Scent Fixatives

[SoapSap]

What do you use as fixatives for you Essential Oils/Fragrance Oils in cold process soap?

Has anyone used Rice Flour?

 

[lsg]

I use litsea cubeba along with citrus essential oils. I have also used clay as an anchor.

 

[Jstar]

I use kaolin clay in most of my soaps..it seems to help

 

[Susie]

What amount of clay do you use? Is there a magic percentage?

 

[Jstar]

I don't know if there is a magic % but I use 1 tsp PPO

 

[lsg]

I probably use about 1 tsp. per pound of oils, depending on the clay. With red clay, you don't want to add too much. Many people recommend mixing the clay with a little water before adding at light trace.

 

[goji_fries]

I probably use about 1 tsp. per pound of oils, depending on the clay. With red clay, you don't want to add too much. Many people recommend mixing the clay with a little water before adding at light trace.

With these clays can you mix it in oil? If so how do you mix it properly so they dont clump up? I was pondering this this morning in the shower.

 

[lsg]

I have just dumped it in thinly traced soap and stick blended like crazy, but I think mixing clay with a little water and adding at thin trace would work better.

 

[Jstar]

Yup, several ways to get it done. I tend to toss mine directly into my oils and mix mix mix..then add my fragrances etc, and mix a bit more..then add my lye solution

 

[dillsandwitch]

so would it be the same stuff as this to help with sticking the EO and FO?

http://www.aussiesoapsupplies.com.au/clay-aussie-white.html


TIA

 

[lsg]

Yes, that would work.

 

[SanVan]

If you mix clay with water, do you need to account for that water in the overall mix? For example, if you need 100 grams of water and you use 1 tbsp of water to mix your clay, do you take away the 1 tbsp from the 100 grams?

 

[Cindy2428]

I mix my EO/FO with the clay - more to prevent me from forgetting to adding vs. extra the liquid. Sanvan I'll defer to the experts, but I don't think an additional tsp of water will really make a big difference in your soap unless your batch is really small.

 

[jade-15]

If you mix clay with water, do you need to account for that water in the overall mix? For example, if you need 100 grams of water and you use 1 tbsp of water to mix your clay, do you take away the 1 tbsp from the 100 grams?

As clays 'suck up' a lot of water, I believe this is in addition to the original water.

Also, as Cindy said, a bit of water won't make much difference. The water amount used in recipes varies depending on personal preference/fragrance oil etc.

 

[TVivian]

I mix my clay into my fragrance oil.

 

[Saponista]

Has anyone tried that natrasorb tapioca starch in cold process soap? I was thinking of giving it a go to try and hold my citrus scents for longer.

 

[Susie]

I mix my EO into the clay/corn starch also.

 

[biarine]

I used arrowroot and you can try them if it's working for you but its does work for me in my HP

 

[Soapsense]

I stick blend my clay into my warmed oils, it seems to work well for me.

 

[shunt2011]

I too stickblend my clays into my oils. No problems with doing that way.