Teach Soap

I recently had a request for a clove/cinnamon soap. I know that the suggested usage rate for clove EO is .7 ounce/pound of oils. Would the rate be the same if I were using the clove with a cinnamon FO? As long as I kept the total to .7 ounce/pound of oils, I could tinker with the ratios of clove and cinnamon?

The person who asked me I think likes clove a bit more than cinnamon, so I'm thinking 2/1 or 3/1 clove/cinnamon.

I'm so glad I've got a scale that weighs in .01 grams. I think divying this up will be so much easier in grams!

Thanks.

Anita

0.7 PPO would be too much for cinnamon or clove. At that rate they could be irritating. Also, at that much clove could make your soap seize.

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

What would be considered a safe usage rate?

Anita

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

Irena, I'm not using cinnamon EO, but a combination of cinnamon FO and clove EO.

I couldn't open that link - well, I could, but my computer went into a "Danger, Will Robinson" mode, so I decided I better not.

If that link is an Excel spreadsheet, I found it online, and now have it stored on my own computer.

Additionally, whilst poking about, I came across this site:

http://www.basenotes.net/threads/292501 ... -a-summary

Evidently IFRA (that's International Fragrance Association, if anybody cares) categorizes different things that you might put these restricted substances in, and the rates that you add depends on what you are adding it to.

(The explanation of categories list is after the restricted substances list. Still with me? )

For example, Category 1 is lip products, Category 6 is mouthwash and toothpaste, and Category 9 is soap in all forms (near as I can tell) - bar, liquid, bath gels, bath washes, shampoo, and so on.

So what IFRA recommends for eugenol (the substance that makes clove smell yummy but is bad in too-large amounts) for Category 9 is .5%.

If my math is correct (and it's late so I make no promises!) is that for a three-pound batch, I would use just under a quarter of an ounce (.24 ounces) or 6.8 grams total.

I still will probably do a blend that is heavier on the clove, as I was told this customer really likes clove. Probably time to drag out the q-tips and see if I prefer a 2/1 or a 3/1.

Boy, what you learn researching this stuff!



Thanks for the help, Irena.

Anita

P.S. One more question - since I'm not using a cinnamon EO, could I use the full IRFA-recommended amount of clove oil, and then add the cinnamon FO on top of that? I don't think I'd add more than .10 ounce total of the FO as I was told the customer wanted the clove to be predominant. So I'd be using .35 ounces (9.9 grams) total for the three-pound batch.

(I should probably give this up and go to bed, but I have some goats' milk I need to get in the freezer first. )

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