Essential Oil question.

[LunaLion]

Generally, how much essential oil should I put per pound of soap for a very strong scented bar? I know that different EO's could be different amounts, I'm just looking for a general idea to work with. ;-)

 

[Genny]

This forum sticks to the 3% and under rule for safety.
There are some good eo calculators out there

https://www.thesage.com/calcs/fragcalc.html

http://www.brambleberry.com/Pages/Fragrance-Calculator.aspx

 

[lizflowers42]

http://www.brambleberry.com/Pages/Fragrance-Calculator.aspx Try this out It's worked for me!

It appears Genny beat me to it.

 

[Koshka]

I use anywhere from .5 to 1 oz per lbs.

Peppermint, clove, cinnamon, lemongrass... tea tree (.5 or less and I usually mix it with another FO, just because it STINKS), rosemary... those types .5 oz

Orange, grapefruit, Lavender, Camomile, Cassia, Geranium about 1oz...

 

[AlchemyandAshes]

I use anywhere from .5 to 1 oz per lbs.

Peppermint, clove, cinnamon, lemongrass... tea tree (.5 or less and I usually mix it with another FO, just because it STINKS), rosemary... those types .5 oz

Orange, grapefruit, Lavender, Camomile, Cassia, Geranium about 1oz...

You use 1 oz ppo of Cassia? :shock:
6.25% is WAY too much to be safe...I use 0.7% (0.5 oz in 66 oz base oil) and you can still smell it. Cassia is a known dermal irritant similar to Cinnamon and many sources do not recommend using it on skin at all.

 

[Ianto]

This forum sticks to the 3% and under rule for safety.
There are some good eo calculators out there

https://www.thesage.com/calcs/fragcalc.html

http://www.brambleberry.com/Pages/Fragrance-Calculator.aspx

I saved those links! If only I had been as smart as LunaLion and asked this question!

I spent over an hour on google trying to find recipes that used coriander seed oil to see how much people use in soap. I was unable to find any recipes with coriander seed oil - I love the smell but I guess it is not very popular. In any case I decided to make a very small 8 oz batch and try 7 ml of the EO. It smells a bit strong to me today - hopefully it will fade with time. At least not much will be lost if it is still too strong in a month or two.

 

[Genny]

I saved those links! If only I had been as smart as LunaLion and asked this question!

I spent over an hour on google trying to find recipes that used coriander seed oil to see how much people use in soap. I was unable to find any recipes with coriander seed oil - I love the smell but I guess it is not very popular. In any case I decided to make a very small 8 oz batch and try 7 ml of the EO. It smells a bit strong to me today - hopefully it will fade with time. At least not much will be lost if it is still too strong in a month or two.

Ooh, that's going to be a strong one. For coriander, I only use about 2%

 

[Ianto]

Ooh, that's going to be a strong one. For coriander, I only use about 2%

That is what I was afraid of. At least I did a really small batch! It was my first time adding scent and color (annatto). I probably overdid both the color and the scent but it was fun to try - and of course learn from my mistakes!

 

[DWinMadison]

Question: If you are using two EOs ina recipe do you use half the amount you would use if it was a single EO batch?

 

[AlchemyandAshes]

Question: If you are using two EOs ina recipe do you use half the amount you would use if it was a single EO batch?

If you are sticking to the 3% rule using 2 EOs, you would use 1.5% of each...is that what you're asking?
Your EO % is TOTAL EO amount...not PER EO.

 

[hoegarden]

I also use 3-5% EO in my soaps but I try to keep to 3%. But for tea tree EO, I up to 5% usually. I remember in a thread that I put on previously, there is agruement about tea tree EO being use direct.

I did a research online, and it seems that though most EO need to be diluted before use, some mention that tea tree can be used directly especially to tackle the acne problem. But still it discretionary. So I am comfortable with tea tree at a higher %. But for others, I think better to keep the 3% mark.

 

[Genny]

I also use 3-5% EO in my soaps but I try to keep to 3%. But for tea tree EO, I up to 5% usually. I remember in a thread that I put on previously, there is agruement about tea tree EO being use direct.

I did a research online, and it seems that though most EO need to be diluted before use, some mention that tea tree can be used directly especially to tackle the acne problem. But still it discretionary. So I am comfortable with tea tree at a higher %. But for others, I think better to keep the 3% mark.

A lot of people do use eo's neat (directly) on the skin. But unless someone's under a certified aromatherapist's care, I would never suggest it to someone else. Which is why it is regularly argued here. We have no idea of someone's knowledge of eo's & any underlying health conditions they may have that could be affected by the eo's.

After hearing Soapbuddy (Irena from Ginger's Garden) tell the story about her friend dying from neat eo's being directly used on her skin, I'm very careful to always mention that eo's should be diluted when talking to people about the use of eo's.

Also, I'm not arguing with what hoegarden's said, I'm just explaining why talking about using eo's neat or internally is such a hot topic.

 

[AlchemyandAshes]

After hearing Soapbuddy (Irena from Ginger's Garden) tell the story about her friend dying from neat eo's being directly used on her skin, I'm very careful to always mention that eo's should be diluted when talking to people about the use of eo's.

Oh my God, that's very sad...and I only will ask for the pertinent details for educational purposes, if any are available to this particular case. I would never ask questions of such a sensitive nature, but I have never heard of someone dying from Essential Oils used in any fashion - though I can surmise that someone has had an anaphylactic reaction to an essential oil they were allergic to, or perhaps if taken in large doses internally.
I have used Essential Oils for 13+ years, and the only ones I have used neat are Lavender and Tea Tree. I personally have never had a bad experience with an Essential Oil, even after accidentally pouring 2 oz of Anise down my arm...and with the exception of feeling nauseous from inhaling the scent of that much Anise and a slight warm sensation on my arm for about a 1/2 hour, to no great detriment (I ran my arm under water for about 5 minutes afterwards and then rubbed almond oil directly over it, so I'm sure that helped). I would NEVER take them internally, no matter what any literature says, and I certainly would NEVER use them in my eyes as discussed in this article:
http://roberttisserand.com/2013/02/essential-oils-and-eye-safety/

Since our skin does absorb some of what it comes in contact with (obviously not everything or the human race would have died out long ago), there is discussion as to how much of an Essential Oil that comes in contact with our skin is absorbed into our blood stream and filtered through our liver and kidneys. There is lots of controversy on the subject, and on Aromatherapy as a whole...which is why it is so important to research reputable sources of information and know what you are using. And please, please do NOT use Young Living as a source of your Aromatherapy information! There are plenty of articles on the dangers and misinformation that has been put out by that particular company. Robert Tisserand, Kurt Schnaubelt, Valerie Worwood, and Julia Lawless are all reputable Aromatherapists will loads of accurate information to share.

 

[hoegarden]

I don't dare to use EO neat as well. Have not tried it so far. Though I wish to try tea tree neat, but I still have my reservation. No matter what, pure EO is strong to begin with.

As I said, the arguement on using EO neat is discretionary. Ought to proceed with care...

So keep to 3-5% is still the best bet.

 

[Genny]

Shawnee ~ I had to go to another forum and look up what Soapbuddy had said about what happened to her friend, because I don't think she ever mentioned it here when she was on here. But she said that a Young Living practitioner used undiluted essential oils (thyme, oregano, cypress, birch basil & peppermint), plus two blends formulated by YL (blue tansy, wintergreen or sweet birch). The concentrations of the EO's used exceeded the recommended safe doses and caused skin irritation, sensitization, phototoxicity, and essential oil toxicity. They used hot towels to drive the eo's deeper into her skin.

Another reason I so dislike Young Living & DoTerra. A bunch of people running around acting like aromatherapists & in some case doctors and not even knowing what they're doing

 

[AlchemyandAshes]

But she said that a Young Living practitioner used undiluted essential oils (thyme, oregano, cypress, birch basil & peppermint), plus two blends formulated by YL (blue tansy, wintergreen or sweet birch). The concentrations of the EO's used exceeded the recommended safe doses and caused skin irritation, sensitization, phototoxicity, and essential oil toxicity. They used hot towels to drive the eo's deeper into her skin.

Oh yes, the Young Living "Raindrop Therapy"...I should have guessed! Said to "cure" scoliosis and a wide variety of ailments, and of course, taught to Mr. Young by a Native American Medicine Man. :roll:
http://www.quackwatch.org/11Ind/young.html

For those not aware about much of Aromatherapy...Blue Tansy, Wintergreen, and Birch are on the top of the list for oils NOT to be used AT ALL on the skin. Thyme, Oregano, Cypress, and Peppermint can be used DILUTED.

It so irks me that the association so many have with Aromatherapy is through Young Living and their outright quackery :evil:. I utilize alternative therapies, like Chiropractics, Aromatherapy, and Herbalism in my personal life, but I know there is a certain limit to their uses. I wish they were more readily available and accepted in the US, and that more health care practitioners were well versed in their uses...but until then - STAY AWAY FROM YOUNG LIVING ESSENTIAL OILS.

 

[hoegarden]

OMG. I use wintergreen on skin. though very diluted. I shall think twice now. need to throw away that bottle of oil with the EO inside... faintzzzzz..

 

[Genny]

OMG. I use wintergreen on skin. though very diluted. I shall think twice now. need to throw away that bottle of oil with the EO inside... faintzzzzz..

If I remember correctly, Lindy's cousin died from Wintergreen when they were young
Also, someone else here (sorry, I can't remember who) almost killed her father by using it on him in a blend because he was on blood thinners.

Wintergreen has blood thinning properties similar to aspirin.

 

[hoegarden]

That is the reason why I got wintergreen in the first place. Due to its properties similar to aspirin. I think i put around 20 drops in 50ml of oil. I use it once on my mum as I wanted to use the aspirin effect to loosen up her muscles when I do shoulder massage for her.

thank god that nothing happens to mum.

I think I need to scot out some other EO.

 

[AlchemyandAshes]

Use your Wintergreen in a diffuser so you get the benefit of the scent/Aromatherapy purpose...but I would not use it on my skin if I were you.