Essential oils/fragrances
- Thread starter soly_sol
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The answer depends on the safe dosage for the particular EO you want to use. You can't just use a generic amount.
People often recommend eocalc as a good resource.
You might want to consider using weights for all your ingredients, not volume (teaspoons or drops.) More accurate, more repeatable.
People often recommend eocalc as a good resource.
You might want to consider using weights for all your ingredients, not volume (teaspoons or drops.) More accurate, more repeatable.
akseattle
Well-Known Member
@soly_sol, you should look up your essential oil on EOCalc . Below is the link. I was bummed to find out that lemongrass EO, which I love, is fairly restricted, only 1% is recommended!! Although I could swear 2% was recommended last January!
In M & P, the standard is 3% of an EO or FO unless it is restricted and you must use less. This is equivalent to 6% in Cold process. More is used in Cold process because less of it survives saponification. If you use 6% in M&P, you will be blasted out of the room. Although, I suppose some people may like that.
https://www.eocalc.com/enter-your-own-blend/
In M & P, the standard is 3% of an EO or FO unless it is restricted and you must use less. This is equivalent to 6% in Cold process. More is used in Cold process because less of it survives saponification. If you use 6% in M&P, you will be blasted out of the room. Although, I suppose some people may like that.
https://www.eocalc.com/enter-your-own-blend/
Thank you! I'll check out EOCalc. I am still trying to learn the basics of m &p cause I would like to work my way up to cold press. I am glad you mentioned the lemongrass eo cause that's one eo that's in my kit and I also have a recipe that uses that certain eo.
akseattle
Well-Known Member
@soly_sol I think you'll enjoy M&P. I bought everything i needed to make cold process soap but was too chicken to try it. The lye issue kind of freaked me out. so I read and watched CP videos for a whole year. In the meantime, I made M & P. I like M &P because you can just make a bar at a time. No big production. It's fun to do with family and friends or their kids. Be sure to post your first creation!!!
OMG! YES!! The lye issue got me too cause I have pets and I read that it could affect them and it getting on your skin was another. I actually do hope to try CP one day though. I know if I ever take that leap, I'll probably head outdoors to make it. I like m&p cause it helps my learning process. I am liking it so far. I am hoping to sell some soaps when I do my local farmers market again this year. I just have to work on my essential oils issue. I did a rookie mistake and just bought a general e.o kit just thinking a few drops of e.o would work, but then I did more research and learned had to use a safe amount and to check the IFRA. Sadly, I am on the hunt for new e.o's that work.
I did have one e.o from P&J that had the IFRA. This is a cotton candy goats milk m&p. I sprinkled pink mica powder. I had no rubbing alcohol on hand for the powder or to spray in my mold to avoid bubbles. Definitely trying to work out the kinks and testing what I make.
akseattle
Well-Known Member
@soly_sol , definitely get some alcohol. A few spritz's and those little bubbles will be gone!
That's a really pretty pink mica color. Although I always mix my mica with a bit of alcohol before adding it to my M&P base, you can actually add the mica directly to your cut up M&P pieces before you heat it, or even to the M&P before it cools and is still in a hot liquid form. You can stir the mica around in the hot liquid M&P and it will dissolve and color your base nicely. If you don't premix the mica, the likelihood is greater that you'll get little tiny clumps of mica like I see on your soap.
The nice thing about M&P is that if you don't like what you got, chop it up and melt it up again!!!
I bought my first EO's in a little sample pack. I think like .10 ml in each tiny bottle. I just about yanked my arm off trying to sprinkle them into my M&P. I still have those because those little sample bottles were such a fail for me that I ended up buying 4oz bottles that had a dropper.
Well, I look forward to hearing about your progress as you make your way to your local farmer's market!!
That's a really pretty pink mica color. Although I always mix my mica with a bit of alcohol before adding it to my M&P base, you can actually add the mica directly to your cut up M&P pieces before you heat it, or even to the M&P before it cools and is still in a hot liquid form. You can stir the mica around in the hot liquid M&P and it will dissolve and color your base nicely. If you don't premix the mica, the likelihood is greater that you'll get little tiny clumps of mica like I see on your soap.
The nice thing about M&P is that if you don't like what you got, chop it up and melt it up again!!!
I bought my first EO's in a little sample pack. I think like .10 ml in each tiny bottle. I just about yanked my arm off trying to sprinkle them into my M&P. I still have those because those little sample bottles were such a fail for me that I ended up buying 4oz bottles that had a dropper.
Well, I look forward to hearing about your progress as you make your way to your local farmer's market!!
