Apricot kernel oil: SAP value and fatty acids
Apricot kernel oil has a saponification value of 189.5 mg KOH/g. One gram needs 0.135 g of sodium hydroxide (NaOH) for bar soap or 0.190 g of potassium hydroxide (KOH) for liquid soap to turn fully into soap, before any superfat.
Key numbers
- SAP, NaOH
- 0.135091 g per g oil
- SAP, KOH
- 0.1895 g per g oil
- Saponification value
- 189.5 mg KOH/g
- Iodine value
- 101.5
- INS
- 88
- INCI name
- Prunus Armeniaca Kernel Oil
Example: 100 g of Apricot kernel oil with no superfat needs 13.5 g of 100% NaOH, or 19.0 g of 100% KOH. A 5% superfat uses 5% less.
In soap
Its main fatty acids in our cited profile are oleic (61.2%) and linoleic (30.6%). The eight fatty acids used in soap-quality scores make up 98.4% of the profile.
On its own it scores 7 for hardness, 0 for cleansing and 92 for conditioning, with a saturated : unsaturated split of 7 : 92.
Fatty-acid profile
| Fatty acid | % of fatty acids | Counts toward |
|---|---|---|
| lauric | 0% | hardness, cleansing, bubbly lather |
| myristic | 0% | hardness, cleansing, bubbly lather |
| palmitic | 6.1% | hardness, creamy lather |
| stearic | 0.5% | hardness, creamy lather |
| ricinoleic | 0% | conditioning, bubbly and creamy lather |
| oleic | 61.2% | conditioning |
| linoleic | 30.6% | conditioning |
| linolenic | 0% | conditioning |
Basis: USDA FDC SR Legacy 171032, converted to % of total fatty acids.
Soap-quality scores (this oil alone)
| Hardness | 7 |
|---|---|
| Cleansing | 0 |
| Conditioning | 92 |
| Bubbly lather | 0 |
| Creamy lather | 7 |
| Iodine | 102 |
| INS | 88 |
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: 189.5 mg KOH/g (Median of sources), from Stryjecka M., Kiełtyka-Dadasiewicz A., Michalak M., Rachoń L., Głowacka A. (2019) Chemical Composition and Antioxidant Properties of Oils from the Seeds of Five Apricot (Prunus armeniaca L.) Cultivars. J. Oleo Sci. 68(8):729-738. doi:10.5650/jos.ess19121, Japan Oil Chemists' Society (peer-reviewed). Printed value: 189 mg KOH/g.
Published values we checked:
- 189 mg KOH/g — Japan Oil Chemists' Society (peer-reviewed)
- 185–195 mg KOH/g — From Nature With Love (soap/cosmetic supplier)
- 189 mg KOH/g — The Soapery (UK soap supplier)
- NaOH 0.1378 / KOH 0.1941 g alkali per g oil — Certified Lye
Fatty acids and iodine: USDA FoodData Central, SR Legacy: Oil, apricot kernel (FDC ID 171032), U.S. Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service. Also checked: Nature Portfolio (Table 2); Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare (Japan) (PDF p. 1062).
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.
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