Lard (pork fat) in soap making
Published by The Soap Brain Team
Lard (pork fat) is a hardening soap-making oil rich in oleic acid (44%). A gram of it turns to soap with about 0.139 g of NaOH (lye). It firms up a bar with a stable, creamy lather and blends well with conditioning oils. Most soapers use it at 20–50% of their oils.
Fatty-acid profile
Lard (pork fat) is mainly a hardening oil: its saturated fatty acids give a firm, long-lasting bar with a stable, creamy lather, and it is usually blended with more conditioning oils to keep the finished soap mild.
Lard (pork fat) is about 42% saturated fat and 54% unsaturated — that unsaturated majority is what makes it conditioning and slower to trace, but softer on its own.
| Fatty acid | Share | What it does in soap |
|---|---|---|
| Oleic acid | 44% | a monounsaturated fatty acid that makes a gentle, conditioning, moisturising bar with a slick, lower lather and a slower trace |
| Palmitic acid | 26% | a saturated fatty acid that builds a hard, long-lasting bar with a stable, creamy lather |
| Stearic acid | 14% | a saturated fatty acid that adds hardness and a thick, stable lather; a large share can speed up trace |
| Linoleic acid | 10% | a polyunsaturated fatty acid that is very conditioning but oxidises readily — a driver of DOS (dreaded orange spots) at high levels |
| Myristic acid | 2% | a hard, cleansing, bubbly saturated fatty acid that usually travels alongside lauric acid |
Lard (pork fat) in the bar
Expect a dense, low-bubble, creamy lather from Lard (pork fat) — rich and steady rather than foamy. Pairing it with a bubbly oil adds the fluffy bubbles it lacks.
Because it is rich in palmitic and stearic acids, Lard (pork fat) tends to bring a batch to trace quickly and set up fast, so work briskly and keep fragrances that accelerate trace in mind. The upside is a firm bar that usually unmoulds within a day or two.
In a blend Lard (pork fat) is a hardening, bar-firming component. Use it in small amounts; combine it with conditioning liquid oils so the bar stays mild rather than brittle.
Closest substitutes for Lard (pork fat)
Out of Lard (pork fat)? These oils behave most like it in a bar — ranked by how close their hardness, cleansing and conditioning profile and lye (SAP) requirement are. The numbers are predicted properties for a 100% single-oil bar, not a safety guide; always recalculate the lye when you swap an oil.
| Oil | Hardness | Cleansing | Conditioning | SAP (NaOH) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lard (pork fat) (this oil) | 42 | 2 | 54 | 0.139 |
| Neem oil | 38 | 0 | 60 | 0.139 |
| Mango butter | 48 | 0 | 49 | 0.136 |
| Palm oil | 49 | 1 | 49 | 0.142 |
| Tallow (beef fat) | 52 | 3 | 46 | 0.138 |
Using Lard (pork fat) in a recipe
One gram of Lard (pork fat) needs about 0.139 g of NaOH (sodium hydroxide) to turn fully to soap, within a documented range of 0.138–0.141 g/g across sources. The calculator below uses this value; always confirm the lye weight before you mix.
Its iodine value is about 58 — a moderate value, a good all-round balance of hardness and conditioning. Iodine value is only a rough guide, not a hard rule, but it gives you a feel for how a bar built around this oil will wear.
Most soapers use Lard (pork fat) at roughly 20–50% of their oils.
Maker's note: Mild creamy lather; very hard, long-lasting white bar. NOT vegan.
Calculate lye for Lard (pork fat)
The calculator below is pre-loaded with Lard (pork fat). Enter your weights, add other oils, and it works out the exact NaOH (lye) weight, water and quality numbers. Always weigh lye, oils and water — never measure by volume, wear gloves and eye protection, and add lye to water (never the reverse).
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Where these numbers come from
Every figure on this page is backed by at least two independent references, listed below — so you can check our work instead of taking our word for it.
- Soaper's Choice — SAP Values — SAP (industry consensus)
- 7VIRIDES — Soap Making Oils Encyclopedia — SAP + fatty-acid profile
- Lovin' Soap — Oils Chart — usage %, properties
SAP data last updated · 51 oils covered.
Lard (pork fat) soap FAQ
- Can you make soap with 100% Lard (pork fat)?
- It is not recommended. Lard (pork fat) shows its best in a blend, usually up to about 50% of the oils. On its own the bar would be unbalanced — too soft or low-lathering for everyday use.
- What superfat should I use with Lard (pork fat)?
- A 5% superfat is a safe, common starting point for recipes using Lard (pork fat); adjust to taste once you know how the finished bar feels. Never drop to 0% or below without a deliberate reason — the calculator will ask you to confirm it.
- Does Lard (pork fat) speed up or slow down trace?
- Because it is rich in palmitic and stearic acids, Lard (pork fat) tends to bring a batch to trace quickly and set up fast, so work briskly and keep fragrances that accelerate trace in mind. The upside is a firm bar that usually unmoulds within a day or two.