I want to try a pre-made base...

[lioness]

I want to try using a pre-made base for christmas presents and I was looking for some advice. I am not too sure how much fragrance oil to use and are you suposed to sterilize the containers? I read a few people doing that on here and I wanted to be sure. If the mixture has a perservative do you have to add anything else to it? Do most formulas that you buy or do some you have to add it yourself? What is the most common size jar to put it in. I tryed looking on Etsy to see what the norm was but they where all so diff. The most I could tell was a 4 to 8oz size. Any advice would be much apreciated.

 

[lauramw71]

pre made base of what? lotion? I use wsp's goat milk and honey lotion. I add fragrance at 1% usually, depending on the strength of the oil. Some of them are stronger than others. For amazing grace, I add a bit more since it's such a light scent.
Depending on where you purchase your containers will be your deciding factor on sterilizing them. I purchase most of mine from wsp, so, no, I don't sterilize them before using.
If you buy a base that already has a preservative, no you don't have to add more. Again, without knowing what base you are wanting to try it's kind of hard to answer your questions. If you heat any base that is already preserved, you will have to watch the temp, as too high of a temp can kill your preservative.
If you could let us know what you are wanting to make, we will be able to better help you with your questions.

Laura

 

[lioness]

Sorry of course....its a shea butter body creme and I tried it at the supplier the last time I was there and its super nice. I want to make some nice size Christmas presents with it. I am not too sure of the scents yet but it has these "Phenoxyethanol (and) Caprylyl Glycol (and) Sorbic Acid(Preservative)" in it.
The rest is butters oils and waxes.
The size I think I would do is a 6 oz is that the right size or should it be an 8 oz? I don't want it look too small in the baskets with the soaps I made as well.

 

[Tabitha]

You will need to grt % for fragrance from your fragrance supplioer. Only they will know how strong their scents are. Make sure it is skin safe and not just soap safe.