Cocos Nucifera
Coconut oil is one of the most used oils in cold process soap making along with olive oil.
Coconut oil is highly cleansing to the skin and produces a wonderfully bubbly, creamy
lather. Coconut oil has been traditionally used in food and personal care applications
throughout history. Studies have shown virgin coconut oil to be a superior treatment
over other oils to treat moderate cases of dermatitis. The wound-healing effect coconut
oil has on the skin, and the moisturizing properties make this oil an important ingredient
in skincare (Journal for Drugs and Medicine, 2015). Coconut oil is extracted by cold
pressing the fruit meat of the coconut palm seeds.
The wonders of the coconut tree are why it is called the “tree of life”. Everything from its
roots to its leaves can be used for specific healthful purposes. It is abundant in
micronutrients, lauric, caprylic and capric acids and has remarkably high amounts of
antioxidants. Coconut oil is said to have properties that reduce fungus, bacteria, and
inflammation.
Naturally occurring in coconuts, coconut oil is white and solid in form at room
temperature. With a melting temperature of 76 degrees F, the oil becomes a colorless
liquid oil. The chemical composition of coconut oil is around 90% of saturated fatty acids
with unsaturated fatty acids, vitamin E and moisture making up the remaining 10%.
For use in the personal care industry, coconut oil is usually refined, bleached and
deodorized to get rid of any microbes and germs inside the oil. This also makes the oil
less odorous, meaning that the coconut smell can be masked easier within personal
care products, as well as increasing the shelf life of the product.
At Ella Organics, we use 30%-35% organic coconut oil 76 degree in our artisan cold
process soaps.
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