Andiroba oil: SAP value and fatty acids
Andiroba oil has a saponification value of 188.7 mg KOH/g. One gram needs 0.135 g of sodium hydroxide (NaOH) for bar soap or 0.189 g of potassium hydroxide (KOH) for liquid soap to turn fully into soap, before any superfat.
Key numbers
- SAP, NaOH
- 0.134521 g per g oil
- SAP, KOH
- 0.1887 g per g oil
- Saponification value
- 188.7 mg KOH/g
- Iodine value
- 59.2
- INS
- 130
- INCI name
- Carapa Guianensis Seed Oil
Example: 100 g of Andiroba oil with no superfat needs 13.5 g of 100% NaOH, or 18.9 g of 100% KOH. A 5% superfat uses 5% less.
In soap
Its main fatty acids in our cited profile are oleic (47.3%) and palmitic (31.5%). The eight fatty acids used in soap-quality scores make up 97% of the profile.
On its own it scores 40 for hardness, 2 for cleansing and 57 for conditioning, with a saturated : unsaturated split of 40 : 57.
Wild-harvested Amazon oil; quality and acidity vary.
Fatty-acid profile
| Fatty acid | % of fatty acids | Counts toward |
|---|---|---|
| lauric | 1.2% | hardness, cleansing, bubbly lather |
| myristic | 0.6% | hardness, cleansing, bubbly lather |
| palmitic | 31.5% | hardness, creamy lather |
| stearic | 7.1% | hardness, creamy lather |
| ricinoleic | 0% | conditioning, bubbly and creamy lather |
| oleic | 47.3% | conditioning |
| linoleic | 9% | conditioning |
| linolenic | 0.3% | conditioning |
Basis: Peer-reviewed GC analysis of andiroba oil (Oncotarget 2023, Table 1).
Soap-quality scores (this oil alone)
| Hardness | 40 |
|---|---|
| Cleansing | 2 |
| Conditioning | 57 |
| Bubbly lather | 2 |
| Creamy lather | 39 |
| Iodine | 59 |
| INS | 130 |
Each score adds up certain fatty acids, the way Soap Ledger scores a whole recipe. They are for comparing recipes; they don't predict how a bar will feel, and they say nothing about safety or skin.
Sources
SAP value: 188.7 mg KOH/g (Median of sources), from Lozano-Garzon K. et al. (2023) Comprehensive Characterization of Oils and Fats of Six Species from the Colombian Amazon Region with Industrial Potential. Biomolecules 13(6):985. doi:10.3390/biom13060985, MDPI (open access, peer-reviewed). Printed value: 189.36 ± 3.56 mg KOH/g.
Published values we checked:
- 189.36 ± 3.56 mg KOH/g — MDPI (open access, peer-reviewed)
- NaOH 0.134 / KOH 0.188 g alkali per g oil — candlemaking.gr (Greek soap/candle supplier)
Fatty acids and iodine: Gomes J.T. et al. (2023) The chromatographic constitution of andiroba oil and his healing effects, compared to the LLLT outcomes, in oral mucositis induced in golden Syrian hamsters: a new treatment option. Oncotarget 14:23-39, Oncotarget (Impact Journals). Also checked: MDPI (open access, peer-reviewed) (Tables 1-2).
NaOH and KOH values are converted from mg KOH/g with the molar masses 39.997 and 56.106 and rounded to 6 decimals, exactly as in the Soap Ledger app. Real oils vary by origin, grade and lot: check your supplier's certificate of analysis. Verify every weight before you make this, and follow lye safety. Not a safety or compliance certification.
Last updated .