ViewScoop
🕯️Candle & Soap Making

Superfat

The percentage of oils left unsaponified in soap, making it milder and more moisturizing.

Superfat is the percentage of oils in your soap recipe that don't get converted to soap during saponification. They remain as free oils in the finished bar.

A 5% superfat means 5% of the oils are left over after the lye has reacted with the rest. This makes the soap milder, more moisturizing, and gentler on skin.

Most cold process soap recipes use 3 to 8% superfat. Going higher makes the soap softer and can reduce lather. Going lower risks a lye-heavy soap, which is harsh and irritating.

Superfat also acts as a safety margin. If your measurements are slightly off, the extra oil ensures there's no unreacted lye in the finished soap.

Formula

Superfat = (Oil Weight - Oil Weight × SAP × (1 - Superfat%)) ÷ Oil Weight × 100

Practical Examples

  • Standard cold process soap: 5% superfat
  • Luxury/moisturizing bars: 8-10% superfat
  • Laundry soap: 0-2% superfat
  • Castile soap: 3-5% superfat