FO amounts

[littlefrodo]

I have 2 different FOs I'd like to try in a combination, and I'm not sure how to figure the scent. One has a usage of 1% and the other is 3%. I'm planning on trying it in a 1# batch. How does that work? It seems like doing the full of each would be wrong, but I don't even know! Thanks in advance.

 

[judymoody]

As they may have overlapping scent components, I'd be leery of using the maximum for both.

I would go with 3% total. Why not experiment with different ratios to see what you like best? I use drops from a pipette to determine the ratio I want.

 

[boyago]

I've read that a good way to test the ratio of mixing your oils is to get some coton balls and do a series of drops, 1 on the first 2 on the second so on with each fragrance then drop one of each ball into a bag and take a wiff. Vary the strength (#of drops) of each scent till your happy. This should give you a good ratio of the scents to base your total mixture on. Never tried it, but it makes sense to me. Don't forget to tag the balls in some to way so you don't forget how many drops are on each.

 

[Tienne]

What boyago said. Also, after you've smelled it, close the bag and leave it for half an hour then smell it again and then again after a few hours. That gives the scents time to blend and interact with each other.

I'm not too good on blending FO's or EO's, so sometimes I will make just a single bar of soap with the new scent (noting the ratio and amount used of course) and see how that pans out, before I do a whole loaf. I usually put it in a fancy single cavity soap mold, so it at least looks somewhat intentional and pretty. If it doesn't smell good or if the scent is too strong or too weak, then at least I only have a single dud soap to deal with, but it does give me an idea about if the FO blend and if the amount needs adjusting.

 

[littlefrodo]

Thank you!