essential oils in lotion bars

[rszuba]

ok i make lotion bars and people love them,but when i first found a recipe for them it said to put 2tsp eo in it--- the rest of the recipe called for 9oz butter and oils mixed.

so i did that, with peppermint eo. then i was concerned about eo safety.

but when i tried to down to eo amount, my husband and everyone complained that it wasn't enough. my question - if it isn't bothering people should i still use it. what about other eo's-- i just made one with 2ml bergamont and 2ml lime, but you can barely smell it(it was a double recipe).
thanks
renee

 

[carebear]

2 tsp on 9 oz would be about 4% which is on the high side IMO.

you used MLS not TSPs so yours is really weak - 2+2mls/9+9oz = 0.8%

Some EOs you must be cautious with. Peppermint is one of them I agree - I'm sure some EO expert will wander over and talk about it

 

[Tabitha]

Ditto what care bear said. That does sound on the high end. That much peppermint eo would make my eyes water fo sure.

 

[rszuba]

so, what percent do you suggest?

 

[carebear]

I know it's not high impact, but I stick to around 1% myself, sometimes a bit more.

 

[rszuba]

thanks guys

 

[IanT]

I know it's not high impact, but I stick to around 1% myself, sometimes a bit more.

I agree!... I will sometimes use a bit more.. I tried a lotion with like 2.5 % peppermint EO and id only use it on feet cause it was a SPICCCCCCCCCY MEATABALLLAAA... i have been using 1 tsp ppo for peppermint EO and it has been working well for me, not too strong, not too light... and give you that fresh feeling coming out of the shower.

I dont think Id push it to more than that....

 

[pepperi27]

Maybe it depends on your use for example if making a muscle balm wouldn't you need to use a bit more? Then again I don't measure my eo's in tsp I use drops and never use a lot.

 

[carebear]

your balance (scale) is your friend.

 

[IanT]

I know it's not high impact, but I stick to around 1% myself, sometimes a bit more.

I agree!... I will sometimes use a bit more.. I tried a lotion with like 2.5 % peppermint EO and id only use it on feet cause it was a SPICCCCCCCCCY MEATABALLLAAA... i have been using 1 tsp ppo for peppermint EO and it has been working well for me, not too strong, not too light... and give you that fresh feeling coming out of the shower.

I dont think Id push it to more than that....

Id also like to add to this post... This lotion had no preservative in it, i keep checking it...its been...geeze...6 months at least since i made it..maybe 5? and its still good... I think the peppermint EO is acting as a preservative....not sure anything could survive in there with how much EO i used lol...

 

[carebear]

Ian, how do you KNOW it's still good?

 

[IanT]

i made the same batch of lotion, but unscented...

results:

1month outside of fridge: started to see yellowing parts in the lotion as well as blackish/gray mold colonies forming

1.5 months IN the fridge: started to see the same as above, just lasted a little longer because i kept it in the fridge...

the peppermint one is still going strong with no indication of nasties...now granted if i did one of those bacterial culture things they sell where you dip it and let it culture a few days to see if any bacteria grows... not sure how it would turn out... but the lotion LOOKS fine...still same consistency, color, etc... and i have had this one outside the fridge the whole time...

EDIT: none of these lotions had preservatives in them of any type...just the main ingredients of the recipe.
Is there any other way to tell???

I mean im like 85% sure its still good...


at least until i see nasties forming!

 

[carebear]

many nasties aren't visable. bacteria don't necessary grow pretty colonies, and probably not green or gray ones anyway. In my days in the micro lab (way back, second job after college) I saw that most bacterial colonies were white or yellow. Few were pretty colors.

I'd not trust it after 4 days even in the fridge personally.

 

[IanT]

I agree to disagree :*

(done some research myself dealing with bacterial inhibition zones and such back in college...fun stuff)

 

[rszuba]

ok i was under the impression if you make a body butter or lotion bar and it does not contain water that you didn't have to worry about preservitives. well i do put vit e in mine, control rancid. i do understand that if someone is touching these products bacteria could be introduced from there hands. what about aubrey he insists (in his book)that you can use gse and antioxidants to preserve and control products.