Avocado oil is one of the better base oils in soapmaking. It is also one of the more consistently overlooked ones. Most commercial soap manufacturers do not include it. Many small-batch soapmakers skip it because it costs more than the standard options and produces no visible difference in the finished bar. The benefit is in the skin feel and the fatty acid profile — not the appearance.
Here is what avocado oil actually does in soap and why it is worth using.
What Makes Avocado Oil Unusual
Avocado oil stands apart from most vegetable oils used in soapmaking in a few ways. First, it is high in oleic acid — like olive oil — but also contains a meaningful percentage of palmitoleic acid. Palmitoleic acid is a fatty acid found naturally in human skin (it is present in sebum) and tends to decrease with age. Skin that is low in palmitoleic acid is more prone to dryness and irritation. Avocado oil is one of the plant-based oils with the highest palmitoleic acid content.
Second, avocado oil contains fat-soluble vitamins — A, D, E, and K — in amounts that are higher than most vegetable oils. In a leave-on skincare product, this is significant. In a rinse-off soap, the direct benefit is more limited (the soap contacts the skin briefly before being rinsed away), but the base fatty acid profile still matters for how the lathered bar feels against skin during use.
Third, avocado oil is heavier and more viscous than olive oil. In soap, this translates to a richer, creamier lather — the kind that feels conditioning during the wash rather than just sudsy.
Why Most Brands Skip It
Avocado oil costs more than the oils typically used as the primary conditioning base in commercial soap — primarily olive oil or palm oil. In a product designed for the lowest possible manufacturing cost, avocado oil rarely makes the cut.
Small-batch soapmakers have more flexibility, but many still omit avocado oil because the difference is felt in the bar rather than seen. The finished product looks the same. The skin feel is noticeably different — richer, less stripping — but that requires the customer to have used both bars under comparable conditions to appreciate.
The result is that avocado oil in soap is rare. Most natural soap bars that include it list it as a secondary oil in small amounts, if they include it at all.
What Avocado Oil Contributes to the Bar
Conditioning lather. The fatty acid profile of avocado oil produces a lather that feels conditioning rather than just cleansing. Skin does not feel stripped after rinsing.
Gentleness. The oleic acid and palmitoleic acid content make avocado oil compatible with skin's natural lipid structure. This is the primary reason avocado oil is worth including for sensitive or dry skin applications.
Bar stability. Avocado oil, like olive oil, is relatively resistant to oxidation compared to polyunsaturated oils. This contributes to the bar's shelf stability without added preservatives.
Richness. Avocado oil produces a slightly thicker, creamier lather than olive oil alone. The bar feels more conditioning in use.
Avocado Oil in the No. 3 Bar
The No. 3 Bar includes saponified avocado oil as one of its three base ingredients — alongside saponified coconut oil and saponified olive oil. Avocado oil is not an afterthought or a marketing addition. It is in the formula because the lather is noticeably richer and more conditioning with it than without it. That is the only reason it is there.