Tamanu oil (kamani): SAP value and fatty acids
Tamanu oil (kamani) 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
- INCI name
- Calophyllum Inophyllum Seed Oil
Example: 100 g of Tamanu oil (kamani) 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 (38.3%) and linoleic (32.4%). The eight fatty acids used in soap-quality scores make up 97% of the profile.
On its own it scores 26 for hardness, 0 for cleansing and 71 for conditioning, with a saturated : unsaturated split of 26 : 71.
Virgin tamanu is a resin-rich, often acidic oil; its real lye need varies between batches, from about 180 (refined) to about 206 (very acidic crude). 195 is a middle value. It is usually used at low percentages, so the effect on a recipe is small, but use your COA's SAP or acid value if you have them. 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 | 9.9% | hardness, creamy lather |
| stearic | 16.1% | hardness, creamy lather |
| ricinoleic | 0% | conditioning, bubbly and creamy lather |
| oleic | 38.3% | conditioning |
| linoleic | 32.4% | conditioning |
| linolenic | 0.3% | conditioning |
Basis: Saki et al. 2022 Table 1 (GC-MS area %, Calophyllum inophyllum seed oil); α-linolenic 0.24 + 'linolenic' 0.04 summed.
Soap-quality scores (this oil alone)
| Hardness | 26 |
|---|---|
| Cleansing | 0 |
| Conditioning | 71 |
| Bubbly lather | 0 |
| Creamy lather | 26 |
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 (The fatty-acid composition gives about 193 for the oil fraction. Measured values run from 180.8 (refined, de-resinated) to 184 (Vietnamese crude) to 206.3 (crude, acid value 62). The supplier tables (185-205, about 195-202) fall in the middle. 195 suits unrefined cosmetic tamanu, which is what soapers buy. Value unchanged.), from Saponification Chart, From Nature With Love (soap/cosmetic supplier). Printed value: 185 - 205 mg KOH/g.
Published values we checked:
- 185 - 205 mg KOH/g — From Nature With Love (soap/cosmetic supplier)
- NaOH 0.1437 / KOH 0.2024 g alkali per g oil — Certified Lye
- 195 mg KOH/g — The Soapery (UK soap supplier)
- Saponification value (ISO 3657:2002) 206.3 ± 1.9 crude; 180.8 ± 2.4 fully refined mgKOH/g oil (Table 1) mg KOH/g — EDP Sciences (peer-reviewed, open access; read via HAL hal-05180969)
- Saponification value 184 (acid value 10.5) mg KOH/g — Can Tho University (peer-reviewed)
- Saponification Value mgKOH/g 185-235 mg KOH/g — Aromantic (UK supplier)
- Saponification value: 185 - 235 mg KOH/g mg KOH/g — Skinchakra (EU supplier)
Fatty acids: Saki E. et al. (2022) Optimisation of Calophyllum inophyllum seed oil nanoemulsion as a potential wound healing agent. BMC Complement Med Ther 22:285. doi:10.1186/s12906-022-03751-6, BMC / Springer Nature (open access, peer-reviewed). Also checked: EDP Sciences (open access, peer-reviewed; HAL copy) (Introduction (literature summary)).
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 .