EO: my first and only experience re quantity

surf girl · Jan 3, 2009

Just thought I'd share my first scenting experience

Well, last night I rebatched my hideous carrot soap disaster, and that went reasonably well (microwave method). I decided that while I was at it, I might as well try adding scent for the first time.

Cheapo that I am, I was loath to add the generally recommended amount (0.5 to 1 oz ppo) of EO, since I got the oils at my local herb farm before I had any idea about how much I was supposed to add to soap and there was no way I was going to add 1 to 2 bottles (30mL or 1 oz each) of exorbitantly priced oil to my 2 lb batch of soap. So I splashed a little in (eyeballing the remaining level in the bottles, I would say it was, in total, about 6-8 mL at the most, or equivalent to 0.1 oz per pound of oils). Today, the soap REEKS as far as I am concerned (it's a pleasant enough smell - lemongrass and patchouli - but it is strong). You can smell it from across the room.

It will be interesting to see how much it fades. But I must say I am very pleasantly surprised at how little EO it took.

carebear · Jan 3, 2009

well now you sure picked two strong ones!!! I use 0.5 oz ppo on those sorts of oils in CP soap where it gets a bit knocked around by the lye. In a rebatch or in an HP I'd go to about half that. 0.25 oz is 7.5 mls so you are certainly in the ballpark.

mandolyn · Jan 3, 2009

Lemongrass is one of those really strong smelling EO's out of the bottle, but because it's a citrus, the smell fades a bit over time. Patchouli, on the other hand, is what I use quite often to anchor citruses, & it works wonderfully for that.

Hope you'll give us a follow-up & let us know how your scents hold up after a few months. Oh, & can we see that newly rebatched soap? Please, please?

surf girl · Jan 3, 2009

OK, so rebatching uses less. Makes sense. I used about 0.1 oz ppo for the rebatch.

Here you go, mandolyn - pics of the stinky soaps! The exposed surfaces are very knobbly, but the cut surfaces (second picture) are smooth enough. I don't know if I'd give them away, but they'll be fine for home.

mandolyn · Jan 3, 2009

Those look really fine!! I like the rustic look! Congrats on doing such a great job of saving that batch, too! Anytime you can turn a disaster batch into perfectly good & useable soap is magic!

Woohooo!!!