Teach Soap

I haven't tried Essential oils yet and was wondering what everyone prefers, EO's or FO's. I think that a soaper can be alot more creative with EO's. What tips can you more experienced soapers give us newbies on this subject?

Diana

It depends what you prefer and your customers prefer. I work with both and sell both. What is your geographic? The crunchy granola type? The pick up the soap because it's colorful? Only you will know that.

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

I started out using FOs because they were much easier on my wallet (still are!) and because I could get almost any scent I wanted. EOs are more expensive and you need to have a good selection to be able to try lots of blends. I'm just now venturing into EOs and bought the Brambleberry 12 EO sampler (very nice!) and ounce each of about 10 other EOs from various places. I've already done a few 2 EO blends and am getting ready to try some 3-4 EO blends. The problem is that in order to have enough of a blend for my soap, I may use a half ounce or more of an EO and then I don't have enough left for another blend. It's starting to get a bit pricey!

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Linda
I know the voices in my head aren't real, but they sure have some great ideas!

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

Myself, I prefer EO's because they are naturally derived. Fragrance oils are synthetic, and I want my soaps to be 100% natural. Plenty of people who buy soaps don't care, though, so I leave that decision up to me because that is the value I wish to impart on my branding. As its been said, though, EO's can get very, very expensive (anyone out there have a source for chamomile EO that is less than $75 an ounce?) and that would come out in the cost of your soap. I always wonder: will people pay 8 or 9 bucks for a 4 ounce bar of handmade soap? Personally I wouldn't, but there are people out there that actually will!! If they are already buying handmade soaps, they realize the quality, and the high price that comes with quality ingredients.

-Luna

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Kristen D. Vineyard
visit my blog http://washwithvegetables.blogspot.com

I use mostly FO, have a few EO. As for being 100% natural - as has been stated in the forum previously, it not possible because of the lye. Most of my family and friends do not mind the FO. I am careful of the EO as some of them should not be used with certain conditions of the human body.... so I keep reading and learning. As Linda said, the FO are easier on my wallet... and I do blends of them as well as the EO. As for soapmaking with them I have not noticed much difference, but it may be that a more experienced soaper would offer more on this.

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

I agree with Anita. You can get pretty creative with FO's as well.

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

When looking at the Etsy and other places, it seems that the essential oils are blended the majority of the time. Even on the youtube videos, I don't remember any that mixed fragrance oils together. I will have to revisit that. How do you go about starting that? Just smell the different ones and let your nose be the judge or try on a very small batch and test it? I am trying this.

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Linda
I know the voices in my head aren't real, but they sure have some great ideas!

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Linda
I know the voices in my head aren't real, but they sure have some great ideas!

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Debbie

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

lets not forget that lye is a naturally occurring biproduct of wood ash and water!

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Kristen D. Vineyard
visit my blog http://washwithvegetables.blogspot.com