Fragrance Oil Vs Essential Oil

[user 58545]

So new to soap making, in fact just waiting for first lot of ingredients/equipment to arrive.
Anyway looking ahead there are a couple of things I would like to make at some point but struggling with essential oil and fragrance oil.
So I want to get a good strong smell but I can't really find essential oils for it, I assume its because they are hard to come by or very expensive or just don't exist.
Honey is one I am looking at. I can find honey fragrance.
Is it ok to use fragrance in cold processed soap, is it "as good" as essential oil. Will the smell last?
The other one was watermelon.
On the subject can you make soap without "essential oils" and just use fragrance oil?

Thank you for any advice

 

[Ford]

Hi, welcome...... I only make cp soap and only use FO's. Have some 2 year old soap. That still smells OK. Not new, but still not bad. I've no experience with EO,s.

 

[NcDon]

On the subject can you make soap without "essential oils" and just use fragrance oil?

The main purpose for which I make my own soap for personal use is to avoid toxic chemicals. Otherwise I would buy soap from the store.

I prefer EO's to avoid harmful chemicals in my soap. Essential Oils are made from 100% organic plant matter. To be sure, look for the "USDA Organic" stamp on EO's bottles.

By the other hand, the best FO's should be Paraben Free, Phthalate Free, Lyral Free, Lilal Free, Formaldehyde Free, and Sulfate Free. Anyway, It's your choice.

What do you want to do with the soap you will produce? Is it for personal use or for sale? The smell, the color and the exotic shapes sell.

 

[The_Phoenix]

I only use fragrance oils. Personally, I don’t subscribe to the belief that essential oils are “better” than fragrance oils (or vice versa). I enjoy the wider variety that fragrance oils can contribute to my cold process soaps. That said, it’s your soap. Make the soap you want to make.

 

[user 58545]

Its for personal use. Just some scents I like

 

[The_Phoenix]

Even if you were selling and others would be using your soap, there is nothing wrong with using fragrance vs. essential oils. If a particular buyer ONLY uses cold process soap made with essential oils, and you prefer making soap w/fragrance oils, then your soap isn’t for them. And that’s ok.

 

[artemis]

Whatever you decide to use, be sure they come from a reputable seller and that they say they are safe for making cold process / hot process soap.

 

[paradisi]

Neither fo nor eo is ever going to have parabens, formaldehyde or sulfates. It's like saying look for ones without jet fuel or antibiotics. Lyral is banned in the EU but not afaik in the US tho IFRA (a voluntary organization) has set low limits.

Rather than frighten new soapers, I'd suggest referring them to careful reputable suppliers such as Brambleberry, Natures Garden, or the like.

The main purpose for which I make my own soap for personal use is to avoid toxic chemicals. Otherwise I would buy soap from the store.

I prefer EO's to avoid harmful chemicals in my soap. Essential Oils are made from 100% organic plant matter. To be sure, look for the "USDA Organic" stamp on EO's bottles.

By the other hand, the best FO's should be Paraben Free, Phthalate Free, Lyral Free, Lilal Free, Formaldehyde Free, and Sulfate Free. Anyway, It's your choice.

What do you want to do with the soap you will produce? Is it for personal use or for sale? The smell, the color and the exotic shapes sell.

 

[Shelley D]

So new to soap making, in fact just waiting for first lot of ingredients/equipment to arrive.
Anyway looking ahead there are a couple of things I would like to make at some point but struggling with essential oil and fragrance oil.
So I want to get a good strong smell but I can't really find essential oils for it, I assume its because they are hard to come by or very expensive or just don't exist.
Honey is one I am looking at. I can find honey fragrance.
Is it ok to use fragrance in cold processed soap, is it "as good" as essential oil. Will the smell last?
The other one was watermelon.
On the subject can you make soap without "essential oils" and just use fragrance oil?

Thank you for any advice

Hello & welcome! Soaping is so much fun and very addictive That being said, research is always going to be your best friend ~ books are good for documented information, videos are great for learning the processes, and internet searches offer lots of different points of view.
For me, soap making was a necessity due to allergy and skin issues, mostly triggered by chemicals and chemical fragrances so that is something I have researched.
Fragrance oils (FOs) are man-made and mostly chemical based and a quick search of "Fragrance oil ingredients" can be very eye opening.
Essential oils (EOs) are derived directly from plants, usually via steam, alcohol or pressing, hence being considered "natural", and also, why you won't find honey or watermelon EOs.
As far as which has better staying power, FOs win hands down, that's what they are meant to do. EOs, on the other hand, smell lovely but lose most of their scent during the saponification process and lose a bit more during the curing process. I have found that even when "anchoring" the scent with clays a lot is still lost and my soap just smells like soap in the shower.
If your soap is only for personal use, then make it according to what you want/need. If you plan on gifting any, consider the needs of the recipient.
Happy soaping!

 

[Velocipede]

So new to soap making, in fact just waiting for first lot of ingredients/equipment to arrive.
Anyway looking ahead there are a couple of things I would like to make at some point but struggling with essential oil and fragrance oil.
So I want to get a good strong smell but I can't really find essential oils for it, I assume its because they are hard to come by or very expensive or just don't exist.
Honey is one I am looking at. I can find honey fragrance.
Is it ok to use fragrance in cold processed soap, is it "as good" as essential oil. Will the smell last?
The other one was watermelon.
On the subject can you make soap without "essential oils" and just use fragrance oil?

Thank you for any advice

Nurture Soap has essentical oils for sale. Be ready for "sticker shock."

 

[Velocipede]

Also, an Essential Oils For Soapmaking Chart can be printed at thenerdyfarmwife.com. Pay close attention to the column titled Usage/PPO.

 

[Zany_in_CO]

So new to soap making, in fact just waiting for first lot of ingredients/equipment to arrive.

You're at that point where this thread can be helpful
https://www.soapmakingforum.com/thr...ou-give-to-your-beginning-soaping-self.62916/
And this:
https://www.soapmakingforum.com/threads/beginners-learn-to-soap-online.64426/#post-657018
And this:
https://www.soapmakingforum.com/threads/tallow-recipe-help.87502/#post-939328

 

[The_Phoenix]

Its for personal use. Just some scents I like

Then I have great news for you: You can use whatever you want.

As others have said, be sure to buy whatever you decide from reputable suppliers.

 

[user 58545]

Sorry I seemed to have missed the replies, never got an email. Anyway thank you very much for all the advice. Will have a read through the threads and see how I get on.

I have a couple of books so far which are a good read but need to get started with it to see how I get on.

 

[user 58545]

Oh quick question. Shea butter, refined or unrefined?? Cold process

 

[KiwiMoose]

Unrefined is a bit stinky I hear. But there are no rules - you do what you like. I get the cheapest

 

[Shelley D]

Oh quick question. Shea butter, refined or unrefined?? Cold process

I order unrefined/raw oils and butters for making my body oil and since I make my soaps with many of the same oils/butters I use unrefined. To me, shea butter has a slightly earthy nutty smell, not strong or offensive. I also love the thick smooth creaminess of shea

 

[Velocipede]

Oh quick question. Shea butter, refined or unrefined?? Cold process

To keep your costs down, use unrefined. Using it makes your oils a very light brown but you can't tell the effect in the finished soap.

 

[user 58545]

Ok thanks