Teach Soap

I've been wondering all along if vanilla stabilizer is necessary in a shea butter/coconut oil body butter. I'm guessing the vanilla reacts with water to create the browning effect, but I'm not sure. Anyone know the actual fact on what makes vanilla fragrance oil turn brown?

_________________
AubreyEApothecary.com
facebook.com/AubreyEApothecary

I have made vanilla bean scented shea body butter and it did not discolor it at all. There is an ingredient in sweet scented FO's called vanillan (sp?) that is what causes discoloration in some products. I have only had my CP's discolor with sweet FO's. I recently tried adding vanilla stabilizer to a batch of CP soap as an experiment but the soaps still turned brown. Personally the stabilizer smells awful to me so I prefer to just skip it.

Erin

Actually, the vanilla turns brown when it reacts to the lye (or lye byproducts) and in some cases it reacts to air... it would be best to test a sample out with your chosen FO and see if it darkens your butter or not ^_^

_________________
Tamra
New to soaping, long time crafter and artisan, avid learner of new things!

Thanks for your input! I do use it for melt and pour soap, but I hate using it for items other then soap, I dont like the smell either and prefer to keep things as natural as possible. I'll take that advice and just leave some to sit and see what happens, sometimes the most simple recommendation is the best isnt it! =)

_________________
AubreyEApothecary.com
facebook.com/AubreyEApothecary