Confused on FO and EO usage

[loriag]

I thought I had a handle on usage rates but really I am getting more confused. There is
https://www.brambleberry.com/pages/Fragrance-Calculator.aspx
or
http://www.eocalc.com/
or
https://www.modernsoapmaking.com/essential-oil-usage-rates-ifra-guidelines/
They all give differing information on lets say Cinnamon Leaf EO
Than some books I have read say in general to use .5 oz per PPO
I sent an email to the supplier I have been ordering from (Voyageur in Canada here) as they do not list usage rates or percentages and they responded that they use 8 to 12 ml's PPO for either depending on the oils.
My cousin who gave me my first recipe to try said she uses a tsp. PPO's, so 5 ml's.
So what do you do and why? I want my soaps to be safe and I like scents to smell well!

 

[mx5inpenn]

IFRA is the one to go with. Those are the international guidelines. Depending on the eo, you can go lower, but never higher. Cinnamon is one you want to use a low amount for anyway, it burns the more sensitive bits in anything but low rates.

 

[IrishLass]

I use mostly FOs, and I go by the usage rates that the vendor provides on their website for whichever FO I'm using.

It's very rare that I ever use an EO in my soap, but when I do, I follow the safety guidelines spelled out in Robert Tisserand and Dr. Rodney Young's well researched and masterful tome, 'Essential Oil Safety' (2nd edition), which is considered the 'Bible' of EO safety.


IrishLass

 

[shunt2011]

I do the same as IL. I only use a few EO's. Mostly FO.

 

[DeeAnna]

The folks at Brambleberry are not in the business of being EO experts. Frankly, EOcalc doesn't look too expert to me either, on a quick look at a blend calling for cinnamon bark.

Tisserand and IRFA are science based resources for EO safety and their information is kept current. They are my go-to sources. Tisserand's book mentioned by Irish Lass is especially helpful for EOs.

Like the others, I seldom use EOs in soap, but I often use EOs in lotion and other leave-on products.