Teach Soap

I have made soap for years, but have recently been having problems getting my patchouli oil to be strong enough in my CP soaps. I've tried both fragrance oil and essential oil. I've tried several different companies as well,including Brambleberry.
I've tried waiting until the very last minute before trace to add the oil. What else can I do? Thanks for your help logcabin1999@yahoo.com
PS Other oils like lavender and bluebonnet work great

Patchouli is usually a strong one.... how much are you using?

I assume you are using the same percentage as you formerly used. If you haven't changed anything else like oils and such one would think that there is a diminished diluted fragrance being used. Or is that backward?

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~bytheSEAsoap~ Mella bythesea, bythesea, bythebeautiful sea

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it may be that your nose gets used to it. and one thing about patchouli - i find, for me, that it "blooms" in the shower and is much stronger in use than it is in the dry bar. have you tested one of the bars to see how it smells in use?

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I haven't changed anything other than I put some oatmeal in my soaps now. When I go to a craft show and see that someone has patchouli soap, I always smell it, and usually buy a bar. Other people's soap has that good strong patchouli smell. Some time ago I asked the crafter, where they bought their oils, and of course they weren't willing to share. I wasn't asking for their recipe, just the name of the company. Have you ever used pepper oil with patchouli? I've never used it, but it sounds like it might help give that special deep fragrance that I love.
Thanks for your help.

Pepper oil can cause skin irritation. Quality Patchouli oil should not need anything else to last or smell. I have here some Patchouli soap that's close to 2 years old and it smells as good as ever.

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

Did you use fragrance or essential oil? Is it Bramble Berry oil?

I've used the essential oil, but it's not from BB.

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

Hum maybe the oatmeal you added ate your fragrance!

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~bytheSEAsoap~ Mella bythesea, bythesea, bythebeautiful sea

海の皂

I'll try leaving it out, and see what happens. However, I use it in lavender and bluebonnet, and it works great with them. Got to get to bed, it's midnight here in Kentucky.

I sent you a PM as well but, we recommend using .7 to 1oz of FO per pound of CP soap. Patchouli is a strong FO so you should be able to get away with using a little less though...

BrambleMama has the right usage rates though I find Patchouli like Vanilla. A deeper, muskier scent, so I usually use Patchouli at about 1 oz. per pound because I like my Patchouli super strong! =)

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Happy Soaping!

Anne-Marie
blog: www.soap-queen.blogspot.com
supplies: www.brambleberry.com

It could also be something to do with the breed,distillation method, and age of your Patchouli essential oil. Patch is one of those essential oils that get stronger and better with time and every breed, and place of the origin, smells a little different. I'd maybe see if you have an old bottle of your patch around and compare the labels to the new and inquire with your supplier if anything has changed. And like everyone else said it could be a sensitivity issue as you make the soap and the scent wafts about for long periods of time even as it cures you become a less sensitive to the scent.

Thanks for the suggestions. I don't think it has anything to do with sensitivity, because I can smell other people's soap at shows, and I can smell my own lavender and bluebonnet very well. I think the suppliers are diluting the oils. I'm getting ready to try an older bottle of Patchouli tonight, and use more of it as well.