Altering recipe when using scents

[Humblegoat]

Hi,
Does anyone increase the lye, decrease the fats, or lower the super fat when using fragrance oils or essential oils with CP recipes?

 

[Ekuzo]

Nope, FO and EO are not supposed to get saponified and shouldn't affect the oil/lye ratio in your recipe. Just stick to the vendor's recommendations, see what and how much you like and test how they behave in CP - and your soap will be fine

 

[Humblegoat]

Nope, FO and EO are not supposed to get saponified and shouldn't affect the oil/lye ratio in your recipe. Just stick to the vendor's recommendations, see what and how much you like and test how they behave in CP - and your soap will be fine

I thought that too, but wanted a second opinion. I had a batch from a recipe that I’ve used a ton and it was a bit sticky so I began to wonder.

Is the reason it doesn’t saponify because it is added to trace?

 

[Ekuzo]

Is the reason it doesn’t saponify because it is added to trace?

No, they may be called oils as well, but their chemical structure is different than the base oils we use for soaping. They don't saponify (unless they are not pure and are mixed with oils that do, but that will be a different story). A lot of fragrances change the way they smell in CP though, interaction with lye changes them more or less, even if it doesn't saponify them.

Also, adding something at trace doesn't mean it's safe from NaOH. At trace the saponification has started, but it's far from finished - it can take 24-72 hours after pour for all lye to react

 

[Humblegoat]

No, they may be called oils as well, but their chemical structure is different than the base oils we use for soaping. They don't saponify (unless they are not pure and are mixed with oils that do, but that will be a different story). A lot of fragrances change the way they smell in CP though, interaction with lye changes them more or less, even if it doesn't saponify them.

Also, adding something at trace doesn't mean it's safe from NaOH. At trace the saponification has started, but it's far from finished - it can take 24-72 hours after pour for all lye to react

Thanks for the clarification, interesting!! I totally get the long process for saponification, but always worth the reminder.

 

[DeeAnna]

The only reason why I add fragrance at trace is when the fragrance causes acceleration. So I get my soap batter ready first, and then add the fragrance right before I'm ready to get the soap in the mold.

But with reasonably well behaved scents, I add the fragrance to my fats before I add the lye solution. Most important, I'm less likely to forget to add the scent compared to adding at trace. And there is no real benefit to adding a well-behaved scent at trace.

 

[Humblegoat]

The only reason why I add fragrance at trace is when the fragrance causes acceleration. So I get my soap batter ready first, and then add the fragrance right before I'm ready to get the soap in the mold.

But with reasonably well behaved scents, I add the fragrance to my fats before I add the lye solution. Most important, I'm less likely to forget to add the scent compared to adding at trace. And there is no real benefit to adding a well-behaved scent at trace.

I can’t tell you how many times I’ve forgotten the fragrance!

 

[Becky1024]

I can’t tell you how many times I’ve forgotten the fragrance!

Me too! I've started adding my EO's (I don't use FO's) to the fat mixture before adding the lye, except for a few that misbehave like clove, but that is another story!

 

[Humblegoat]

Me too! I've started adding my EO's (I don't use FO's) to the fat mixture before adding the lye, except for a few that misbehave like clove, but that is another story!

I will try this. I use both EO and FO.

 

[Tammyfarms]

I will try this. I use both EO and FO.

Was there a specific EO or FO that causes issues?

 

[Humblegoat]

Was there a specific EO or FO that causes issues?

I was using a FO holiday scent (The Christmas Song-Wellington) and it acted funny in my recipe. It could have been something in the FO. Then I just began to wonder since 2-2 1/2 oz is quite a bit, but is the recommendation.

 

[AliOop]

I was using a FO holiday scent (The Christmas Song-Wellington) and it acted funny in my recipe. It could have been something in the FO. Then I just began to wonder since 2-2 1/2 oz is quite a bit, but is the recommendation.

A lot of holiday scents include cinnamon or clove, or both. Both of those are often naughty in soaps.

 

[Humblegoat]

A lot of holiday scents include cinnamon or clove, or both. Both of those are often naughty in soaps.

I d

A lot of holiday scents include cinnamon or clove, or both. Both of those are often naughty in soaps.

i just checked out the scent combo, it has both clove and cinnamon as well as vanilla!! That explains a lot!

 

[lucycat]

It's hard to forget the fragrance if you start putting the bottle in the mold during prep.