Has Anyone Ever Heard of This?

[Lolly58]

I went into a craft store that sells mainly supplies for candles and freshies, however they had an incredible selection of fragrance oils. When I asked if they were body safe, they informed me that they didn't know because it costs extra from their supplier for them to be given that information and it was very expensive to obtain. Has anyone ever heard of this? I called back about several months later and was told the same thing.
I've been in a lot of craft stores and order from several and I have never been told this. I just find it strange.

 

[AliOop]

Yes, that is unfortunately common.

Also, even if they are skin-safe, the FOs carried by most craft stores are by and large only suitable for melt & pour soap, not for cold-processed soap. If you use them in CP soap, you can expect some or all of the following: acceleration, seizing, ricing, color changes, and scent morphing/fading.

That's not to say you can't try one or two of them. If you decide to do that, I'd recommend making a very small test batch to see how it goes.

 

[dmcgee5034]

Hi @Lolly58 - when I first started, I picked up M&P, micas and FO at Hobby Lobby. I couldn’t find usage rates on the internet for the brand, and quickly learned I needed more info than I could get that way. Now I only buy from known vendors with reliable notes and usage rates.
Your story does sound strange for a place that seems to specialize in these items, and for me, I want more data and to know safe usage rates, notes on discoloration, acceleration, etc.

 

[Lolly58]

Yes, that is unfortunately common.

Also, even if they are skin-safe, the FOs carried by most craft stores are by and large only suitable for melt & pour soap, not for cold-processed soap. If you use them in CP soap, you can expect some or all of the following: acceleration, seizing, ricing, color changes, and scent morphing/fading.

That's not to say you can't try one or two of them. If you decide to do that, I'd recommend making a very small test batch to see how it goes.

I just passed on it. They call themselves a candle supple but mostly specialize in freshies. I live close to a candle supply in Fort Worth and even most of their fragrances are also body safe. I asked them about it also, and they have never heard of it either.

 

[melinda48]

I went into a craft store that sells mainly supplies for candles and freshies, however they had an incredible selection of fragrance oils. When I asked if they were body safe, they informed me that they didn't know because it costs extra from their supplier for them to be given that information and it was very expensive to obtain. Has anyone ever heard of this? I called back about several months later and was told the same thing.
I've been in a lot of craft stores and order from several and I have never been told this. I just find it strange.

I don’t generally rely on store clerks to have this sort of information. I look at the container, google the company and look it up myself. if it is private label, I would contact the home office. In all honesty, I don’ buy any soap making supplies from craft stores. They are just not worth the momentary “convenience.”

Hi @Lolly58 - when I first started, I picked up M&P, micas and FO at Hobby Lobby. I couldn’t find usage rates on the internet for the brand, and quickly learned I needed more info than I could get that way. Now I only buy from known vendors with reliable notes and usage rates.
Your story does sound strange for a place that seems to specialize in these items, and for me, I want more data and to know safe usage rates, notes on discoloration, acceleration, etc.

“Craft stores” (Michaels, Hobby Lobby for example) don’t specialize in anything in particular. They offer a nice range of crafting/art supplies but I would never expect any level of expertise from their staff. You do run in to some who have expertise in some areas but their main focus is to supply basics to crafters (not necessarily professionals).

 

[Lolly58]

I need to correct myself. It was not a craft store but a supply store. The staff were actually the owners and supposedly professionals. I did ask the owners of the store I normally buy from, and they have never heard of that either. I was just curious if anyone else had. Thank you for your replies.