New Guy: I need a powerfully scented man's soap

[jay29]

Hello! I tend to make many of the things I use. Everything from casting my own bullets from lead, making natural lubricants and shooting patches for my black powder muzzle loaders, growing my own cigar tobacco, a big garden for my veggies, homemade beer and wine, and so on. So I will guess I will try soap next. Another iron in the fire....lol. :twisted:

I guess I will be using for my first recipe this one: http://www.smftutorials.com/beginners-g ... orial.html

The author states that I shouldn't make it scented for my first batch, but I love great smells! How much of the scented oil should I use for that batch and when should I add it? At trace? Where and what brand should I use?

These are the scents I like:

Frankincense (I love the smell of Church incense!)
Myrrh
Sandalwood
Cedar
Pine
Cinnamon

I also want to make shaving soap....


What do you recommend?

 

[NancyRogers]

Welcome to the addicting world of soap making, Jay!
Are you hoping to use EOs only or would you be open to fragrance oils as well?

 

[jay29]

Welcome to the addicting world of soap making, Jay!
Are you hoping to use EOs only or would you be open to fragrance oils as well?

Thank you! Open to all of them. Which ever is the best. Also, I need a reliable place to get them.

I really like spicy and fragrant soaps. Sensual.. Frankincense and cinnamon? Sandalwood and cinnamon????

 

[NancyRogers]

I really like Black Vetiver Cafe from Southern Garden. It's manly, but not very spicey. Hmmm...I'm going to have to think on it.

In the meantime, you could check out these places for fragrances and EOs:

http://www.southerngardenscents.com/ They are a bit pricey, but they come in nice amber glass bottles and the shipping is super fast. Also, they are quality fragrances. You can order sniffies for $3.00 to smell or they also have a deal on some 1 oz samples.

http://www.naturesgardencandles.com/ Really great prices and some really nice fragrances too. They are a bit more "hit or miss" so you might check the reviews before purchasing.

http://www.wholesalesuppliesplus.com/ A bit pricey, but again, glass bottles and free shipping too.

And there are lots of other places to get fragrances and EOs. Everyone has their favorites. I'd recommend registering at The Scent Review board:

http://soapscentreview.obisoap.ca/index.php

Lots of great reviews to check out before you buy.

Oh, and some people add their scents at trace, others with the oils before adding the lye. I'm afraid I don't know much about using EOs. Maybe someone else will chime in.

 

[ChrisShepp]

Jay,

Here are some of my favorite masculine scents:

Bramble Berry's Sensuous Sandalwood
Bramble Berry's Ancient Sedona
Bramble Berry's Spearmint Eucalyptus
Peak Candle's Tuscan Nights (this one smells very earthy - lots of woodsy and patchouli)

Edit to add: I also like "spicy" soaps, but one scent I would avoid is Brmable Berry's Arabian Spice... it smells like a Gingerbread House exploded... in a bad way... I, of course, postscript this comment by saying I mean no disrespect or offense to Bramble Berry - I just don't particularly care for that scent.

 

[ChrissyB]

Hi Jay
Cinnamon can be an irritant, so be aware of that.
Are you only wanting to use essential oils? or Fragrance oils are ok?
As far as fragrance oils go, my faves for men are Cool Water, and Cigar. Not sure who makes that one in the US, but it's super strong and really long lasting, stays a long time on the skin too (the scent that is). Irish Tweed is another that is great.

 

[honor435]

peakcandles.com is my favorite place for fos(fragrance oils), they have an awesome mens scent called" black canyon", it is musk, sandalwood, pachouli, it is awesome. They have a sampler deal, where you get 10- 1 ouncers for 20$, and you can double or triple any of them, some places only allow you to buy one of each fragrance.
standard fo is .5- 1 ounce per lb, i always use the full 1 ounce, i like a strong scent.
Do you think of using palm instead of lard? lard makes good soap, but I dont use animal products. I like po, oo, co, castor and maybe a small amt(8-10%) of shea or cocoa buter.

I also like natures garden, bitter creek, aroma haven, berts heaven scent.
for oils: soapers choice, oils by nature.
good luck

 

[Bayougirl]

I made a batch with Frankincense & Myrrh essential oil blend from Wholesale Supplies Plus
http://www.wholesalesuppliesplus.co...ce™+Frankincense+&+Myrrh+Natural+EO+Blend+594

Gosh, It smells so good, it does discolor to a dark brown, but I really love it. Good luck making soap.

 

[jay29]

What is the difference between essential oil and fragrance oil? Which is better?

 

[honor435]

eo, comes from plants and flowers, more expensive, but natural

fo- manmade, sometimes artificial and plant based, or all artificial, many more scents to chose from.

oh, if you want eos , look into newdirections.com

 

[xyxoxy]

What is the difference between essential oil and fragrance oil? Which is better?

As for "better" you would have to decide what is important to you.
There are some soapers who only use "natural" (for lack of a better word) scents and colorants. Others like myself enjoy the variety you can get from man made colorants and fragrance oils... though there are some essential oils I can't do without.

The important thing is that you only use ingredients that are skin safe... meaning don't buy air freshener or cheap cologne to save a buck and assume it is safe to use in soap. Many candle scents are also not skin safe. If you buy from a reputable seller you will have no doubt about what is safe to use in bath and body products and what is not. If there is any question... don't use it.

ETA: Oh and welcome to the addiction.

 

[dagmar88]

black linen end cashmere fragrance oil from naturesgardencandles.com smells incredible and strong.

 

[rubyslippers]

... I also like "spicy" soaps, but one scent I would avoid is Brmable Berry's Arabian Spice... it smells like a Gingerbread House exploded... in a bad way...

I love Arabian Spice!! It is one of my favorite scents OOB. Everytime I soap I open that bottle & take a little sniff. Saving it for something really special (unless it's evaporated by the time I get ready to use it!)

 

[ChrisShepp]

I love Arabian Spice!! It is one of my favorite scents OOB. Everytime I soap I open that bottle & take a little sniff. Saving it for something really special (unless it's evaporated by the time I get ready to use it!)

I actually made a batch using that FO at .5 oz ppo and smoothed it down with a bit of vanilla. Actually came out pretty nice. I'm still not a huge fan, but it is not nearly as overpowering as the straight fragrance at 1 oz ppo. Isn't it interesting how soap that is just fantastic smelling to one person isn't so lovely to another?! I happen to love Bramble Berry's Sea Moss - very earthy and and oceany smelling - my housemate, not so much... she says it smells like rotting seaweed

PS Rubyslippers - I think I have a couple ounces of Arabian Spice left - I'll be happy to send it to you! :wink:

 

[opalgirl]

I LOVE Green Irish Tweed from Elements on my man!

 

[honor435]

peakcandles does have fos for candle and soaps, if you shop there make sure you choose the bath and body fos.

 

[rubyslippers]

PS Rubyslippers - I think I have a couple ounces of Arabian Spice left - I'll be happy to send it to you! :wink:

Chris, I've pmed you.

 

[jarvan]

A while back, I was jonesing for some good dark Patchouli. I found a great one and not badly priced/considering the cost of shipping, too. I would look to Ananda Apothecary (in Colorado) for my E.O.s For F.O.s, I have had good success at many of the places already mentioned (WSP/Brambleberry etc.). Good luck!

Edited due to my lightening fast fingers and misspelling.

 

[dtkpmom]

I like a Bay Rum scent for men. I use about .5 oz per lb of oil.

 

[djk17]

my latest shaving soap for my husband was a 1:1 mix of sandalwood and allspice essential oils. LOVE that mix.