Vanilla Fragrance Oil: Will It Discolor Your Soap?

Vanilla fragrance oil can discolour soap, turning it dark brown or even red. This is due to the vanillin or ethyl vanillin in the oil. However, some vanilla fragrance oils are specifically designed not to discolour soap.

Vanilla discolouration is a surprise to new soapers

Vanilla discolouration can be a surprise to new soapers. Vanilla fragrance oil can cause soap to discolour, turning it a darker shade of brown or even red. This is due to the vanillin or ethyl vanillin in the oil.

It's important to read the notes on each fragrance to check if it contains any vanilla. As a rule of thumb, most foodie fragrances and deep scents do contain vanilla. If it does, the fragrance will have details on how dark it will discolour your soap.

You can use the natural discolouration of fragrance oil to your advantage instead of fighting it. For example, you can use a vanilla colour stabiliser to prevent discolouration. Alternatively, you can add a small amount of a non-discolouring vanilla fragrance to inhibit soap discolouration.

Vanilla fragrance oil can turn soap dark

The discolouration can be surprising to new soap makers, but it can be used to create beautiful results. For example, the natural discolouration of fragrance oil can be used instead of fighting it.

One soap maker reported that their black soap with black colourant and vanilla fragrance oil turned bright red. Another maker reported that their black soap with vanilla fragrance oil stayed black for a while and then turned a brownish-black colour.

It is important to read the notes on each fragrance to check if it contains any vanilla. As a rule of thumb, most foodie fragrances and most deep scents do contain vanilla. If the fragrance contains vanilla, it will usually have details on how dark it will discolour the soap.

Vanilla discolouration can be anywhere from off-white to dark brown

Some vanilla fragrance oils can turn soap dark, but adding a small amount of a non-discolouring fragrance oil can inhibit this discolouration. It is important to read the notes on each fragrance to check if it contains vanilla, as this may not be stated explicitly. Foody fragrances and deep scents often contain vanilla, and the fragrance notes will usually detail how dark the soap will become.

Discolouration can also be caused by other ingredients, but vanillin is the main thing to look out for. Sometimes, the discolouration caused by vanilla is more yellow than brown, and this is commonly observed in fragrances or essential oils with citric elements, such as orange 10x essential oil.

Discolouration can be caused by other ingredients besides vanillin

It's also important to note that the discolouration may not be immediate. It can take a few days or even weeks to appear. The discolouration usually shows up first on the part of the soap that's exposed to air, so the sides will discolour before the middle.

The discolouration can also be unpredictable. One soap maker added a vanilla fragrance oil to black soap and it turned bright red.

Some fragrance oils can be used to inhibit discolouration. For example, adding a small amount of a non-discolouring vanilla fragrance oil can help to prevent soap discolouration.

Using the natural discolouration of fragrance oil can give beautiful results

Some soap makers choose to add a vanilla colour stabiliser to prevent discolouration, but others embrace the natural discolouration and use it to their advantage. By reading the notes on each fragrance, soap makers can check if it contains any vanilla and how dark it will discolour the soap.

Adding a small amount of a non-discolouring fragrance oil can also help to inhibit soap discolouration. This can be useful when working with fragrances that are known to discolour, like vanilla.

Other ingredients besides vanillin can also cause discolouration, so it's important to be aware of this when creating soap. The brown discolouration from vanilla can bleed into parts of the soap that do not have the fragrance, so this should be considered when designing the soap.

By understanding the natural discolouration of fragrance oils, soap makers can create beautiful and unique designs that stand out from the crowd.

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