Teach Soap

I'm thinking of making a Hot Process batch of soap using only Essential Oils. Can anyone advise me of a safe amount to use so that the oils aren't irritating to the skin?

It depends WHICH essential oils, as not all are used at the same rate. Some also evaporate in HP soap, due to their low flash point.

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

I would go with
2 parts eucalytus,
1 part tea tree
1 part citronella
at not more then 0.7 ozs. of this blend per lb. of soap.

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

Thank you so much Irena. I knew I could count on you!

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

It really depends on how you intend your "bug repellent" soap to be used because the three eo's have a 5% usage rate for a rinse off soap, but citronella only has a 3% usage rate for an insect repellant and a 1% usage rate for a deodorant. So if you plan on using a soap bar to rub across skin and stay there, you will need to look at the various categories and decide your usage rate from there. Also, none of these have more than a 2.5% usage rate in a pet soap, so people vs pets also matters when looking at usage rates. You really need to check the IFRA rates for each individual essential oil you may wish to use, then also keep in mind that when you are blending you need to take the entireties into account as well. In other words you cannot add 5% of 4 eo's, even if 5% is each of their own max usage rates.
The IFRA doc sheet also will give you their flash point and you will need to add the eo into your cook when the temp is below that rate.

ETA, if you choose to use lemongrass, if a leave on product it is only .75 or less, depending on category and if rinse off soap for humans, 6.25%. Lavender is generally 5%, but the specific type of lavender may make it different, so you'd have to check the type you have.

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Remember, it's not just that we weather the storm, but how we dance in the rain.

Tammy

Since soap is a rinse-off product, will this really work? It does sound appealing!

I was thinking how to make a bug repellant lotion/butter. I have a natural commercial one that works for all but those pesky horse/deerflies.

This is what they use in a 4oz bottle of lotion: Oil of Soybean 11.5%, Oil of Citronella 10.0%, Oil of Peppermint 2.0%, Oil of Cedar 1.50%, Oil of Lemongrass 1.00%, Oil of Geranium 0.05%.

Lotion bar would work better since it stays on the skin and doesn't get rinsed off. You just can't sell it as a bug repellant.

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

It's for ME so it would work fine. Thanks Irena

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Remember, it's not just that we weather the storm, but how we dance in the rain.

Tammy

Thanks Tammy. I should clarify, I wasn't thinking to actually make a body lotion at tis time with the heating etc. the "lotions" I've been making have been simple butter blends and I was thinking something like that.

What I posted is on actual bottle of commercial natural lotion. They make a spray and a rub on lotion.

I will definitely check the rates before making!