Experiment: Scent Fixing & Gel Phase

[Shelley D]

Anybody tried this on FO? I'm wondering if it would help them too. I feel like my scents seem to fade quickly, either that or I've gone nose blind.

I don't recall but if you start by reading the thread below it should help explain some more of details. There have been so many discussions on this forum about this specific technique that I don't recall anyone using FOs, just EOs. If the link didn't paste, use the search to look up the thread, "Stellar method for EO blends that stick".

Thread 'QuasiQuadrant's Stellar Method for EO Blends That Stick' https://www.soapmakingforum.com/thr...tellar-method-for-eo-blends-that-stick.90973/

 

[bookworm42]

Thanks @Shelley D I was reading that and made a slurry based on her directions with a combo of EO and FO. I plan on making the soap later this week. Funnily enough I think I'll have more free time this week even with Thanksgiving.

 

[Shelley D]

Thanks @Shelley D I was reading that and made a slurry based on her directions with a combo of EO and FO. I plan on making the soap later this week. Funnily enough I think I'll have more free time this week even with Thanksgiving.

I can't wait to hear how it works for you!

 

[Susan Cote]

Hi all

My first post here - thanks for having me

I thought I'd jump right in with a question: has anyone found that essential oil scents fix better in non-gelled CP soap? It just occurred to me that the heat generated in gel phase (apparently up to 180F!) might cause some evaporation of essential oils..

I've been trying to improve the scent strength of my CP soaps and tried the usual recommendations (maximum usage rates and fixing with kaolin clay). But I've still found that some essential oil soaps I've bought have stronger scents than mine. All my soaps are gelled and having tried everything else to improve scent, I just wondered if this could be a factor...

A picture of my curing "purple haze" soap attached for your trouble

View attachment 79798

Much appreciate any thoughts or advice!

James

I've been on this same mission. Eos are so pricey, if they don't stick it's a sad affair. I have found so far in my experience that certain eos stick better than others. A slow cure helps too. I have used cardboard boxes (breathable).
Old wooden draws is a good one too. Leaving my eo cp soap in a more open area ie ..open shelves compounded the problem. I have a salt bar I made early last year and it had French pink clay as my anchor clay. I used patchouli grapefruit and cedar atlas. Here we are a year later and it smells fantastic! It's my partners favorite by far. That batch was slow cured in cardboard boxes. Wrapped in tissue paper and placed in linen bags after the initial 6 week cure. This is not a controlled testing,just an observation of what is working for me so far. My bars are in a small room humidity controlled. It's so humid right now .

 

[Jamesh388]

I've been on this same mission. Eos are so pricey, if they don't stick it's a sad affair. I have found so far in my experience that certain eos stick better than others. A slow cure helps too. I have used cardboard boxes (breathable).
Old wooden draws is a good one too. Leaving my eo cp soap in a more open area ie ..open shelves compounded the problem. I have a salt bar I made early last year and it had French pink clay as my anchor clay. I used patchouli grapefruit and cedar atlas. Here we are a year later and it smells fantastic! It's my partners favorite by far. That batch was slow cured in cardboard boxes. Wrapped in tissue paper and placed in linen bags after the initial 6 week cure. This is not a controlled testing,just an observation of what is working for me so far. My bars are in a small room humidity controlled. It's so humid right now .

Great information, thank you I hadn't thought of the slow curing, but I guess it makes sense - probably less EO escaping that way.

While I'm here - an update on my non-gel experiment. While non-gelling did seem to make for a slightly stronger scent, unfortunately I've found the downsides outweigh the upside. That being my non-gelled soaps become softer sooner with use and don't last as long. I also found they don't seem to lather quite as well as the gelled.

So, my best compromise had been to prepare my EO + clay slurry 24hrs in advance and let it soak. But slowing down cure as you suggest might compound the effect.

Although EO's are harder to work with, they are worth it as for me they smell so much better than FO's.

 

[Susan Cote]

Great information, thank you I hadn't thought of the slow curing, but I guess it makes sense - probably less EO escaping that way.

While I'm here - an update on my non-gel experiment. While non-gelling did seem to make for a slightly stronger scent, unfortunately I've found the downsides outweigh the upside. That being my non-gelled soaps become softer sooner with use and don't last as long. I also found they don't seem to lather quite as well as the gelled.

So, my best compromise had been to prepare my EO + clay slurry 24hrs in advance and let it soak. But slowing down cure as you suggest might compound the effect.

Although EO's are harder to work with, they are worth it as for me they s much better