FO Discolouration

[Michelle La]

Hello! I used a fragrance oil called white musk in this soap. Everything seemed fine, no acceleration that I could tell, nice steady pour with no ricing etc, but after a short time in the mold (which is see through) I noticed a sort of brown tint. After cutting it seems the mottled brown is mainly on the outside of the bar. Could it be the FO that has done this?

Outside:


Cut edge:

 

[artemis]

Could it be the FO that has done this?

Could be-- where'd you get the FO? What did the manufacturer's notes say? What about the reviews? Did they mention discoloration? You'll know for sure if it continues to change color over the next few days.

 

[Michelle La]

Could be-- where'd you get the FO? What did the manufacturer's notes say? What about the reviews? Did they mention discoloration? You'll know for sure if it continues to change color over the next few days.

There’s only one review which unhelpfully just says “stunning fragrance”, and for the record it stinks. I’m in the UK and I don’t think the suppliers I’ve found here have the same number of reviews.

 

[artemis]

There’s only one review which unhelpfully just says “stunning fragrance”, and for the record it stinks. I’m in the UK and I don’t think the suppliers I’ve found here have the same number of reviews.

The supplier didn't say anything about how it behaved in soap?

 

[Michelle La]

The supplier didn't say anything about how it behaved in soap?

Nope. Just in their generic description of fragrances that it’s suitable for soap making. But that description also warns that some fragrances may discolour and to test in small batches. Not very helpful I know.

 

[Relle]

It's probably got vanillin in the FO.

 

[Michelle La]

It's probably got vanillin in the FO.

Ah okay. I figured that would discolour throughput rather than be patchy. I have broadly avoided anything that I can obviously identify as having vanillin for I am a chicken.

 

[artemis]

If it is discoloration due to FO, it will spread throughout the bar over about a week. If the inside stays normal and the patch on the outside stays, then it's a different issue, like residue on your mold or something.

 

[Michelle La]

If it is discoloration due to FO, it will spread throughout the bar over about a week. If the inside stays normal and the patch on the outside stays, then it's a different issue, like residue on your mold or something.

Ah okay, that would make sense. I’ll watch and see what happens, thank you.

 

[artemis]

Ah okay, that would make sense. I’ll watch and see what happens, thank you.

How's that soap looking now?

 

[Michelle La]

How's that soap looking now?

I ended up having to ditch it. Not because of the discolouration, but because the scent made me feel quite unwell, oddly.

 

[dmcgee5034]

Sorry you had to toss the batch in the bin. I understand what you mean, though. I once made a soap with Ylang Ylang on special request for my niece and the scent literally gave me nightmares and I had to banish it to isolation.

 

[artemis]

I ended up having to ditch it. Not because of the discolouration, but because the scent made me feel quite unwell, oddly.

In my early days, I got my first delivery of Bramble Berry FOs and immediately had a migraine upon opening the box!

 

[Tammyfarms]

I’m so sorry you had to dump the batch. Fragrance is often an issue for me. I can use some EO’s but not all. Thankfully we have a room in our shop where I can cure soap as even the EO’s I can tolerate are too much while curing. Scent can definitely make some people feel unwell.