EO or Fragrance

donna75126 · Oct 27, 2011

I have been reading so much on scenting your CP soaps. What works? some say EO's loose their scent. I have just gotten some fragrance oils from brambleberry (Fresh Snow, Coconut) and I want to use some in soaps but do not know how much to use. If you use fragrance then your soaps cannot be considered all natural... Is that correct?

Donna

judymoody · Oct 27, 2011

By definition, soap is not natural, unless you make your own lye from wood ashes. Sodium hydroxide is synthetically produced in a lab. Arguably, refined oils and butters are not "natural" either.

I say use what you like. If you want your soap to be as "natural" as possible, then go for EOs. If you prefer the scent of FOs, use them. I use both, but my nose prefers EOs. I don't find that they are any more prone to fading than FOs as a general rule. The ones I use cost about the same as FOs on average.

When I give my soap away, almost nobody asks what kind of fragrance it is nor have I ever been questioned about phthalates. They just want it to smell good and look pretty.

ETA: regarding usage rate, your supplier should provide that information but most people use .5 to 1 oz of fragrance per pound of oils (PPO).

honor435 · Oct 27, 2011

I have used both, I prefer fos, just becuase there are so many fun scents. I always use 1 oz per pd( less for hp), I do like lemongrass though.

tryanything · Oct 28, 2011

On Brambleberry's website there is a fragramce calculator. You enter what you're making, how much you are making, what fragrance (FO or EO) you are using and it gives a recommended range.

Soapy Gurl · Oct 28, 2011

But lye isn't left in the final bar of soap, the saponification process takes it away.

I use mostly EOs, I love the natural scents, they just can't be duplicated in the lab. I also use FOs, vanilla, hazelnut and others. Ones that blend great with EOs. It ends up being what you prefer. Try them both, blend them use them alone and have fun experimenting!