Teach Soap

So I was making a batch of castile soap today and when it came time to add some wintergreen EO it bubbled up as soon as it his the soap batter. And when I started to stir it began to seize and rice. So ugly. Is wintergreen EO just bad news with cold process soap or is there any way for me to use it still?

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Soapmaiden (Natalie)

If it's the real thing, Wintergreen is not safe to soap. Wintergreen is among the most controversial of all the essential oils. Wintergreen poisonings have been reported around the world and wintergreen is actually listed as a known toxin by the regulatory agencies of many countries. Some aromatherapists have even called for a worldwide ban on the sale of this once extremely popular oil.

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

Darn. Is it okay in lotions and scrubs?

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Soapmaiden (Natalie)

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

That's really scary. I'm never touching Wintergreen again. Thanks for letting me know! So glad it seized.

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Soapmaiden (Natalie)

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

That sucker's gone. You're right. It was lucky that it seized!

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Soapmaiden (Natalie)

So when you purchased the wintergreen EO where there any warnings from the seller?

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Susie
Sometimes A Mistake is so much fun, You just have to do it again!

We sell wintergreen EO at work, no warnings on it anywhere! I was actually about to buy some for my soaps, glad I didn't buy it today! I think I'll let my boss know how bad this EO is, I doubt he does now!

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~~Heather~~
Mad [soaping] Scientist

I recently went back and saw that is DOES have a warning (curse my distracted nature):

"Very refreshing aroma, woody and wintergreen, very similar to Birch. Use with caution, the EO is approximately 99% salicylate, the main ingredient in aspirin (irritant, sensitizing). Many aromatherapists try to stay away from this oil. Methyl salicylate has been incorporated into liniments and ointments for muscular skeletal problems. Use tiny amounts in muscle/joint blends, patch test. Not recommended for usage in persons who take aspirin regularly or who are allergic to aspirin. Not to be used on children, the elderly, pregnant women and pets. Blends well with pine, peppermint, and lemon. Flash point: 200°F"

Though I still don't fully understand how the lye and the saponification process "breaks down" the EO and inhibits the therapeutic or toxic properties. I haven't read anything definite on that (just some different opinions)... though I think it may be because no one knows for certain? I'm still nixing wintergreen.

Oh, look, it's on a list of toxic EO's: http://www.essentialoils.co.za/toxic-oils.htm

Is it just me or does it seem like soaping websites warn us sufficiently about the hazards of lye but they neglect to warn about the potentially dangerous nature of essential oils? Definitely not being talked about enough. There needs to be more education about how to select, handle, store, smell, and use them or someone is going to do something stupid! They are super powerful and I think we sometimes pass them off as nice smelling oils and ignore the potential Mr. Hyde nature of them. Oh now I'm just ranting...

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Soapmaiden (Natalie)

Here are 2 reviews listed with the EO:

"I make a massage oil and a muscle balm with this as the main active ingredient and I can't keep it in stock. Thanks again Camden-Grey!"

"When I was ordering I went back and forth reading and rereading over the wintergreen. I am SO GLAD i decided to get it and give it a try! Works well in cold process soaps! I also tried some in both toothpastes and mouthwashes. It blends very well with other mints and great alone."


That's really terrifying that someone is rinsing their mouth using wintergreen! And another is selling massage oil.... talk about amping up the suable factor. And I don't know how that lady gets it to work in CP soaps... beats me. I submitted a review that I'm not certain will be approved warning people about using it in their products now that I know....

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Soapmaiden (Natalie)

The problem I see is that people don't do any or enough research on their own and take other people's word for it. There are plenty of warnings about this oil on the net, but there are also plenty of recipes on the internet of people using it; sometimes in large amounts.

I don't know of any specific book that tells you about essential oils in soap. I do know to follow IFRA guidelines and they tell you which essential oils and in which amounts are safe (in %).

For some vendors, money is the bottom line. If it sells, they will sell it, throwing any caution to the wind.
Martin Watt has an excellent book on Aromatherapy. I strongly recommend it. If you want fluff, this is not the book for you. http://www.aromamedical.com/index.html

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

Yeah, you are right. It is our responsibility. It is MY responsibility to do the research. I'm definitely going to be much more careful in the future. Thanks for the book recommendation. I am very interested in learning more. I don't like being uneducated and ignorant about these things.

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Soapmaiden (Natalie)

This is why just because something is 'all natural' does not mean it is good for us. I use mostly FO, have read up on the less than handful of EO I am choosing to try. Alot of currrent medications were once just 'herbals' but found out to have some serious effects on the human body.

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Susie
Sometimes A Mistake is so much fun, You just have to do it again!

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