Shea oil (fractionated shea olein): SAP value and fatty acids
Shea oil (fractionated shea olein) has a saponification value of 182.75 mg KOH/g. One gram needs 0.130 g of sodium hydroxide (NaOH) for bar soap or 0.183 g of potassium hydroxide (KOH) for liquid soap to turn fully into soap, before any superfat.
Key numbers
- SAP, NaOH
- 0.130279 g per g oil
- SAP, KOH
- 0.18275 g per g oil
- Saponification value
- 182.75 mg KOH/g
- INCI name
- Butyrospermum Parkii Oil
Example: 100 g of Shea oil (fractionated shea olein) with no superfat needs 13.0 g of 100% NaOH, or 18.3 g of 100% KOH. A 5% superfat uses 5% less.
In soap
Its main fatty acids in our cited profile are oleic (56%) and stearic (28%). The eight fatty acids used in soap-quality scores make up 98.3% of the profile.
On its own it scores 33 for hardness, 0 for cleansing and 65 for conditioning, with a saturated : unsaturated split of 33 : 65.
The liquid part of shea butter after the hard fats are removed. Its unsaponifiable content can be high (AAK lists 8% for its product). Note: US 21 CFR 184.1702 'Sheanut oil' (SAP 185–195) describes a hard, low-iodine shea fraction, not this liquid oil, so it was not used.
Fatty-acid profile
| Fatty acid | % of fatty acids | Counts toward |
|---|---|---|
| lauric | 0% | hardness, cleansing, bubbly lather |
| myristic | 0% | hardness, cleansing, bubbly lather |
| palmitic | 5% | hardness, creamy lather |
| stearic | 28% | hardness, creamy lather |
| ricinoleic | 0% | conditioning, bubbly and creamy lather |
| oleic | 56% | conditioning |
| linoleic | 9% | conditioning |
| linolenic | 0.3% | conditioning |
Basis: AAK Lipex SheaLiquid TR product data sheet, typical fatty acid composition (IUPAC 2.304); acids not listed recorded as 0.
Soap-quality scores (this oil alone)
| Hardness | 33 |
|---|---|
| Cleansing | 0 |
| Conditioning | 65 |
| Bubbly lather | 0 |
| Creamy lather | 33 |
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: 182.75 mg KOH/g (Median of sources' mgKoh_mid (no Codex/pharmacopoeia standard found)), from LIPEX SheaLiquid TR – Product Data Sheet, AAK (manufacturer), hosted on Knowde. Printed value: 183 mg KOH/g.
Published values we checked:
- 183 mg KOH/g — AAK (manufacturer), hosted on Knowde
- 170 - 195 mg KOH/g — From Nature With Love (soap/cosmetic supplier)
Fatty acids: LIPEX SheaLiquid TR – Product Data Sheet, AAK (manufacturer), hosted on Knowde. Also checked: USDA Agricultural Research Service (SR Legacy release 2018-04 (bulk CSV food_nutrient.csv); fatty acids in g/100 g food).
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 .