for the kitchen as well.

What the oil brings to the formulation

• Skin softening and nourishment – saturated fatty acids form a film on the skin surface that slows water evaporation and reduces the feeling of tightness. This is most noticeable on dry skin and during the winter months.
• Support for the skin barrier – the oil replenishes lipids between skin cells and helps the skin retain moisture more effectively. Hydration is therefore indirect, through reducing water loss.
• Hair conditioning – lauric acid has a small molecule and penetrates the hair shaft. In masks and pre-wash oil treatments it adds shine and smoothness to dry and damaged hair.
• Consistency without wax – in anhydrous products it acts as a solidifying component. It firms a balm or butter without adding wax and softens instantly on contact with the skin.
• Neutral scent – the deodorised oil does not mask added fragrances, making it suitable for products with a carefully composed perfume as well as unscented products.

Use in formulation

The oil belongs in the oil phase. In emulsions it melts together with other fats and waxes. The recommended processing temperature does not exceed 80 °C, which poses no issue in standard emulsification. In anhydrous balms and butters it is added warm, or whipped into the blend as the mass cools. In both rinse-off and leave-on products it is usable across the full dosage range, from 1 % as a supplementary ingredient to 100 % in a pure oil product. In water-based systems it is stable over a pH range of 4.5 – 8.5.

In cold process soap, coconut oil is one of the essential raw materials. It gives the bar hardness and a rich lather that forms even in harder water. At the same time it has high cleansing power, so soap with a high proportion of it can dry out the skin. In typical recipes it therefore makes up a smaller portion of the oil blend. Its saponification value differs from that of liquid oils, so always recalculate the amount of hydroxide in a soap-making calculator.

Suitable for products such as

• Cold and hot process soap – bar hardness and lather.
• Body and whipped butters – in combination with shea or cocoa butter it gives a firmer yet easily spreadable consistency.
• Lip balms and stick balms – together with wax it forms a base that melts on contact.
• Hair masks and pre-wash oils – for dry and brittle hair, applied before shampoo and then washed out.
• Massage blends and massage candles – as a solid component that glides well once melted.
• Creams and body lotions – as part of the oil phase, usually combined with lighter oils so the result is not heavy.
• Kitchen – baking, frying and cold cooking without a coconut flavour.

Good to know

The composition consists predominantly of saturated fatty acids, mainly lauric acid, and this determines the oil's behaviour. At room temperature it is solid to semi-solid; at body temperature it melts quickly and spreads easily on the skin, with a nourishing feel and no stickiness.

The oil is insoluble in water. It cannot be incorporated into tonics, hydrolats and other water-based products without an emulsifier or solubiliser. It dissolves in oils and alcohol.

Pure oil products without water do not require a preservative. The predominance of saturated fatty acids makes the oil resistant to oxidation; yellowing and rancidity due to oxidation affect it far later than oils rich in polyunsaturated fatty acids. In blends with sensitive oils, an antioxidant such as tocopherol is still advisable for the sake of the other ingredients.

Coconut oil has its limitations on the face. It is suitable for normal and dry skin. For oily skin and skin prone to clogged pores, only a low proportion or a lighter oil is recommended in leave-on products.

Compared to virgin coconut oil, the refined version is free of coconut scent and flavour. In a recipe it behaves the same way in terms of hardness and lather in soap. Virgin oil retains its aroma and influences the finished product with it, which is sometimes desirable and sometimes not.

Frequently asked questions