making linen spray help

bombus · Nov 5, 2009

I ordered a linen spray base, which smells like alcohol- no ingredient list on the bottle. When I called the supplier to ask about ingredients, they told me that because it is not sprayed on the body, I don't have to list them on my packaging. Can that be right?

I got cloudy/floating FO on the surface of the base + distilled water, so ordered their additive, which is an emulsifier. Still, I have separation. I tried not using the base, just adding FO and the emulsifier with water- no luck.

So now I have ordered CME, a micro-emulsifier from lotioncrafters- Gee! they list the ingredients (what a concept).

I'm hoping my problems are solved. But my question is, Do I need a preservative? or does my base do that? If I decide to abandon the base, and just do FO + CME + water, do I need a preservative? I do have Germaban II and Phenonip

lauramw71 · Nov 28, 2009

I just made my own linen spray. I used distilled water that I had preserved with Germaban II, EO/FO modifier, and FO. I used the FO at 5%. Works great and everyone loves them!

bombus · Nov 28, 2009

Hi lauramw-

Thanks for responding. I'm actually making monster spray. One of my FO's
(Monkey Farts) cleared up with lotioncrafters CME, the other (Bubblegum) is still like milky-water,
but at least there is no floating FO. When I used the linen spray base, the liquid cleared up, but at the top
would be a gathering of white fog that when the bottle was shaken, spread fog throughout the liquid. not good.

I packaged it in clear bottles- I think that was a mistake as it looked like I was selling water! My bottles and label
are really cute, and I didn't sell any at my market last weekend.
I am considering adding more CME drop by drop- but it is so expensive! I haven't
had much luck finding non-clear colored 4 oz bottles. Then it wouldn't matter
how foggy the mixture was.

Did you get the EO/FO modifier from thechemistrystore.com? I saw some on that site today.

lauramw71 · Nov 28, 2009

I got Monkey Farts yesterday so haven't tried that one yet! I love just saying the name HAHA
I got the modifier from WSP. If you don't like the clear, you can get poly 20, which I believe turns it a milky white. I did have some clouding with the Cucumber Melon FO, but i put the spray in a bowl of warm water and that cleared it right up. Where did you get your bottles? I've visited lots of sites, but bottles seem so dang expensive! HA
Can I ask how you did your labels? That's where I'm stumped right now. I don't have a decorative bone in my body so this part is driving me nuts!

I'm really surprised you didn't sell any of your sprays!! What scents did you have them in? When I made my first batch, I took some to work and the Downy Clean Breeze sold like hotcakes! I had only bought a 1oz bottle of FO and ran out! I got it from NG, then reordered some more from brighter scents and that ws a HUGE mistake. That stuff STINKS! ARGH! I just ordered Spiced Cranberry and some Xmas one from WSP to make more sprays. Hopefully I'll get a few good sales from that.. I need more $$ to give to WSP and other sites! HAHA!

bombus · Nov 28, 2009

Yes- bottles are really high. That's why I ended up with clear. I got them on
surplus at WSP for 6 cents each, but had to buy the regular mister tops.
The colored bottles are 3 times as much, but that may be my solution. I guess
I could go with green ones. That raises my bottom line, though.

With no sales, I hate to put good money after bad.

FYI- Monkey Farts is light yellow (like really watered down pee)

I don't know about coloring the liquid itself, as I worry that a kid will spray
the bedspread or the drapes, etc.
I just did the 2 scents, bubblegum & M.F. I haven't done any adult room sprays.
Here's a pic of my bottles:

The first and 4th from the left are bubblegum. Notice the "watery milk" look. I priced these at $6.00. I guess
the crowd wasn't right for this product.

Deb · Nov 29, 2009

how about just one drop of the palest liquid colouring? That little shouldn't stain but would give it a little 'not water' look. Or a teensy glitter in there for girls?

And where did you get those uber cute monster tops?

lauramw71 · Nov 29, 2009

OMG! How absolutely adorable are those?!?!?! For the bottles, I used the natural HDPE cylinder bottles from WSP. AMAZINGLY cheap.... 45 of them for 9.95. I don't know if I like the look of them though. But I think with a cute label they should be ok. I got the 24/410 misters from wsp also. But I recently ordered the same ones from ebay. The price was a bit cheaper from wsp, but all I needed to order were the misters and the s/h was going to KILL me, so I found others on ebay. That's what is the worst part, the s/h. ugh!!!