Stearic Acid

Stearic acids are the sodium or potassium salts of fatty acids; pure stearic acid is obtained with difficulty from such a mixture by crystallization.

source

It is made by extraction from tallow, which is the mixture of fats that are obtained by steam treating cow fat.

source

Traditionally used as a thickening agent in lotion, this vegetable derived waxy substance is also used as a hardening agent in soaps (at a .5% usage rate). Stearic acid is also used as a hardening agent in candles, vegetable or paraffin based.

source

Disclaimer