base not for lavender NOT patchouli

[green soap]

I usually anchor lavender EO with patchouli EO. However, the world is divided into patchouli lovers and patchouli haters. My labels have full disclosure of all EOs because of potential allergies, and even though I use patch in small amount, they see it there and think they smell it. Maybe they do? The patchouli lovers buy the soaps enthusiastically. However, it seems like a majority of people love lavender, even though they might hate patchouli.

So, is there another base note EO that is compatible with soap making (CP), and that would blend well with lavender 40/42 EO? I have a good dozen base notes EOs, any suggestions?

TIA

 

[Genny]

Personally, I love patch but really don't like lavender.
But I do like lavender with Peru Balsam. Once in a while in I blend it with Ginger.

 

[AlchemyandAshes]

I love Lavender with Rosewood (a bit pricy but AWESOME) and Lavender with Anise...but Anise is another love/hate scent (use less than 10% in the blend and it will not be so "licorice-y"). Lavender with Vetiver is very green and herbal (but not too much Vetiver! Less than 10%).

 

[paillo]

I made some facial salt bars a few weeks ago with lavender and rosemary. Wasn't sure I'd like the result, but as it cures indeed I do - the greenness of the rosemary is a really nice complement to the lavender. I HATED patch for many years and have just recently rediscovered it, and now love, love, love it!

 

[green soap]

Thanks for the excellent suggestions! I love this forum.

I have Peru Balsam and vetiver at my fingertips. Also Anise, but I want to blend Anise with something else first, since I am an anise virgin. I have to see what it does 'sans' lavender.

I also use rosemary with lavender, glad to see another vote for it. I think of rosemary and lavender both as middle notes, but I suppose rosemary has some base notes too? lots of these EO are more than one note. Another middle note I use with lavender is clary sage.

Unfortunately my ginger EO is the wet sock smelling variety, so i will use it in something I have done before, not to spoil my nice lavender soap...

No rosewood here (I spent way too much on EOs in 2012....) but I have two kinds of cedar. I also have lemongrass and litsea cubeba. I am considering those two base notes but they might be a blend?

 

[lsg]

You could also anchor the lavender with cosmetic clay.

 

[AlchemyandAshes]

Lavender and Litsea are beautiful together! I use a blend of both in a balm I make.
Anise pairs well with Orange, and makes it sweeter and lighter...kindy of a fruity chewing gum smell. I have a salt soap with Anise, Clove, and Blood Orange and it converts a lot of the Anise haters :wink:

 

[andoy]

I quite like Oakmoss, but it is an irritant/allergen and don't know if it will survive CP soap.

Cade is good for masculine scent. Again don't know if it will survive CP soap.

Thyme in my opinion is such an underrated scent. It's more of a mixer than using on it's own.

 

[green soap]

You could also anchor the lavender with cosmetic clay.

What is cosmetic clay? something like rose clay? or bentonite clay?

 

[green soap]

Lavender and Litsea are beautiful together! I use a blend of both in a balm I make.
Anise pairs well with Orange, and makes it sweeter and lighter...kindy of a fruity chewing gum smell. I have a salt soap with Anise, Clove, and Blood Orange and it converts a lot of the Anise haters :wink:

Ah good to know about litsea and lavender. Anise, clove and orange! wow this sounds good. I don't have blood orange, but I have tangerine and over a gallon of sweet 10x orange.

 

[paillo]

I use litsea and lavender together too, they blend wonderfully. And I ADORE white thyme with eucalyptus and lavender, but find that thyme is a major trace accelerant. Go lightly with it, as its very strong on its own anyway. Shawnee, your anise, clove and blood orange soap sounds divine

 

[lsg]

What is cosmetic clay? something like rose clay? or bentonite clay?

Any clay that is skin safe.

 

[paillo]

I use a lot of French green, French pink, rose and yellow, and also Australian black clay, which is actually hematite. Sometimes I use bentonite, and want to experiment with some other more exotic clays. I put Kaolin clay in everything, every single batch, then round it out with whatever other clay I want to use for color or properties. I'm a HUGE fan of clay in soap, obviously

 

[paillo]

I quite like Oakmoss, but it is an irritant/allergen and don't know if it will survive CP soap.

Cade is good for masculine scent. Again don't know if it will survive CP soap.

Thyme in my opinion is such an underrated scent. It's more of a mixer than using on it's own.

Andoy, would love to hear more of your favorites, sounds like you like some of the unusual ones and are well versed in them.

 

[sagehill]

Paillo, I like clays for colorants too. Do you find they increase tracing though?

 

[paillo]

Paillo, I like clays for colorants too. Do you find they increase tracing though?

yes, i do find that they increase trace, because i add them pretty liberally . so i soap pretty cool and almost always with just a wire whisk. my poor stick blender hasn't seen action in months -- the wire whisk really does the job.

i also learned from my painter/builder spouse that the best way to mix with a wire whisk when you're incorporating heavier elements is with a constant lifting motion, lifting and mixing the clay, which tends to sink to the bottom. this helps emulsify the oils so you don't wind up with a loaf that oozes oils from inadequate mixing. important too to keep it all beneath the surface so you don't get air bubbles. it took me a while to get the hang of it, but i swear by this trick. hth!

 

[green soap]

I quite like Oakmoss, but it is an irritant/allergen and don't know if it will survive CP soap.

Cade is good for masculine scent. Again don't know if it will survive CP soap.

Thyme in my opinion is such an underrated scent. It's more of a mixer than using on it's own.

I have stared at thyme many times when ordering EOs. I think it is going to make it to my next purchase, which I am trying to hold off for a few more weeks....trying to resist.

The other two are unknown to me, so I will research them and expand my horizons. Thank you!

 

[green soap]

I use a lot of French green, French pink, rose and yellow, and also Australian black clay, which is actually hematite. Sometimes I use bentonite, and want to experiment with some other more exotic clays. I put Kaolin clay in everything, every single batch, then round it out with whatever other clay I want to use for color or properties. I'm a HUGE fan of clay in soap, obviously

I just have used rose and bentonite. Still curing the soap that has rose, so not sure how it will affect the feel of it. The bentonite is only for the shave soaps. I decided to try rose clay for color mostly, just because paprika infusions are annoying the heck out of me (talk about speeding trace). Plus, the light versions do a disappearing act (fade). I have read that the clays do not fade. I am eager to learn more about what clay does for soap, other than color.

 

[judymoody]

Do you ever do lavender straight up? I find that it sticks alright but it depends on which lavender you are using. I usually go for something economical in CP soap like 40/42 or I blend with lavandin grosso.

Eucalyptus is nice with lavender as is rosemary (already mentioned) or a blend of the three. Rosewood is too rich for my blood, but I have used amyris, cedar, and ho wood to good effect. Anise and lavender did not work for my nose but there are many folks who love it. I like anise a lot but it takes over a blend, especially as the soap cures. I generally use it at no more than 20% of a blend and it comes through loud and clear.

Love lavender mixed with 5x lemon and a bit of litsea.

Vetiver is also nice, in very small amounts, maybe 5-10% of your blend.

Finally, lavender and tea tree. Some folks find it slightly medicinal smelling - to me it smells very fresh and clean.

I know you want to get away from patch but I love the blend of lavender, folded orange, cedar and patch.

Hope this helps!

 

[paillo]

I do a lot of straight-up lavender because I have so many requests for it and it's consistently one of my best sellers. I get really bored with making it, and have had fun with lavender and pink or rose clays, and I personally love lavender and spearmint and have made a good bit of that. But -- sigh -- what most of my customers want is plain classic lavender.