Teach Soap

Hi All,
I have a local source for sunflower oil. I've never used it in soaping, though. Having a local source is nice and green, and could save me on shipping.

I've read up a bit on the oil's qualities, but was curious about any experience out there with it.

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Lesli Sagan
Avital's Apiaries
Like us: http://www.facebook.com/AvitalsApiaries

I use high oleic sunflower instead of olive oil. I can get a good hard bar of soap, no problem.

I've used refined, unrefined, and hi-oleic sunflower oil and really like it. Sunflower oil and Shea butter sure play nicely together!

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Linda

I learn so much when I can't leave well enough alone!

I have tried it... sort of. My first bars are still aging a little bit, so I have not tried the soap yet. The process was not affected by the change to sunflower oil, so no increase in acceleration or ricing or seizing. My soaps seem to be curing as they normally would have progressed!

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Susie
Sometimes A Mistake is so much fun, You just have to do it again!

Does sunflower oil have a long shelf life like olive oil?

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Linda
I know the voices in my head aren't real, but they sure have some great ideas!

From what I've read, only the high oleic version has a long shelf life. I didn't know to ask about that when she and I talked, though, since it isn't on my list of go-to oils. I did ask her about shelf life, and she didn't give me a number, but indicated that it was good.

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Lesli Sagan
Avital's Apiaries
Like us: http://www.facebook.com/AvitalsApiaries

How can you visually recognize high oleic comparing to ordinary sunflower oil.
I've used it a few times in my soaps,and always calculated recipes as non-high oleic,as such information was not on the label. Sunflower oil is the most common oil used for cooking overhere and the labels list only nurtitive values,or so.
BTW,soap batter behaved well, it's lighter than o.o. it makes a great bar. I used it as a sub for o.o. ,in about 10-15% amount of all oils.

There's one think I'm puzzled with: I've found contradictory information about its shelf life. Some say it has a long shelf life due to its high e vitamin content, the others say (like D.Fisher on about.com) it has a short shelf life. What fatty acids should be precautious with?
Thanks!

Hi-oleic oils are definitely more expensive and it will say it's hi-oleic right on the label.

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Linda

I learn so much when I can't leave well enough alone!

The stuff I bought from Malwart says High Oleic in big letters right on the label. I have made soap using it instead of OO and I cannot tell the difference between them, in the end product. The sunflower cures faster IMO.
Here's a recipe I sometimes make for a luxury soap. It comes out quite a firm bar.

Avocado oil . . . 7.5%
Coconut oil . . . 30% (92 deg)
Shea butter . . 30%
Sunflower (high oleic) 32.5%
Water . . . 33% of oil weight
NaOH . . . calculated at 55.9 grams per 400 grams of total oil weight

Sat:Unsat 44:56
Iodine: 54
INS: 154

The wife made a batch yesterday with lavender/vanilla FO and it was no problem at all.

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Carrie
Wife to my Best Friend and Homeschool mom to 7 beautiful gifts

Thanks Linda

Barquentine, that sounds like a really nice soap! I use shea or cocoa at 15%, but never that high. I might have to try your recipe but with olive instead of sunflower oil. Thanks for posting it.

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Linda
I know the voices in my head aren't real, but they sure have some great ideas!

You grrls are welcome, I hope it turns out well for you. I love using shea. The recipe should work great with OO instead of the sunflower HO

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Carrie
Wife to my Best Friend and Homeschool mom to 7 beautiful gifts

Barquetine, I agree that is very nice of you. I will add this to my list to try. Just when I think I could move on to liquid soap there is something more to do with bar soap. I may have to name it "Barq's Bar"!! By the way how much do you SF at? I usually do 7% ????

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Susie
Sometimes A Mistake is so much fun, You just have to do it again!