Jane found the following soap formula online but it's in percentages. She wants to convert the formula to a recipe, so she can make a 2lb batch (32 ounces) of soap.

Lard 50%
Olive Oil 15%
Coconut Oil 15%
Soybean Oil 10%
Sunflower Oil 5%
Castor Oil 5%

Step 1:
Make certain that all percentages of the above ingredients total 100%.

Step 2:
Express each percentage in its decimal form and multiply by 32 ounces.

To express a percentage in decimal form: drop the percent symbol and divide by 100.

Example: 50%   ->    50  ÷  100  =   0.50

For 50% Lard:
50% = 0.50 in decimal form
Multiplied by 32 ounces
0.50 x 32.0 = 16.0 ounces   ->  Lard (50%) = 16.0 ounces

For 15% Olive Oil:
15% = 0.15 in decimal form
Multiplied by 32 ounces
0.15 x 32.0 = 4.8 ounces   ->  Olive Oil (15%) = 4.8 ounces

For 15% Coconut Oil:
15% = 0.15 in decimal form
Multiplied by 32 ounces
0.15 x 32.0 = 4.8 ounces   ->  Coconut Oil (15%) = 4.8 ounces

For 10% Soybean Oil:
10% = 0.10 in decimal form
Multiplied by 32 ounces
0.10 x 32.0 = 3.2 ounces   ->  Soybean Oil (10%) = 3.2 ounces

For 5% Sunflower Oil:
5% = 0.05 in decimal form
Multiplied by 32 ounces
0.05 x 32.0 = 3.2 ounces   ->  Sunflower Oil (15%) = 1.6 ounces

For 5% Castor Oil:
5% = 0.05 in decimal form
Multiplied by 32 ounces
0.05 x 32.0 = 3.2 ounces   ->  Castor Oil (15%) = 1.6 ounces

The above are ounces required for each ingredient.

Step 3:
Recheck your work by adding all calculated ounces. All calculated ounces should total 32 ounces:

Step 4:
Using the above method, Jane found the required amounts for each ingredient of the above formula.

16.0 oz: Lard
4.8 oz: Olive Oil
4.8 oz: Coconut Oil
3.2 oz: Soybean Oil
1.6 oz: Sunflower Oil
1.6 oz: Castor Oil

Expressing Decimals in Percentage Form

Betty found a recipe online and is interested in knowing what the percentage of each ingredient is.

16.0 oz: Lard
4.8 oz: Olive Oil
4.8 oz: Coconut Oil
3.2 oz: Soybean Oil
1.6 oz: Sunflower Oil
1.6 oz: Castor Oil

Step 1:
Add all the weights of each ingredient in the above recipe.

Step 2:
Divide each ingredient's weight by the total weight of all oils. Then convert from decimal form to percentage.

To express a decimal in percentage form: Multiply the number in decimal form by 100.

Example: 0.50  x  100  =  50  ->  50%

For 16.0oz Lard:
16.0 ÷ 32.0 = 0.50 in decimal form
0.50 in percentage = 50%   ->  Lard = 50%

For 4.8oz Olive Oil:
4.8 ÷ 32.0 = 0.15 in decimal form
0.15 in percentage form = 15%   ->  Olive Oil = 15%

For 4.8oz Coconut Oil:
4.8 ÷ 32.0 = 0.15 in decimal form
0.15 in percentage form = 15%   ->  Coconut Oil = 15%

For 3.2oz Soybean Oil:
3.2 ÷ 32.0 = 0.10 in decimal form
0.10 in percentage form = 10%   ->  Soybean Oil = 10%

For 1.6oz Sunflower Oil:
1.6 ÷ 32.0 = 0.05 in decimal form
0.05 in percentage form = 5%   ->  Sunflower Oil = 5%

For 1.6oz Castor Oil:
1.6 ÷ 32.0 = 0.05 in decimal form
0.05 in percentage form = 5%   -> Castor Oil = 5%

Step 3:
Recheck your work by adding all calculated percentages. All calculated percentages should total 100%:

Step 4:
Using the above method, Betty found the percentage of each ingredient in the above recipe.

Lard 50%
Olive Oil 15%
Coconut Oil 15%
Soybean Oil 10%
Sunflower Oil 5%
Castor Oil 5%

Tip:
Formulas are based on percentages while recipes are based on weight.

Back to Notes Index

Copyright ©2002-2003 Lovena Harwood - ALL RIGHTS RESERVED