Broccoli seed oil: SAP value and fatty acids
Broccoli seed oil has a saponification value of 178 mg KOH/g. One gram needs 0.127 g of sodium hydroxide (NaOH) for bar soap or 0.178 g of potassium hydroxide (KOH) for liquid soap to turn fully into soap, before any superfat.
Key numbers
- SAP, NaOH
- 0.126893 g per g oil
- SAP, KOH
- 0.178 g per g oil
- Saponification value
- 178 mg KOH/g
- INCI name
- Brassica Oleracea Italica Seed Oil
Example: 100 g of Broccoli seed oil with no superfat needs 12.7 g of 100% NaOH, or 17.8 g of 100% KOH. A 5% superfat uses 5% less.
In soap
Its main fatty acids in our cited profile are linolenic (20.1%) and linoleic (16.1%). The eight fatty acids used in soap-quality scores make up 58.3% of the profile.
On its own it scores 7 for hardness, 0 for cleansing and 51 for conditioning, with a saturated : unsaturated split of 7 : 51.
High in erucic acid, a long-chain fatty acid, so it needs noticeably less lye than most liquid oils (similar to high-erucic rapeseed or meadowfoam). Erucic content varies between 30% and 50%, so check your COA. Published sources for this oil differ by more than 3%, so checking your supplier's certificate of analysis matters more than usual.
Fatty-acid profile
| Fatty acid | % of fatty acids | Counts toward |
|---|---|---|
| lauric | 0% | hardness, cleansing, bubbly lather |
| myristic | 0% | hardness, cleansing, bubbly lather |
| palmitic | 6.8% | hardness, creamy lather |
| stearic | 0.2% | hardness, creamy lather |
| ricinoleic | 0% | conditioning, bubbly and creamy lather |
| oleic | 15.1% | conditioning |
| linoleic | 16.1% | conditioning |
| linolenic | 20.1% | conditioning |
Basis: Peer-reviewed GC of cold-pressed broccoli seed oil (Front Nutr 2023, Table 1); values as reported (identified acids total 91.3%).
Soap-quality scores (this oil alone)
| Hardness | 7 |
|---|---|
| Cleansing | 0 |
| Conditioning | 51 |
| Bubbly lather | 0 |
| Creamy lather | 7 |
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: 178 mg KOH/g (Theoretical 175-181 from two independent peer-reviewed profiles (33-51% erucic), matching Skinchakra's 175 and Aromantic's mid-point 179. Lotioncrafter's 185-200 is set aside because its own spec sheet's composition implies about 175-180.), from Organic Broccoli Seed Oil product page, Aromantic (UK supplier). Printed value: SAP 168-190 mgKOH/g; erucic 30-50%, oleic 29-40.5%, linoleic <18.5%, linolenic <8%, eicosenoic <11% mg KOH/g.
Published values we checked:
- 185 to 200 mg KOH/g mg KOH/g — Lotioncrafter (US supplier)
- 168-190 mgKOH / g mg KOH/g — Aromantic (UK supplier)
- Saponification value: 175 mg KOH/gr; iodine value 105 mg KOH/g — Skinchakra (EU supplier)
- No SAP on the sheet; profile C16:0 1-5, C18:0 ≤2, C18:1 5-15, C18:2 5-15, C18:3 5-15 mg KOH/g — Lotioncrafter (US supplier)
- SAP 168-190 mgKOH/g; erucic 30-50%, oleic 29-40.5%, linoleic <18.5%, linolenic <8%, eicosenoic <11% mg KOH/g — Aromantic (UK supplier)
Fatty acids: Potential therapeutic benefits of unconventional oils: assessment of the potential in vitro biological properties of some Rubiaceae, Cucurbitaceae, and Brassicaceae seed oils. Front. Nutr. 10:1171766 (2023), Frontiers. Also checked: Lotioncrafter (US supplier) (Fatty Acid Profile (Area %)).
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 .