The Perfect Fragrance Oil-To-Soap Ratio For Your Soaps

When making soap, the amount of fragrance oil you use will depend on the strength of scent you want. The general range is 0.5 to 1 oz per pound of soap, or 3 to 6% of oils/soap base. However, this can vary depending on the type of oil and the strength of its scent. For example, English Rose Fragrance Oil is very strong, so you may only need 0.7 oz per pound of soap, whereas Cherry Almond Fragrance Oil is so strong that the maximum recommended amount is just 0.2 oz per pound of soap.

How much fragrance oil is needed per pound of soap for a strong scent?

To achieve a strong scent in your soap, you can add 0.7 ounces of fragrance or essential oil per pound of cold process soap. For melt and pour soap, you can add 0.3 ounces per pound. However, these numbers will vary depending on the type of oil you choose. For example, Cherry Almond Fragrance Oil is a very strong scent, so the maximum recommended amount is 0.2 ounces per pound of cold process soap. English Rose Fragrance Oil is another strong scent, so you don't need to use a full 0.7 ounces per pound of soap to achieve a strong fragrance.

The amount of fragrance oil you add to your soap is based on personal preference, but typically, you would use about 2% of the soap's weight. This equates to 8.5 g (0.3 oz) of fragrance oil or essential oil per 454 g (1 lb) of soap base.

If you are using a fragrance calculator, the general recommended amount for a medium-strength scent is 0.7 ounces of essential oil per pound of cold process soap and 0.3 ounces per pound of melt and pour soap.

How much fragrance oil is needed per pound of melt and pour soap?

The amount of fragrance oil needed per pound of melt and pour soap depends on a few factors, including the concentration of the oil, the base makeup, and the desired profile. It's important to follow IFRA guidelines regarding fragrance/essential oil usage, and to perform your own testing before committing to production. Melt and pour soap usually needs less scent than a soap made from scratch with lye, as saponification can reduce fragrances to a certain extent.

For safety, it's recommended to use around 1 teaspoon (0.166667 oz) of fragrance oil per pound of melt and pour soap base. This is equivalent to a 3% maximum usage rate, which is generally regarded as safe by cold process soapers. However, if your fragrance oil (FO) is rated safe at 5%, you could safely use 0.5 oz per pound of your soap base, as this usage rate would end up being a little over 3%. It's important not to use too much fragrance oil, as this can cause the soap base to separate.

How much fragrance oil is needed per pound of rebatch soap?

When making rebatch soap, it is recommended that you use 0.4 ounces of fragrance oil per pound of soap. However, this amount can be adjusted to your personal preference. For instance, English Rose Fragrance Oil is a very strong scent, so you may not need to use the full 0.7 ounces per pound of soap to get a strong scent.

When making hot process soaps, you can use up to 2 ounces of fragrance oil per pound of oil in your recipe. However, some fragrance oils may not hold well in the lye solution and may separate or discolour. To prevent this, add the fragrance oil after trace has been reached and mix until fully combined.

If you are rebatching soap that has lost some of its fragrance, you can add 1/4 oz. of fragrance oil per pound of soap shreds.

How much fragrance oil is needed per pound of liquid soap?

The amount of fragrance oil you need per pound of liquid soap depends on the strength of the oil. A good starting point is 0.2 ounces of fragrance oil per pound of liquid soap. However, if you are using a very strong fragrance oil, such as English Rose, you may not need to use the full amount to get a strong scent. You can always add a little more or less to your preference.

The Bramble Berry Fragrance Calculator recommends 0.2 ounces of fragrance oil per pound of liquid soap. This calculator includes oil, liquid, and lye in its recommendations.

If you are making cold process soap, the standard rate for fragrance oil is 0.7-1 ounce per pound of oil. For melt-and-pour soap, the rate is 0.3 ounces per pound, and for rebatch soap, it is 0.4 ounces per pound.

It's important to note that rates may vary depending on the strength of your oils, so it's always a good idea to start with a smaller amount and adjust to your preference.

How much fragrance oil is needed per pound of melt and pour soap?

The amount of fragrance oil needed per pound of melt and pour soap depends on several factors, including the concentration, base makeup, desired profile, and whether the oil is natural or synthetic. It's important to follow IFRA guidelines regarding fragrance/essential oil usage and perform your own testing before committing to production. Melt and pour soap usually needs less scent than a soap made from scratch with lye, as saponification can reduce fragrances.

If your fragrance oil (FO) is rated safe at 5%, you can use 0.5 oz per pound of soap base, which would result in a usage rate of a little over 3%. Using 1 oz per pound would result in a usage rate of over 6%, which is not recommended.

Melt and pour base soapers typically recommend around 1 teaspoon (0.166667 oz) per pound of melt and pour soap base for safety. This is because the soap base can only contain/hold a certain amount of scent and oil, and using more can lead to separation.

When adding oils to your melt and pour soap base, it's important to add no more than 1 teaspoon per pound of base. You can also add small amounts of skin-loving ingredients such as sweet almond oil or shea butter to customise your soap.

Frequently asked questions