Scenting Liquid Soaps: Adding Fragrance Oils For Beginners

Adding fragrance oil to liquid soap is a great way to create a beautifully scented cleaning agent. Whether you're creating a DIY liquid soap at home or engaging a manufacturer, the process of adding fragrance may vary. Most research suggests that for homemade liquid soap, adding the fragrance as the soap is cooling is best. However, it's important to test various options to ensure the best quality product. Popular essential oils for liquid soap include those from the citrus family, such as orange, lemon, and bergamot, as well as peppermint, tea tree, and eucalyptus.

How to add fragrance oil to liquid soap at home

Adding fragrance oil to liquid soap at home is a great way to create a beautifully smelling and effective cleaning agent. Here's a step-by-step guide on how to do it:

• Start by choosing a liquid soap base. You can purchase a premade, unscented liquid soap, or you can make your own from scratch.
• Select your fragrance oil. Popular choices include citrus fruits like orange, lemon, and bergamot, as well as peppermint, tea tree, and eucalyptus.
• Research and find a recipe that explains how to add fragrance oil to liquid soap. This is an important step, as different recipes may have specific instructions or variations.
• When adding the fragrance oil, it is generally recommended to add it as the liquid soap is cooling. However, you may also want to test other options, such as adding it while the soap is still warm, to find the best method for your desired result.
• For Melt and Pour bases, add the fragrance oil after the base has melted. Stir the mixture for a few seconds to ensure a perfect blend.
• For cold or hot saponification, you have two options. You can incorporate the fragrance oil into the oils and butters before adding the soda, or you can add it at the trace (when the mixture forms a soap paste). Keep in mind that adding the fragrance at the trace can be unpredictable, as it may accelerate the process, leaving you with less time to mould your soap.
• Follow the recommended quantities for fragrance oil, which can be found online. Typically, a 1.5% essential oil dosage is sufficient for a subtle and balanced fragrance.

By following these steps and experimenting with different fragrances, you can create a customised liquid soap that not only cleans effectively but also provides an uplifting or calming sensory experience.

Essential oils that are popular in liquid soaps

To add fragrance oil to liquid soap, you can either add it to the liquid soap as it is cooling or incorporate it cold into the base. You can also add it after the base has melted, but you should only stir the mixture for a few seconds. For cold or hot saponification, you can either incorporate the fragrance into the oils and butters before adding the soda, or add it at the trace (when the mixture forms the soap paste).

Essential oils are aromatic plant-based liquids that are used to scent natural soap. They are completely different from the vegetable oils in our kitchen cupboards and are not safe to ingest or use undiluted. Their primary purpose is in the fragrance and aromatherapy industry, but they can also be used to scent handmade soap.

When using citrus essential oils, it is recommended to opt for folded essential oils and synergise an essential oil blend with litsea cubeba (may chang) essential oil or lemongrass essential oil. Lavender essential oil is another popular choice, but it tends to fade on its own in soapmaking, so it is often paired with a small amount of another base note, such as patchouli essential oil. Other essential oils that can be used to "anchor a blend include anise, basil, cedarwood, cinnamon, clove, oakmoss, peru balsam, and vetiver.

How to add fragrance oil to liquid soap when engaging a manufacturer

Adding fragrance oil to liquid soap is not as straightforward as it seems. To get the most out of your liquid soap products, it is important to follow the right procedure.

Most research suggests that for home DIY-made liquid soap batches, adding the fragrance to the liquid soap as it is cooling is preferable. However, it is recommended that you test various options to ensure that your end product is the best quality it can be.

It is important to note that the temperature of the liquid soap when adding the fragrance oil is crucial. Adding fragrance oil to hot liquid soap can cause the fragrance to evaporate. Therefore, it is recommended to add fragrance oils while the soap is still fairly warm but not hot.

When engaging a manufacturer, it is essential to communicate your desired fragrance and any specific requirements or preferences you may have. The manufacturer should be able to guide you through the process and provide recommendations based on their expertise. They should also be able to advise you on the best temperature to add the fragrance oil to ensure the desired outcome.

Additionally, it is important to research and find a reputable manufacturer who can provide high-quality fragrance oils and ensure the safety and effectiveness of the final product.

How to add fragrance oil to liquid soap without it accelerating the trace

To add fragrance oil to liquid soap without it accelerating the trace, there are a few things to consider. Firstly, ensure that your oils, butters, fats and lye solution are at room temperature before blending them together into your soap batter. Try not to make soap at a temperature lower than room temperature, as this may cause your butters and fats to harden, leading to a false trace.

When it comes to adding the fragrance oil, it is best to stir it manually with a spatula rather than using an immersion blender, as these can speed up the trace. If you want to add colour to your soap, separate your soap and add your colours before adding the fragrance oil. This will give you more time to make swirls before your soap gets too thick.

You can also slow down an accelerating fragrance oil by using more soft oils, such as olive oil, jojoba oil or rice bran oil, in your recipe. However, this will result in softer soap bars. Additionally, ingredients with absorption properties, such as clays, activated charcoal and titanium dioxide, can speed up trace. Dispersing clay and other absorbing ingredients in distilled water can help negate some of the acceleration, but it is best to avoid them altogether if you want to prevent acceleration.

How to add fragrance oil to liquid soap for a strong scent

To add fragrance oil to liquid soap for a strong scent, you'll need to add the oil to the soap as it's cooling. This is the best method for homemade liquid soap. However, you may want to test various options to ensure the best quality end product.

For a strong scent, you'll need to add a higher percentage of essential oil. A 1.5% essential oil dosage should be enough to create a strong fragrance.

You can add the fragrance oil to the liquid soap base cold, mixing the two together well. Alternatively, you can add the fragrance after the base has melted, stirring the mixture for a few seconds.

If you're making cold or hot saponification, you can either incorporate the fragrance into the oils and butters before adding the soda, or add it at the trace (when the mixture forms a soap paste). However, if the fragrance accelerates the trace, you won't have much time to mould your soap.

Popular essential oils for liquid soap include those from the citrus family, such as orange, lemon and bergamot, as well as peppermint, tea tree and eucalyptus.

Frequently asked questions