Zany_in_CO
Saponifier
The following is from Melody Upham of Rainbow Meadow. Back in the day, Rainbow Meadow was THE source for EO information. She also had a wonderful EO calculator that reflected her years of researching blends which she provided to the soapmaking community. Regretfully, it was taken down a few years ago when some idiot hacked into it.
The link no longer works but is included to show the source of the material below. Quoted text is in Italics.
http://www.rainbowmeadow.com/infocenter/melody_tips/tip_view.asp?TG=3
Adding EOs to Soap Recipes
Add citrus EOs at a much thicker trace than other EOs because they interfere with the lye. Add others at a very thin, almost nonexistent trace
EO Amounts in Soap
Many years ago, I did a lot of experiments to determine how much EO to use to get a scent that would last at least a year without using too much. I came up with
0.7 ounces per pound of base oils for most EOs,
0.9 ounces for citrus oils and
0.4 oz for the more pervasive oils (e.g. mints and spices).
A good rule of thumb is that if you use 0.7 oz and find that you don't like the smell because it seems sickening....drop the amount you use to 0.4 or 0.5 ounces. Some oils such as geranium are so powerful at 0.7 oz that your nose is overwhelmed and can't pick up the delicate rose tones unless it's diluted even more.
THE MOST EFFECTIVE USE OF ESSENTIAL OILS
Dilute with a carrier oil such as almond, apricot, hazelnut, olive, macadamia, kukui, wheatgerm, grapeseed or sesame. The addition of jojoba oil or vitamin E oil as 10% of your carrier oil will help extend the shelf life of your blend. Make blends in small amounts and use within a few months, and store in the refrigerator for extended shelf life. Store essential oils away from heat and light to preserve their freshness and potency. With proper care, most oils will have a shelf life of several years, but the citrus oils should be used within 1 year.
A safe and effective dilution for most aromatherapy applications is 2% (2 drops of essential oil per 100 drops of carrier oil). There is no need to go beyond a 3% dilution for any reason, and using more will not effect better results, in fact, it may cause adverse effects.
The link no longer works but is included to show the source of the material below. Quoted text is in Italics.
http://www.rainbowmeadow.com/infocenter/melody_tips/tip_view.asp?TG=3
Adding EOs to Soap Recipes
Add citrus EOs at a much thicker trace than other EOs because they interfere with the lye. Add others at a very thin, almost nonexistent trace
EO Amounts in Soap
Many years ago, I did a lot of experiments to determine how much EO to use to get a scent that would last at least a year without using too much. I came up with
0.7 ounces per pound of base oils for most EOs,
0.9 ounces for citrus oils and
0.4 oz for the more pervasive oils (e.g. mints and spices).
A good rule of thumb is that if you use 0.7 oz and find that you don't like the smell because it seems sickening....drop the amount you use to 0.4 or 0.5 ounces. Some oils such as geranium are so powerful at 0.7 oz that your nose is overwhelmed and can't pick up the delicate rose tones unless it's diluted even more.
THE MOST EFFECTIVE USE OF ESSENTIAL OILS
Dilute with a carrier oil such as almond, apricot, hazelnut, olive, macadamia, kukui, wheatgerm, grapeseed or sesame. The addition of jojoba oil or vitamin E oil as 10% of your carrier oil will help extend the shelf life of your blend. Make blends in small amounts and use within a few months, and store in the refrigerator for extended shelf life. Store essential oils away from heat and light to preserve their freshness and potency. With proper care, most oils will have a shelf life of several years, but the citrus oils should be used within 1 year.
A safe and effective dilution for most aromatherapy applications is 2% (2 drops of essential oil per 100 drops of carrier oil). There is no need to go beyond a 3% dilution for any reason, and using more will not effect better results, in fact, it may cause adverse effects.
