Having trouble getting essential oils to stay in my tallow soap

[Jampan]

Hi everyone,

I've made about ten batches of soap so far. Here's my recipe:

500g Rendered beef tallow
190g Distilled water
67g Caustic soda
27g Kaolin Clay
25g Essential oils

I mix the lye water and the melted tallow together when they're both 37C degrees.

The soap itself feels great to wash in, and makes a hard bar which lasts forever.

But I'm having a problem keeping the essential oils in the soap. The silicone bread molds I use smell wonderful when I turn the soap out, and the soap smells slightly. But after about a month it's completely gone. Well all except lavender essential oil which seems to stay.

The essential oils I've used in various combinations are:
Lavender
Rosemary
Cypress
Nutmeg
Geranium
Clary sage
Vetiver


I've tried various temperatures. And I've tried mixing the oils into the kaolin clay before putting it in the mix too.

Nothing so far seems to work.

I'm wondering if I need to combine the tallow with another base oil which will hold the essential oils. Possibly castor oil?

Does anyone have any ideas?

 

[eyeroll]

One of my favorite recipes right now is 85% tallow and 15% castor. I soap almost exclusively with EOs and haven't had problems with scent disappearing. I can't think of a reason castor would hold scent better than tallow, but my knowledge of soaping is vastly finite so it sure won't hurt to try.

I usually use lavender or lemongrass (or a blend using one of them) which I find are good "stickers." And I always use a full 3% - more with lavender. You didn't say if you CPOP but maybe try a non-CPOP batch if you do, or even try to prevent gel?

 

[lsg]

You may not be using enough. The least I use is .5 oz ppo. Lavender is mild and so is geranium. Wholesale Supplies Plus has maximum usage information with the description of each essential oil. Click on the "Documents" tab and then "IFRA Application Guidelines," after clicking on the essential oil. Maxium usage for their geranium seems to be 5%.

 

[Seawolfe]

When you mixed the EO with the clay, when did you add the clay + EO to the mix? At trace?

 

[new12soap]

Where did you buy your essential oils? You are using 5% of your oils, that should be plenty (and in some cases too much!) of EO if they are of good quality from a reputable supplier.

 

[Jampan]

Thanks everyone for the quick replies.

I think I'll try the same castor oil mix as Eyeroll and see what happens. I've used CP with no oven every time except once when I tried CPOP, but it didn't seem to make a difference.

I would be concerned about using anymore EO. It does seem rather alot already, but it could be the quality of the oils maybe. I am using a wholesaler in England where I live with what seems to be all the correct validation requirements. Maybe I'll try a different supplier to make sure.

What I normally do with the clay is put it in at trace, then follow with the oils once its mixed in. But I did try to mix the clay and oils together thinking they would bind to the clay better without the fat impeding them. They then went in together at trace, though they took a bit more blending in.

I've tried different amounts of clay too, but the amount I put in at the moment gives a nice slip to the soap, and is actually pretty good for shaving.

 

[judymoody]

I also wonder about your oils - are you sure that you are using 100% EO and not EO that has been diluted in a carrier oil?

If I used nutmeg or vetiver at 5%, it would drive me out of the room. I scent at 3% of soaping oils weight and that lasts a good long time.

I can't see why EO wouldn't stick in tallow as opposed to some other oil.

 

[Obsidian]

Are your essential oils pure or are they diluted? They should be sticking longer then that, I make tallow and lard soaps and my scents stick just fine.

 

[The Efficacious Gentleman]

I would also think that at 5% it would be okay, even with CP.

Can you link to the products so we can have a butchers?

 

[seven]

5% should be plenty. with pure eo, even 3% should leave a nice soft-medium scent. i am currently using 4% and the scent i get is quite strong.

 

[Saponista]

I only use 3% for most EO's and the scent seems to hold pretty well. I had problems with peppermint fading but that was the only one so far.

 

[Jampan]

Here's the link to the company I use:
http://www.freshskin.co.uk/page.cfm/online-shop#!/~/category/id=2615029&offset=0&sort=normal

To be honest I've only put a smaller bit of nutmeg or vetiver in to add some depth. Say 1.25ml with the majority being lavender, rosemary, and cypress.

 

[judymoody]

They seem to be 100% EO.

You might want to give this company a try. I have bought from their branch that is located in Canada and the quality of their oils is excellent.

http://www.newdirectionsuk.com/shop/index.php

 

[Jampan]

Thanks Judy. I'll give those a go.

 

[dixiedragon]

Re: the nutmeg, have you tried adding some ground nutmeg to the soap? In my experience, the spice improves the scent - I dont' know know if it helps hold the EO or if it just adds more scent on it's own.

 

[seven]

I had problems with peppermint fading but that was the only one so far.

true with the peppermint. i had to use a lot more to make it stick. i think around 5%.

 

[Happysoap]

OMG! 5% EO in soap? How do you justify the cost? I use 2% and I am struggling with finding the best production/sales price.

 

[seven]

i also love new directions. i've used their clays, mud, butters, oils, EOs, and all are wonderful and professionally packed.