We consciously choose not to use palm oil in our formulations. Not because palm oil is harmful, but for three reasons: formula control, traceability and texture.
The properties that palm oil offers in soap, we achieve with coconut oil, shea butter and olive oil. Three raw materials whose origin and processing we fully know.
Palm oil is listed by name on our published NO-list. Not as a judgment on palm oil itself, but as a deliberate formulation choice.
What is palm oil?
Palm oil is extracted from the fruits of the oil palm (Elaeis guineensis). It is one of the most widely used vegetable oils in the world, both in food and cosmetics. In soap, palm oil is often used for hardness and structural stability of the bar.
On INCI lists you'll find palm oil as "Elaeis Guineensis Oil". Saponified palm oil is listed as "Sodium Palmate" or "Sodium Palm Kernelate".
Why don't we use it?
Our decision is a conscious formulation choice based on three factors:
Palm oil has properties that can vary greatly from batch to batch. This makes it difficult to keep texture, foam and skin feel consistent from production to production. We choose oils and butters that are more predictable in formulation, so every bar offers the same experience.
Complete origin and chain control is essential to us. With our chosen oils, origin and processing are clear and verifiable. This fits with our philosophy of radical transparency: we want to account for every ingredient, from source to skin.
Our formulas are developed with a focus on skin comfort. Alternative plant oils and butters give us more control over softness, residue and how the bar feels on the skin. The result is a product we can fine-tune precisely to the desired experience.
What do we use instead?
The properties for which palm oil is usually valued in soap, we achieve with:
- -Coconut oil (Sodium Cocoate) · provides hardness, foaming and cleansing
- -Shea butter (Butyrospermum Parkii Butter) · gives structure and locks in moisture
- -Olive oil (Sodium Olivate) · nourishes the skin and contributes to mildness
Is palm oil bad?
No. Palm oil is not harmful to the skin and is an effective ingredient in soap. It is approved for cosmetic use and has been used for centuries.
Our decision is not a judgment about palm oil itself, but a formulation choice. We work with ingredients that have a clear function within our specific formula.
How do you recognize palm oil on an INCI list?
Palm oil and derivatives can appear under different names:
- -Elaeis Guineensis Oil (pure palm oil)
- -Sodium Palmate (saponified palm oil)
- -Sodium Palm Kernelate (saponified palm kernel oil)
- -Palm Kernel Acid
- -Palmitic Acid (may be derived from palm oil, but also from other sources)
- -Glyceryl Stearate (sometimes derived from palm)
Which ingredients are on our NO-list?
Palm oil is on our NO-list: a published list of ingredients we do not use. This list is based on formulation preference and transparency, not on claims about safety or superiority.
View the complete NO-list and ingredients.
Last updated: 6 March 2026