Why I Love Using Coconut RBD Oil in My Soap and Bath Products
When I first started making soap, I kept hearing about “Coconut Oil” as a staple ingredient. But once I dove deeper, I realized there were actually different kinds of coconut oil; virgin, fractionated, and one that I now use almost every time: Coconut RBD oil.
So, what exactly is Coconut RBD Oil?
RBD stands for Refined, Bleached, and Deodorized. It’s made from dried coconut meat (copra), and then processed to remove its natural scent and impurities. Now before you get worried about the words “refined” or “bleached,” don’t panic. This doesn’t mean it’s full of chemicals. It simply means it’s been cleaned up for consistency, shelf stability, and neutral smell, perfect when you're formulating products and want your fragrances or essential oils to shine.
Why I Use It in Soap Making
Coconut RBD oil is a dream for cold process soap. It helps create a rich, bubbly lather, which is especially nice if you're like me and love soaps that feel luxurious and cleansing at the same time. It also helps make a harder bar, so your soap lasts longer in the shower.
Another thing? It’s affordable and easy to work with. Because it’s already refined, I don’t have to worry about it overpowering my other ingredients. Lavender, citrus, or even a more woodsy blend, the scent always comes through beautifully.
What About Bath Bombs or Butters?
Yes, Coconut RBD oil is great in those too! Since it melts quickly on skin and absorbs well, I like adding it to body butters for a light, non-greasy feel. I’ve also used it as the base oil in bath bombs, it helps hold everything together and adds a soft moisturizing touch once the bomb hits the water.
Skin Benefits You’ll Notice
- Gently moisturizes without clogging pores
- Has antibacterial properties, perfect for cleansing formulas
- Leaves skin feeling soft and smooth, never heavy or sticky
- Shelf stable so your products won’t go bad quickly
Refined vs. Unrefined: What I Choose and When
I do still use unrefined coconut oil sometimes, especially when I want that tropical coconut scent in lip balms or body scrubs. But when I want more control over my final product (especially color or scent), I always reach for RBD.
Wixy Soap Tip: If you’re working on larger batches, Wixy Soap offers an 18kg box of Coconut RBD Oil for only $158 CAD, a great deal if you want to stock up and save on cost per gram
Coconut RBD carrier oil deserves a spot in every soaping and skincare stash. It’s simple, versatile, and always delivers. Add it to your next recipe, you might just fall in love with it like I did.
Happy crafting!