fragrance calculator

[Marilyn Norgart]

I am confused...…..I have been told to use the weight of oils to calculate amount of fragrance but the instructions for use from BB states to use total weight of the whole recipe. https://www.soapqueen.com/bath-and-body-tutorials/tips-and-tricks/use-fragrance-calculator/ am I just misunderstanding this? I have used this calculator a lot but have always just used the weight of the oils and I thought the amount of scent was good.

 

[lsg]

I ususally calculate using PPO. When using the Bramble Berry calculator, I would go with their suggestion as it may be set to use that way.

 

[Marilyn Norgart]

I just tried it with using both PPO and the full recipe--for the middle range there was almost half an ounce difference

 

[lsg]

One way to do it is to find out the maximum recommended rate for the fragrance you are using and figure it PPO. You will be on the safe side then.

 

[lucycat]

They mean for their calculator to be oils/lye/liquid weight. If I use 1 oz per pound of oils against my regular formulation a lot of the newer fragrances are about that amount for a medium strength. Their strong scent on some would work out more like 1.2-1.3 oz ppo which makes me think their new scents are becoming much weaker.

They also don't make it clear how they calculate the liquid in their formulations. I think that is odd since how much fragrance you add shouldn't have any relationship to the amount of water. However, if you use a stronger/weaker lye solution than me then you would have a different amount of fragrance amount than me when you used their calculator.

The BB page you referenced to isn't new and it still has .7 ppo amounts in their charts. I don't think there is any way that the fragrance calculator on the newer fragrances can ever be backed into .7 oz ppo.

 

[Zany_in_CO]

MMS fragrance calc uses weight of fats only. I think both BB and MMS calcs are specific to their fragrances. I prefer MMS because it makes more sense to me and you have an option of using volume or weight measurements; volume measures are easier for me and I think there's less waste using a pipette for small batches.

 

[candlebeauty]

If you want to find fragrance required for candles to make use this tool

 

[TheGecko]

I am confused...…..I have been told to use the weight of oils to calculate amount of fragrance but the instructions for use from BB states to use total weight of the whole recipe. Using the Bramble Berry Fragrance Calculator - Soap Queen am I just misunderstanding this? I have used this calculator a lot but have always just used the weight of the oils and I thought the amount of scent was good.

So was I...actually still am. LOL

There is a difference between using Batch Weight and Weight of Oils. Using BRV and Batch Weight (50oz), you get 1.5oz, 2.25oz and 3.0oz for Light, Medium and Strong. If I use my Weight of Oils (34oz), you get 1.02oz, 1.53oz and 2.04oz for same...that's quite a bit of difference. I use SoapCalc and 1oz/PPO (6.0%) and it says 2.13oz. More confusion, especially since change my Lye Concentration doesn't change the amount of FO, but it wouldn't since it's base on Weight of Oil.

Unlike using a Soap Calculator which are fairly generic, Fragrance Calculators are specific to the fragrances that the company sells. I can't use BB's FO Calculator for Nurture Soap's Three Wise Men and I can't use NS's FOC for BB's Chocolate Espresso. So what I do is the general rule of thumb of 6% PPO and then I double-check that it is within the acceptable IFRA guidelines. If the guidelines have a lower usage rate, I generally just won't use that FO unless said rate works when it comes to scent retention. Does no good if a scent fades.

 

[A-Polly]

I believe most fragrance calculators will specify usage rates of around 3 to 6 percent, as long as the IFRA max isn't exceeded. If the IFRA rate is okay, I mostly use 5 percent and don't bother with the particular calculators much anymore — except for EOCalc.com, I use that ALL the time! I figure based on the total batch weight, but with only 10% of the liquid weight. Just using weight of oils is simpler, though, and easier to be sure you're below the max with those FOs that have lower usage rates.

TheGecko: Does no good if a scent fades.

Yes, indeed — I don't recall if it was you, but someone here on the forum once pointed out that using more FO doesn't help a scent that doesn't last anyway! Which seems so obvious in hindsight but hadn't really crossed my mind in that way before, and I'm grateful for all of you sharing knowledge and helping me see the whole process more clearly!

 

[TheGecko]

Yes, indeed — I don't recall if it was you, but someone here on the forum once pointed out that using more FO doesn't help a scent that doesn't last anyway! Which seems so obvious in hindsight but hadn't really crossed my mind in that way before, and I'm grateful for all of you sharing knowledge and helping me see the whole process more clearly!

I think many of us have said it.

This is why it is so important to test EO/FOs. I have a couple of 4" Square Silicone Mold that I use to test new recipes, new ingredients, new scents, new colorants, new additives. When test new FOs I make my Regular Soap recipe without colorants; this allows me to check for acceleration, ricing and discoloration. I then do a second test batch like I would for a normal batch...adding color and whatnot because this can change how the scent reacts. It's a lot cheaper to purchase 2oz of a scent and have stuff go bad, then it is to purchase a larger quantity and have a 5lb batch go bad.