Titanium Dioxide: Impact On Fragrance In Cold Process Soaping

Titanium dioxide is a common ingredient in cold process soap, but does it affect fragrance? Some sources suggest that titanium dioxide will not offset fragrances that turn dark brown, such as vanilla. However, it is worth noting that titanium dioxide can cause a crackle effect in soap if the recipe overheats. This effect can also be caused by certain fragrances, such as florals, and certain oils. So, while titanium dioxide may not directly affect fragrance, it can interact with fragrances in certain soap recipes.

Titanium dioxide will not stop vanilla-based fragrances from turning dark brown

If you want to avoid this, you can add fragrance to a portion of your soap so that only that part will turn dark brown, or you can embrace the dark colour and have a soap that is completely dark brown.

It's worth noting that titanium dioxide can sometimes cause a crackle effect in soap, especially if the recipe overheats. This can also happen with certain fragrances, such as florals, and certain oils.

Titanium dioxide can cause a crackle effect in soap

Titanium dioxide is used in soap to create a white colour. However, it can sometimes cause a crackle effect, also known as glycerine rivers. This happens when the soap overheats. The crackle effect is caused by a combination of heat and colour additives.

To prevent this, you can monitor the temperature of the soap and remove towels when it is getting too hot. You can also try using an oil-soluble form of titanium dioxide, or mixing it with glycerine. However, it is not always possible to prevent the crackle effect, and some soapmakers embrace it as an interesting antique effect.

Titanium dioxide will not prevent fragrances from discolouring soap. In fact, certain fragrances can cause soap to overheat, which may contribute to the crackle effect. Vanilla fragrances, in particular, will turn dark brown over time, and titanium dioxide will not prevent this.

Some fragrances will overheat your soap

Titanium dioxide is used in cold process soap making to create a white colour. However, it will not prevent fragrances from discolouring soap. In fact, titanium dioxide can cause a crackle effect when used with a soap recipe that overheats.

Titanium dioxide will not offset the discolouration of vanilla-based fragrances

Titanium dioxide will not prevent vanilla-based fragrances from discolouring your cold process soap. In fact, titanium dioxide can cause your soap to crackle if it overheats.

Some fragrances, such as florals, can cause your soap to overheat. Vanilla-based fragrances will also turn your soap dark brown. If you want to avoid this, you can add fragrance to only a portion of your soap, so that only that part turns dark brown. Alternatively, you can embrace the discolouration and have a completely dark brown soap.

Using whiter oils in your soap base can help to prevent discolouration. However, vanilla stabilisers tend to break down over time.

Vanilla stabilisers break down over time

Titanium dioxide is a strong whitening agent in cold process soap. It can be used to offset the natural yellow or beige tone of your soap to create a white soap, or to make colours lighter or more pastel. It can also be used to prevent discolouration from fragrance oils. However, titanium dioxide will not prevent vanilla stabilisers from breaking down over time.

Vanilla stabilisers slow down the natural process of discolouring or browning of formulations by stabilising the vanilla in fragrance oils. One of the components responsible for the unique aroma and flavour of vanilla is vanillin, an organic compound that forms on the outside of the vanilla bean. Unfortunately, vanillin oxidises naturally, and this oxidation causes fragrance oils containing it to darken in colour over time. The oxidation period is determined by many factors, including the composition of the formulation, temperature, light and the total vanilla content of the fragrance oil. In some cases, the vanilla portion of the fragrance oil will crystallise. This can be remedied by placing the product in a warmer environment, which will melt the crystals back into the oil.

Vanilla stabilisers don't always provide the necessary protection against discolouration and oxidation and will only slow the rate of oxidation, not prevent it. A sufficient amount of stabiliser must be used and even then, oxidation will often still occur and many soaps will discolour over time, especially those with higher vanillin concentrations.

If you want to avoid discolouration, you can add fragrance to only a portion of your soap so that only that part will turn dark brown, or you can just go with it and have a soap that is completely dark.

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