Teach Soap

hello everyone...I'm still kind of new to the soap world and so far I only have experience with using FOs. I have just stuck to using either unscented bars or FO scented bars. I am trying to learn more about essential oils and their use in soapmaking.
One of the ways I'm trying to learn is by looking at other peoples soaps scented with essential oils, but that is sort of making me more confused. I see people selling great looking and great smelling soaps, but then some of the essential oils used are ones that I thought were not safe for use on the skin. I am very aware that 'natural' is not always the better option. There are some potentially dangerous essential oils and other natural additives out there.
I have seen some bars that I like that contain citrus essential oils like Lime essential oil. But I thought that lime and some of the other citruses were not supposed to be used on skin exposed to the sun (??) I've also seen some used that are supposedly not good for pregnant women or people with high blood pressure, but there was no warning given by the seller so I dont know.
I guess my main question is whether anyone knows of a good book or other resource for learning about essential oils in B&B products.I want to educate myself as much as possible .Sorry for rambling so long...I'm not very good at keeping things short and to the point...lol

i just wanted to add something else..I know of a soap store that sells a lot of soap with pennyroyal essential oil. I love handmade soap of all kinds, but I thought using pennyroyal was dangerous b/c of a link to miscarriages or something. Anyone know about this oil? just curious

Citrus soaps should be fine as they are a wash off product. As far as Pennyroyal, that's something I would not use at all.

I'm sad to say that some people are in it for the money. They don't do enough research. Just as long that it smells good, they will use it.

See if you can find a soapmaking book by Alicia Grosso.

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Irena
Closed minds are like faulty parachutes; they refuse to open.

I use Rosemary EO but I do have a warning on it. Otherwise the only other EO's I use are Lavender and Sweet Orange. The Sweet Orange is a very tiny amount and it is a wash off product (soap). I am also trying to educate myself more and more about the different EO's and before I try any of them, I research them thoroughly. I printed off a very detailed list of eo's and herbs and their usages and warnings, etc. It is very helpful. If I can find the link, I will post it for you.

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Haven

hello..thank you soapbuddy and hvrba....yeah.. I thought about using some lavender as my first and only EO thusfar because I know that it is pretty universally accepted and one of the safer EOs
I'm going to check out Alicia Grosso's books. I'm hoping to find an essential oil guidebook of sorts so I can learn about each EO. Hvrba...your website sounds like something I would like.

I recently ordered some FOs from snowdrift farm and they sent me great smelling samples of lavender buds and cut peppermint, but I have no clue what to do with them. Naturally, a lavender EO and the buds would go together, but I wouldn't think that the lavender buds would make it through the CP process very well.( ??) Then I thought the cut peppermint might be irritating on the skin(?) Any thoughts? Thank you so much..You guys are awesome

I have tried ground lavender buds in one of my soaps (lavender scented, obviously) and I personally don't like it. They just don't ground enough for me, kwim? It is too scratchy. Plus, they turn brown and don't look all that pretty. I use oatmeal in one soap and sage in another and they both gring up to a powder in my coffee grinder and are wonderful! I will keep looking for that site (in between my house cleaning and internet time) for you.

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Haven

I have had a bad experience with citrus oil. ....(especially lime oil as much more potent than other citrus oils) As one who has had a burn from this it is not fun. I had the scars for a long time. I had just sqeezed some limes and by the time I got the burn I had washed my hands several times, & had a bath . Just 5 minutes standing in the sun (not even full sun) waiting for a friend I got a bad burn. I ended up in emergency. The doctor didn't know what could have caused it until I mentioned I had squeezed a lime.

So....because of this I do not use ANY citrus in my soaps.......the only thing I would use it for may be cleaning supplies where you can wear gloves when you use it.

So, if you use it I would MOST definitely put a warning on in red on the label.

SabuuFong

SabuuFong, I'm sorry you got burned.

If you use bergaptene free or folded citrus oils in soaps, you should not have any problems as they are mixed into the soap batch and not used undiluted straight on the skin.

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Irena
Closed minds are like faulty parachutes; they refuse to open.

My main point about the citrus oils, was that I had washed my hands a lot and I still got burned. So I'm thinking that some people are just more sensitive...... and even if it's diluted in soap, for myself I'm not taking any chances. I suffered too much with my burns.

JM2CW
SabuuFong

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Irena
Closed minds are like faulty parachutes; they refuse to open.

SabuuFong, I am so sorry to hear about your burns That definetely is something important to think about with my soaps. I know I have really sensitive skin so I'm really trying to do my homework on things..
thank you both for the input..

I do a line of natural soaps using honey, oatmeal, ground rosemary, ground mint & ground lavender. I grind them into a powder to reduce scratchiness. I also use beer, goat's milk, cow milk, butter milk and some spices. With these I'm not adding any additional scents or EO's so they mostly light scents.

I also do a line of soaps that is coloured and scented with FO's. For me I find I need to have both in my line-up for my customers.

Cheers
Lindy

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I've noticed that there are many soapers who also don't use any Palm Oils. Is this strictly a social response to the condition of the environment?

expired

I don't use palm oil at all. Beacuse Im trying to use what is local (as much as possible) when ever I can. I get tallow from a local butcher (free) It helps me keep costs down.Also It dosent have to be shipped across the world. I grow all the herbs and aloe that I use in my soaps too.