Unsaponifiable

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Unsaponifiables are components of an oil, fat, wax, etc. that do not saponify. Unsaponifiables are important when creating a soap recipe in the process of soapmaking. Unsaponifiables can be beneficial to a soap formula, because they may have desirable properies such as moisturization, conditioning, vitamins, texture, etc.

[edit] Percentage of unsaponifiables

The percentage of unsaponifiables in a substance can range from <1% up to 50+%.

Here are some examples of the various unsaponifiable percentage levels:

• low percentage (<1%) : refined oils, refined shea butter, olive oil
• high percentage (6-17%): unrefined shea butter
• very high percentage (50+%): beeswax
• unsaponifiable (~100%) mineral oil, paraffin wax

[edit] See also

Soapmaking