hello everyone. I've been reading the forums for the last year so but just recently joined. I'm wondering if someone could give me some tips on some essential oils I want use in a cold process soap. The essential oils I want to use are Cedar wood, Orange oil, Rosemary oil, and clove oil. I'm just making a small batch. The total oil ounces is 25.5 ounces...the recipe calls for 17.5 ml or 3.5 teaspoons of essential oils. I know clove oil can be pretty strong. I'm going for a more masculine scent. Would I want to go mostly Cedar wood? thanks in advance for your suggestions.
oil ratio question
- Thread starter GrammaC
- Start date
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Welcome, glad you have joined. Unfortunately, clove EO contains eugenol, which will accelerate trace, often to the point of making the soap batter “seize” aka become “soap on a stick.” It also is not very skin-safe except in tiny amounts. This is true of many of the “hot” or spicy EOs, including cinnamon, nutmeg, anise, etc.
Have you checked out EOCalc.com? You can put in a blend of EOs to find out the skin-safe amounts.
Have you checked out EOCalc.com? You can put in a blend of EOs to find out the skin-safe amounts.
Here’s what EOCalc can do for you. I created two blends using the total oil weight for your batch of 25 oz. (The calculator would not accept 25.5 oz). The first blend is 33% each cedarwood, Orange and Rosemary, with 1% clove bud EO. The second blend is 25% of each EO. At a typical 3% usage rate, the first blend would likely be quite easy to work with, and might even slow trace due to the high percentage of orange oil. Also at 3%, the second blend could result in soap on a stick. I can’t say for sure because I have never used that much clove bud. Hope this helps.
