Buchu EO fixative

[GraceDarlingSoaps]

Hi fellow soapers, We have an EO from South Africa called Buchu. A family member used to farm this and told me it was used in the perfume industry as a scent fixative. I have been using this recently in my CP soaps in very small amounts eg 5 to 10 drops ppo and my scents are definitely fading less eg citrus scents. Just thought I would share this but I don't know how easy it is to obtain outside South Africa. Even here it is very expensive relative to other EO's but a very small amount seems to be effective. Grace Darling Soaps

 

[janzo]

Hi GDS, are you using EO'S or fragrance oils?

 

[GraceDarlingSoaps]

Hi Janzo, I only use EO's. The Buchu is also an EO,
GraceDarlingSoaps

 

[Rowan]

I've never heard of Buchu, it sound really interesting!

 

[not_ally]

Sounds interesting, does yours smell strongly? The link below says it is very "black-currenty". Also some cautions about usage amounts. If they could figure out a way to extract the fixative properties, it would be awesome, and a great business opp for somebody! But I guess that is not the way it works with e.o.'s? Don't use them that much. The only fixatives I've seen discussed seem to have issues (benzoin/potential irritant, orris root/too expensive, etc.)

http://www.essentialoils.co.za/essential-oils/buchu.htm

 

[GraceDarlingSoaps]

It does have a blackcurrant smell and is apparently used to flavor medicines. In the small amounts I am using in my soaps the smell is not evident.