Potassium Hydroxide (KOH)

Functional, Actives & Additives

KOH, Caustic Potash

Potassium hydroxide,known as KOH or caustic potash, is the alkali used to make soft soap, liquid soap, and our men's shave soap croap. While sodium hydroxide (NaOH) produces a firm bar soap, KOH produces a softer, more water-soluble soap,which is why our KOH-based shave soap has the semi-soft, scoopable texture of a traditional croap (a combination of cream and soap) rather than the firm bar of our cold process soaps.

Like sodium hydroxide, KOH is completely consumed during saponification and is not present in the finished product. Our men's shave soap uses a dual-lye system, a carefully calculated combination of KOH and NaOH, that produces the precise texture and lather characteristics ideal for a close, comfortable shave.

How It Works

KOH saponifies oils to produce potassium soap, a softer, more soluble soap that lathers quickly and rinses cleanly, making it ideal for shaving applications where rapid, dense lather production is important. The ratio of KOH to NaOH in our dual-lye shave soap formula is precisely calculated to produce the croap texture, soft enough to scoop with a brush, firm enough to hold its shape in the tin, and capable of producing the dense, cushioning lather that protects skin during a close shave.

The information on this page is for educational purposes only. Potassium hydroxide is a caustic material handled with full safety precautions during production. It is not present in finished soap products.