Botanical extracts

momma_mayham · Sep 5, 2014

Hi all! Hopefully I plopped this thread in the right category. So! I've been looking around the interwebs for any kind of info about how much botanical extract I need to put in a soap/shampoo bar. All I can seem to find is how much of X needed to color soap, not necessarily for the benefits of product X.
My idea was to make a really nourishing hair formula with chamomile, peppermint, and rosemary. Here's a few links as to what I'm referring to:

http://www.newdirectionsaromatics.ca/chamomile-botanical-extract-101-p-1503.html

http://www.newdirectionsaromatics.ca/peppermint-botanical-extract-p-1577.html

http://www.newdirectionsaromatics.ca/rosemary-botanical-extract-p-1289.html

I am also planning on throwing in some silk. Possibly this one:
http://www.newdirectionsaromatics.ca/silk-amino-acids-p-555.html

I am VERY open to new suggestions. Any additional additives, essential oil recommendations, heck even preferred soaping oils for this sort of thang! I've scoured through the threads on shampoo bars, so hopefully I have my final recipe

Look forward to hearing feedback!
Thanks guys! :razz:

The Efficacious Gentleman · Sep 6, 2014

I am one of those people who don't think that too much of the goodness of these sorts of things will make it through the saponification process - some things might well do so, but how much is a very unsure figure.

That said, on the first link (Chamomile) there is a further link to the Tincture instructions, where they talk about how to mix it up for use. Bear in mind, they suggest alcohol which will give you issues when making soap.

For what you are looking for, maybe making a super strong tea mixture using top quality teas? Or an oil infusion?

neeners · Sep 6, 2014

There's a video on Soaping101 which goes a little into what to put and how to infuse into your soaping oils. I think it's the shampoo bar video. It would answer your question.

Tincture can be an idea, but most are either alcohol or vinegar based. Some can be glycerine, but I can't be sure the herbs you're using can be extracted using glycerine method (more research on your end).

I would suggest oil infusion. I did that with my 'poo bars and with my herbal colourants.

seven · Sep 6, 2014

i prefer to do hp if i were to use herbs/extracts. at least adding them after the cook, there will be no active lye anymore, better chance of the extracts surviving rather than cp. the extracts usually have their own usage guide.

Seawolfe · Sep 6, 2014

If I was bound and determined to use water based herbal extracts in soap, I would add them to a rebatch or melt and pour, or as the dilution in liquid soap. I've yet to see any reliable reports of water based herbal scents really surviving the saponification process, except for maybe the hoppy smell in a beer soap, and that's at leas partially an alcohol extract, let alone any of the perceived benefits. Plus soap is a wash off product, wouldn't the extracts be better in a lotion or splash?

momma_mayham · Sep 8, 2014

Thanks for all the advice guys!!! To the efficacious gentleman, I agree with you about making a tea infusion. Neeners, thank you! I knew I had seen a video where somebody had explained it, couldn't remember for the life of me where lol!
Seven and Seawolfe HP and/or rebatch didn't cross my mind... I think that would be a better idea

Thanks again everyone, now I have some shopping too do!!!

P.S
I apologize it I'm slightly incomprehensible, I'm just up (5:30 a.m)

http://www.soapmakingforum.com/member.php?u=12614