5L Tallow & Coconut Liquid Soap Recipe

5L Tallow & Coconut Liquid Soap Recipe

Oils

• Tallow – 700 g
• Coconut oil – 300 g

KOH solution

• KOH 99% – 214 g
• Distilled water – 600 g

Dilution

• Distilled water – approximately 3.2–3.5 kg, added gradually until you reach approximately 5 L and your preferred thickness.

Optional

• Glycerine – 100 g
• Fragrance – 25–50 g, according to the fragrance supplier’s skin-safe maximum
• Liquid soap dye – as required

Instructions

1. Melt the tallow and coconut oil together.
2. Weigh 600 g distilled water into a suitable heat-resistant container.
3. Slowly add 214 g KOH to the water, stirring carefully. Never add water to KOH.
4. Allow the KOH solution to cool.
5. Bring the melted oils to a similar temperature.
6. Slowly add the KOH solution to the oils while mixing.
7. Continue mixing until a thick soap paste forms.
8. Cook the paste gently until it becomes translucent and fully saponified.
9. Add the dilution water gradually, mixing thoroughly after each addition.
10. Continue adding water until you reach the desired liquid-soap consistency.
11. Once the soap has cooled sufficiently, add glycerine, fragrance and dye if using.
12. Allow it to stand for 24–48 hours before bottling so you can assess the final clarity and consistency.

Important: The 214 g KOH is based on commonly used average SAP values for tallow and coconut oil and includes a small superfat. Because tallow SAP can vary depending on its source, for a commercial product I recommend calculating from the actual supplier SAP values if they are available.

Also, this will produce a soap-based liquid cleanser, not a glucoside/syndet body wash. Its natural soap pH will be alkaline, so it should not be treated like a low-pH shower gel.