Sodium Lactate

What is sodium lactate?

Sodium lactate is a liquid salt made from sugars such as beets and corn.

What does sodium lactate do in soap?

Sodium lactate makes a harder bar. A harder bar holds its shape sooner, so it comes out of the mold more easily, and it lasts longer in the shower.

How much sodium lactate should I add to soap?

In cold process, add it to your lye water once it has cooled to about 130°F, at 1 teaspoon per pound of oils (about 1–3% of oil weight). More than that can make the bar brittle. In hot process, use 3–5% of your oil weight, added to the lye water or near the end of the cook, where it loosens the batter enough to get it into the mold.