Breaking Down Goat Milk – Unit #1 – Caprylic Acid
In personal care products and soaps there are many different types of “acids” that can be included that are good for the health of a person’s skin, one of which is caprylic acid.
What is caprylic acid?
Caprylic acid is a fatty acid found in the milk of many mammals. It can also be found in coconut and palm kernel oil. Caprylic acid is very easily digested and absorbed.
Caprylic acid, along with caproi and capric (all named after goats), total 15% in goat milk fat. For comparison purposes, cow’s milk contains 7%.
What is a fatty acid?
In easy (non-chemistry) terms, a fatty acid is a major component of fats that is used by the body for energy and tissue development (skin being of great importance), a major component of cellular lipids (lipids are fats that are very important to our bodies – they can help lubricate the joints, boost brain function, and promote vitamin absorption).
A body cannot generate its own fatty acids, they must be ingested via nutrition or a supplement.
Note: As we researched caprylic acid we were surprised by the mass availability of it in supplement form. It is used by many, even to fight off certain infections. It makes the brain churn a bit more, one more thumb’s up for goat milk!
Annies Goat Hill Handcrafted Soaps 
Interesting information Mary!
Amy
The way I look at it, when we learn what things are about (how they work, what they do for you), it never hurts to share.
Thanks, Amy!
You’re welcome.
Amy
Hi there, I’ve been making soap for about 6 months now. I’ve done both the hot process and the cold process methods. Personally I do like the hot process simply because its ready to use in just a few days time. I’m looking to start selling my soap. If you have an abundance of work you cannot keep up with maybe you would consider passing on my email to those who are in the market for some awesome homemade soap. Recently I’ve posted listings on the website Etsy but have had no luck yet with sales. My 2 school aged children keep me happily tied to the house and for I need to earn extra money from home. Besides, I absolutely love making soap. Thanks any help or words of wisdom from a soap making veteran would be greatly appreciated! Great website by the way!
I do have some words of wisdom. Keep up your hard work. Customers do not always purchase when they first start looking at your online store. It takes time for them to trust you and your products. Consumers are sharp, especially during this economy. As they should be! Create a blog, a website, an Etsy shop, Facebook business page, and Twitter. Let people get to know you.
We do keep our shop well stocked with goat milk soap. If it means working at midnight, we keep the flow going! We are not fond of the hot process soaps that we have made. Fresh goat milk simply does not do well with them. Wish it did, to eliminate the curing wait.
When a business learns what their return customers (and new ones as well) are looking for, they keep them supplied. It is a fun learning process…you will enjoy it.
Best wishes with your new adventure!
Love your site and have made your cheese many times! The inritucstons were so easy to follow as opposed to sites that made the process rather like a complicated chemistry experiment. For those of us who are not near enough to you to take your workshops, would you be willing to share some of the information you put forth in the workshops or a video link for learning? Thanks so much from Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.
I believe you are contacting the wrong person. I no longer milk goats but do help with questions about soap, cheese, and goat care. Thanks.
[…] that the liquid added to the lye is straight goat milk, resulting in a bar of soap that contains caprylic acids, vitamins and minerals from the milk […]