Teach Soap

Hi Everyone!
First of all I just want to say how helpful this forum has been for me, a semi-beginner soap maker! I have gained such great knowledge by going page by page though this whole forum!! So THANK YOU!!
But I still have a problem..
I only make soap for friends and family. I have made about 30 batches and (knock on wood) never had a failed batch yet. My main confusion is my scents not sticking....
I follow the BB Fragrance Calc, and I only buy FO's from Bramble Berry, (I also use EO's when I feel like it, I think both FO's an EO's have great things to offer.)
The scents always start so strong, then they fade away to almost nothing by the time the 4-6 week curing process is completed. Some soaps have become completely scent-less (is that a word? lol.) Ive read about Orris Root Powder for FIXING scents, and Ive also read that its unnecessary because the saponification process would kill it anyway.
I researched soap for more than 8 months before I even made my first batch, I love learning about soap! But Im getting really bummed out that all my research and love for the hobby is falling short because the scents are not sticking. I do gel my soaps, and Ive read about the pro's and con's of gelling vs. not gelling. I know Soap Buddy, who I look up to and have read all her posts, chooses not to gel, but I have not tried the non-gelling method yet. Im not against it at all, just concerned with how it would make my extra basement refrigerator smell!
Ive read not letting it go through the gel phase can help the scent stay stronger, can it really solve my problem??! Or do I need this "fixative" that I dont really want to try. I want to make safe soaps for my friends and family that smell and feel great without preservatives and fixatives... I believe that soap can be made beautifully without these things and I'd just like to not feel like I was wasting my EO's and FO's because by the time the soap is cured no one will know how fantastic it used to smell...

Thank you for reading this and I hope you can help! I'd love to hear all your opinions!!!

Different fragrances have different staying power in soap. For some, you need up to 1 oz. of fragrance per pound of oils. To find out how others fare with a particular oil try this: The Scent Review Forum.> http://soapscentreview.obisoap.ca/

PS. I would not use orris root. It's a known sensitizer.

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

When you say that they don't stick, have you tried them in the shower/tub? Or are you just smelling them dry? I have had some that do not smell hardly at all, but when they got wet, they bloomed. I have to say that I have never used more than .8 ppo for ANY scent, and usually use less, and I have not had issues with no scent being present (I gel as well).
So, another question, are you the only one that thinks that they do not have any scent? I am not being flippant or mean, but some people have a more acute sense of smell than others, so what is strong for me may not be so for you, and vice a versa.
Of course, if you are working with citrus essential oils, they do tend to fade, so a fixative is necessary, but you can use clay or another essential oil, you dont have to use orris root. Some FO's can also be made to hold stronger with clay as well, or by just going a bit higher in your percentage added. As long as you dont overshoot the max frag load for safety, experiment with adding in more and see what you like. Keep your notes, and I am sure you will find the levels you like!

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

Tammy

Thank you for your advice guys!
Soap Buddy I will definitely check out that forum

Lavender Lady I never knew about clay that sounds really interesting!

So far the scent loss is in most of my fruity smelling FO bars like Watermelon, Strawberry, and Papaya.
The scents have almost vanished even in the shower, although I can detect a slight scent my boyfriend and mother really couldnt. I know what your saying about the bloom. A citrus EO batch of mine smelled just lightly after it was cured but in the shower a very sweet tangerine and orange scent came out which was great!
I guess I really just need to find that happy medium where you can pick up the soap and it smells good, or at least the scent is noticeable, and realizing I will have some fading but in the shower you get the blooming effect:)
Im glad I dont have to worry about a fixative like Orris Root, that makes me feel much better!

Also Ive seen a popular soap company on Etsy makes all its soaps with no fragrance what so ever and people seem to love it! Maybe I should just go that direction and solve all my scenting problems! lol!