Government name
Cocos Nucifera (Coconut) Oil
Goes by
Coconut oil
On a soap label, after saponification: Sodium Cocoate
The verdict
Superhero
Superpower
Lauric acid, which gives soap big, fluffy bubbles and a hard bar.
Coconut oil's government name is Cocos Nucifera (Coconut) Oil. Cocos nucifera is just the coconut palm, being formal about it.
Superhero or supervillain?
Superhero. Its superpower is lauric acid, its main fatty acid.
What it does in my soap
Coconut oil gives soap big, bubbly lather and helps make a hard bar that lasts. It's a strong cleanser, so it's balanced with gentler oils and butters. Once it's been made into soap, it shows up on the label as sodium cocoate.
The supervillain rumor
You may have heard coconut oil soap is drying. Coconut oil cleans very well, and a bar made with a lot of it can feel stripping. Used in balance with other oils, it brings the bubbles without that tight feeling.
Where you’ll find it
In 19 things I make.
In the soaps named for Ella, Andrew, Arley, Clive, Everley, Faith, Kacen, Kenley, Liam, Lincoln, Rebecca, Violet and Winnie.
- AndrewLemongrass, Lemon, Tea Tree
- ArleyRosemary Mint
- Charcoal Turmeric
- CliveCedarwood and Sweet Orange
- EllaCalendula and French Green Clay
- EverleyLemon Orange
- FaithLemongrass Peppermint
- KacenClove, Black Pepper, and Orange
- KenleyKey Lime Coconut
- Lemon Loofah Soap with Ginseng
- LiamCinnamon Birch
- LincolnLemon Eucalyptus
- RebeccaGrapefruit Patchouli
- VioletLavender Bergamot
- WinnieLavender Hibiscus
- Shampoo Bar · Rosemary Lavender
- Shampoo Bar · Rosemary Mint
- Shampoo Bar · Tea Tree Lemongrass
- Magnesium Body Butter
Usually seen with olive oil, castor oil, olive wax and rhassoul clay.
Don’t judge an ingredient by its government name. Judge it by the science.
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