Combining FO and EO

[Callie]

Hi Everyone
I am working on fragrances for my CP and MP soaps and would like to combine FOs and EOs to produce balanced (according to my weird nose) and lasting scents.
My question is whether it is ok to add both FO and EO up to their safe usage amounts in a product. I know that this could produce a knock-your-head-off scent level, but it is a theoretical question. I am trying to blend scents (citrus family in particular) that will remain strong beyond the curing period.
I understand that some FOs use nature-identical chemicals, hence the question.
Thanks

 

[DeeAnna]

Do you mean something like if an EO is skin safe to 3% and an FO is skin safe to 10%, then you want to add the two for a total of 13% fragrance in your soap?

If so, be aware that soap can hold only so much fragrance before the fragrance starts to weep out of the soap. My experience with cold process soap suggests 8% total fragrance is usually okay, but 10% is likely to be trouble. YMMV on the exact percentage, so take those numbers with a grain of salt.

Even if you could load soap with, say, 20% fragrance, it might still be a disappointment -- there are some families of scents that are simply not long lasting. The citrus EOs are one of those.

 

[Callie]

Do you mean something like if an EO is skin safe to 3% and an FO is skin safe to 10%, then you want to add the two for a total of 13% fragrance in your soap?

If so, be aware that soap can hold only so much fragrance before the fragrance starts to weep out of the soap. My experience with cold process soap suggests 8% total fragrance is usually okay, but 10% is likely to be trouble. YMMV on the exact percentage, so take those numbers with a grain of salt.

Even if you could load soap with, say, 20% fragrance, it might still be a disappointment -- there are some families of scents that are simply not long lasting. The citrus EOs are one of those.

Thanks @DeeAnna, that was exactly the information I was after. I was hoping that you would answer