What does myristic acid do in soap?

Myristic acid makes soap bars harder and gives quick, fluffy, bubbly lather, similar to what coconut oil contributes. Too much can make the bar feel drying, so it is usually one part of a balanced fat blend.

How much lye does myristic acid need?

Fully saponifying 1 g of myristic acid needs about 0.175 g of sodium hydroxide or 0.246 g of potassium hydroxide. Always run the whole recipe through a soap calculator with a superfat, rather than calculating one ingredient at a time.

Is myristic acid the same as stearic acid?

No. Both are saturated fatty acids, but myristic acid has 14 carbons and stearic acid has 18. Myristic acid melts at a lower temperature and gives bubblier lather, while stearic acid gives creamier, longer-lasting lather and a firmer cream.

Can I use myristic acid to make a foaming face wash?

Yes. Neutralising myristic acid, often blended with stearic and lauric acid, with potassium hydroxide gives the creamy soap base used in many foaming face wash creams. This needs careful lye calculation and pH testing, so test small batches first.

Where does myristic acid come from?

It occurs in coconut oil, palm kernel oil, nutmeg butter and some animal fats. Commercial myristic acid is usually separated from plant oils by splitting and distilling the fatty acids. Ask the supplier if you need a specific source.

At what temperature does myristic acid melt?

About 54 °C, which is lower than stearic acid. Heating the oil phase to around 60 to 70 °C melts it completely. Stir while the cream cools so it doesn't crystallise into grainy specks, and avoid overheating, which can darken it.

मिरिस्टिक एसिड (Myristic acid)

Myristic acid, also called tetradecanoic acid, is a white waxy saturated fatty acid with 14 carbon atoms. Soap and cosmetic makers use it to give bars hardness and quick, fluffy lather, to build creamy foaming face washes with potassium hydroxide, and as a thickener and opacifier in creams.

अंतिम अपडेट 7 नव॰ 2026

आज मिरिस्टिक एसिड का दाम →Read in English

विवरण

फ़ॉर्मूला: C14H28O2
CAS नंबर: 544-63-8
ग्रेड: Cosmetic
हिंदी नाम: मिरिस्टिक एसिड

प्रोडक्ट और पैक साइज़

प्रोडक्ट	ग्रेड	पैक	दाम (GST सहित)	₹ प्रति kg
Myristic Acid	Cosmetic	—	₹149	—

What is myristic acid?

Myristic acid is a saturated fatty acid, found naturally in coconut oil, palm kernel oil and nutmeg butter, which gives it its name from the nutmeg genus Myristica. Commercial material is usually a white, waxy solid in flakes, beads or powder, with a faint fatty smell.

Formula: C14H28O2
CAS number: 544-63-8
Molar mass: about 228.4 g/mol
Melting point: about 54 °C

It does not dissolve in water but melts easily in warm oils. With sodium hydroxide it forms sodium myristate, a hard soap with quick, bubbly lather. With potassium hydroxide it forms a soft, creamy soap used in foaming face wash creams.

Grades and pack sizes at Azlok

Azlok lists Myristic Acid under cosmetic raw ingredients, for soap, shaving cream and cream makers. The pack size is shown on the product page.

Product	Grade	Suits
Myristic Acid	Cosmetic	Soaps, foaming face washes, shaving creams, lotions

See today's price per kg.

Common uses

Soap making: raises bar hardness and gives quick, bubbly lather in cold-process soap.
Cleansers and shaving creams: neutralised with potassium hydroxide or triethanolamine to make creamy foaming bases.
Creams and lotions: thickener, opacifier and emulsion stabiliser.
Industry: raw material for esters such as isopropyl myristate, and in some lubricants and surfactants.

How to use it

Melt it with the oils. Add it to the oil or wax phase and heat to about 60 to 70 °C until fully melted and clear.
Soap making: treat it like any other fat in your soap calculator. Fully saponifying 1 g needs about 0.175 g sodium hydroxide or 0.246 g potassium hydroxide, but always run the full recipe through a soap calculator with a superfat. It speeds up trace, so mix at slightly lower temperatures.
Creams and lotions: typically used at a few percent of the formula as a thickener. Start low and test texture.
Cool and set: stir while cooling so it doesn't form grainy specks.

If a soap recipe traces too fast after you add it, lower the amount in the next batch or soap at a cooler temperature. A bar that feels too drying usually has too much myristic and lauric content, so balance it with olive or other soft oils.

Patch test finished products on the inner arm. Cosmetics sold in India need to meet BIS and CDSCO rules.

Safety and storage

Myristic acid itself is mild, but the dust can irritate eyes and the hot melt can burn. Wear gloves and safety glasses, especially when you are also handling lye.
Keep it away from strong oxidisers and strong alkalis outside controlled soap making.
Store in a closed container in a cool, dry place away from sunlight, so it doesn't pick up smells or go rancid over time.
Keep it away from children.
Scrape up spilled flakes; wipe greasy spots with hot soapy water.

Choosing the right grade and pack

For soap and skincare, the cosmetic listing is right. Since it usually makes up only a part of the fat blend, a small pack is enough for home soap makers testing recipes. Regular soap and shaving cream makers save with larger packs.

For 25 kg and above, send a bulk inquiry.

अक्सर पूछे जाने वाले सवाल

What does myristic acid do in soap?: Myristic acid makes soap bars harder and gives quick, fluffy, bubbly lather, similar to what coconut oil contributes. Too much can make the bar feel drying, so it is usually one part of a balanced fat blend.
How much lye does myristic acid need?: Fully saponifying 1 g of myristic acid needs about 0.175 g of sodium hydroxide or 0.246 g of potassium hydroxide. Always run the whole recipe through a soap calculator with a superfat, rather than calculating one ingredient at a time.
Is myristic acid the same as stearic acid?: No. Both are saturated fatty acids, but myristic acid has 14 carbons and stearic acid has 18. Myristic acid melts at a lower temperature and gives bubblier lather, while stearic acid gives creamier, longer-lasting lather and a firmer cream.
Can I use myristic acid to make a foaming face wash?: Yes. Neutralising myristic acid, often blended with stearic and lauric acid, with potassium hydroxide gives the creamy soap base used in many foaming face wash creams. This needs careful lye calculation and pH testing, so test small batches first.
Where does myristic acid come from?: It occurs in coconut oil, palm kernel oil, nutmeg butter and some animal fats. Commercial myristic acid is usually separated from plant oils by splitting and distilling the fatty acids. Ask the supplier if you need a specific source.
At what temperature does myristic acid melt?: About 54 °C, which is lower than stearic acid. Heating the oil phase to around 60 to 70 °C melts it completely. Stir while the cream cools so it doesn't crystallise into grainy specks, and avoid overheating, which can darken it.