Sweet almond oil: SAP value and fatty acids
Sweet almond oil has a saponification value of 195 mg KOH/g. One gram needs 0.139 g of sodium hydroxide (NaOH) for bar soap or 0.195 g of potassium hydroxide (KOH) for liquid soap to turn fully into soap, before any superfat.
Key numbers
- SAP, NaOH
- 0.139012 g per g oil
- SAP, KOH
- 0.195 g per g oil
- Saponification value
- 195 mg KOH/g
- Iodine value
- 99
- INS
- 96
- INCI name
- Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil
Example: 100 g of Sweet almond oil with no superfat needs 13.9 g of 100% NaOH, or 19.5 g of 100% KOH. A 5% superfat uses 5% less.
In soap
Its main fatty acids in our cited profile are oleic (72.7%) and linoleic (18.2%). The eight fatty acids used in soap-quality scores make up 99.5% of the profile.
On its own it scores 9 for hardness, 0 for cleansing and 91 for conditioning, with a saturated : unsaturated split of 9 : 91.
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 | 1.8% | hardness, creamy lather |
| ricinoleic | 0% | conditioning, bubbly and creamy lather |
| oleic | 72.7% | conditioning |
| linoleic | 18.2% | conditioning |
| linolenic | 0% | conditioning |
Basis: USDA FDC SR Legacy 171031 (Oil, almond), converted to % of total fatty acids.
Soap-quality scores (this oil alone)
| Hardness | 9 |
|---|---|
| Cleansing | 0 |
| Conditioning | 91 |
| Bubbly lather | 0 |
| Creamy lather | 9 |
| Iodine | 99 |
| INS | 96 |
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: 195 mg KOH/g (Median of sources (no accessible current standard)), from The Dispensatory of the United States of America (1918), Oleum Amygdalae Expressum, Remington, Wood et al. (historical pharmacopoeial commentary; via Henriette's Herbal). Printed value: 191–200 mg KOH/g.
Published values we checked:
- 191–200 mg KOH/g — Remington, Wood et al. (historical pharmacopoeial commentary; via Henriette's Herbal)
- 190–200 mg KOH/g — From Nature With Love (soap/cosmetic supplier)
- 195 mg KOH/g — The Soapery (UK soap supplier)
- NaOH 0.1367 / KOH 0.1925 g alkali per g oil — Certified Lye
Fatty acids and iodine: USDA FoodData Central, SR Legacy 171031: Oil, almond, USDA Agricultural Research Service. Also checked: Deutsche Gesellschaft für Fettwissenschaft (DGF) (Iodine value table).
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 .