Teach Soap

I've seen on the Web that lanolin in soap creates a harder bar and also helps with scent retention. Is any of this true?

Lanolin will create a softer soap as not all of it will saponify. I don't know if it helps for any scent to stay, but lanolin does have an odor of its own.

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Irena
Closed minds are like faulty parachutes; they refuse to open.

I've used lanolin in cp and I've never noticed it help keep scents from fading. But like Soapbuddy said, it does make the soap softer.

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Genny

I have a friend who is highly allergic to lanolin, so just keep that in mind.

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~~Heather~~
Mad [soaping] Scientist

I did hear of Lanolin Allergies. I'm hoping to weigh the benefits vs the draw backs.

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The Soapinatrix! *whip-crack*
- Posting the trials and tribulations of my Soaping Journey!

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The Soapinatrix! *whip-crack*
- Posting the trials and tribulations of my Soaping Journey!

If you decide to use lanolin, I would go with disposable molds, utensils etc...That way you won't contaminate your other soap tools or other soaps.

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Irena
Closed minds are like faulty parachutes; they refuse to open.

I think that if you use Lanolin in your soap, you'd treat it just like any other possible allergen and make sure it's listed in the ingredients. Lanolin is actually a really well known allergen here in the U.S., even though a lot of times it's the wool they're allergic to and not lanolin at all. Or vice versa.

If we left out every ingredient that someone might be allergic to, we wouldn't have soap at all. Over the years of selling at markets, I've had people come up and say, "I can't use your soap, I'm allergic to coconuts." or "I'm allergic to shea." or "I can't use this, I'm allergic to olives."

If you list the ingredients, it's up to the customer to look at it before buying. Customers don't sue Lansinoh because they had an allergic reaction to the lanolin that is clearly listed on the ingredient label.

That's my 2 cents LOL

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Genny

I agree, Genny, but who would have thought that someone would sue McDonalds because their coffee was too hot and burned them when they spilled it in their own lap? You never know anymore...

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

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

So far, nobody seems to think there are significant benefits to adding lanolin so it doesn't sound worth it. While I wouldn't go out of my way to add a common allergen, there is no way to make soap that has no possibility of causing allergic reaction to someone, somewhere, at sometime. I had a woman tell me she couldn't use my soap because she's very allergic to coconut. She came by three times and handled my soaps (coconut included!) and declared again she can't use it. I discouraged her from trying my castille soaps telling her that I do not use different equipment to make them so if she is that allergic, she shouldn't use them either. It's sad because she obviously really wants to use handcrafted soap. All that said, I'm not giving up using coconut oil. Instead, we label and educate and honestly answer questions about what is in each soap.

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Linda

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

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Genny