Table of Contents
- What Things To Know When Mixing Fragrance Oils In Soap?
- What Fragrance Oils Mix Well Together In Soap?
- What Temperature Do You Add Fragrance To Soap?
- What Is The Best Fragrance Percentage In Soap?
- Conclusion
Can fragrance oils be mixed for soap-making? Yes! This article will show you how to mix fragrance oil for soap making.
Fragrance oils are synthetic or natural compounds that add scent to your soap. They can make your soap more appealing, personalized, and enjoyable.
However, mixing fragrance oils can be tricky, as not all scents go well together or are in the same fragrance category.
Fragrance oils are lovely but can become more complex when combined with other scents.
In this blog, I will share some tips and tricks on mixing fragrance oils for soap, as well as some examples of fragrance oil blends you can try.
Let’s start!
What Things To Know When Mixing Fragrance Oils In Soap?
Before we go any further, let us talk about fragrance notes. Fragrance notes are the various layers and aromas that comprise a complete scent.
The combination of these notes gives each fragrance its own distinct profile.
The top notes of a fragrance are what you smell first, the aromas that entice you and draw you in.
Top notes are typically citrusy or soft florals with a lighter scent. These are the most volatile notes, which means they fade faster than the others.
The middle notes, also referred to as the “heart,” provide a balance between the top and base notes.
These are often bright florals, gourmands, fruits, or lighter woods. The middle notes are usually the most prominent aromas you will smell when a candle is burning.
Base notes anchor every fragrance, lending depth and longevity to the aroma.
Typically, these notes will be vanilla, spices, musk, wood, or amber.
Many combinations of fragrance oils can mix well together, depending on your preference and the desired scent profile.
Some fragrance oils feature more robust notes than others. These strong notes may overpower fragrance oils with more subtle notes when blending fragrances.
So, when working with powerful fragrance oils, use less in the blend to preserve the integrity of the weak scents.
It is pointless to mix fragrances if one completely obscures the other! Here are some general tips and examples to help you get started:
Use the fragrance notes of each oil to guide your blending choices. For example, you can mix oils with a familiar note, such as citrus, floral, or woodsy.
You can also mix oils that contrast each other, such as sweet and spicy or fresh and warm.
The fragrance categories are another exciting method to create different blends, such as fresh and clean, fruity, floral, gourmand, spice, woodsy, earthy, or herbal.
To create unique and complex scents, try mixing oils from different categories.
You can use the blending ratio to adjust the intensity and balance of each oil in your blend.
A typical ratio is 50% of the dominant oil, 30% of the secondary oil, and 20% of the accent oil. You can also experiment with different ratios to find your ideal scent.
Before adding them to your soap or candle, you can use the blending method to test and refine your blends.
Methods like blotter strips, cotton balls, or glass jars are employed to mix and smell oils. Blotter strips and cotton balls are the most common.
You can also use a fragrance calculator to determine your product’s safe amount of oils.
To test with blotter strips, deep the blotter strip into your fragrance oils; you can do 1 to 1 or 2 to 1.
By 1 to 1, I mean dip the blotter into the fragrance bottle, using the red lines at the tip to guide you.
If you want one fragrance to have a more substantial presence, dip that one to the second line. And for a 50/50 blend, dip both to the first line.
Let it soak for 10 seconds, then hold the strips together and waft or wave them under your nose. This method applies to cotton pads, too.
What Fragrance Oils Mix Well Together In Soap?
Before mixing your fragrance oils, ask yourself what kind of soap you want to make. Fragrance oil is your best bet when soaping large scale.
Blending is a great way to “exercise” your nose, allowing you to tweak fragrances to your tastes and create scents for soaps and scents. Not to mention, it’s just plain fun!
That said, it can seem intimidating to get started. But never fear; anyone can become a fragrance mixologist—all it takes is a bit of know-how and a little creativity.
Here are some examples of fragrance oil blends that you can try or use as inspiration for your own creations fragrance oil collection by scent type
Sweet and spicy: Vanilla + Clove + Jasmine
Spring: Fresh-cut grass + English garden
Lavenda + lemon + eucalyptus + mint
Exotic fragrance: Sandalwood + Vanilla + Bergamot + Orange
Library + vetiver
Watermelon + Watermint and Clementine
Fresh scent: Ginger + Grapefruit + Vetiver
Sandalwood + black coral + oakmoss
Romantic scents: Rose + Vanilla + Sandalwood + Orange
Relaxing scents: Lavender + Chamomile + Vanilla
Santol+ coconut + sandalwood
Energizing scents: Lemon + Peppermint + Rosemary
Holiday scents: Cinnamon + Apple + Pine
Tropical scents: Coconut + Mango + Lime
Vanilla Spice: A warm and cozy blend of vanilla and spice fragrance oils.
Use two parts vanilla and 1 part of a spice fragrance oil, such as cinnamon, clove, ginger, or nutmeg +1 orange or apple for a fruity touch.
Coconut Lime: Use two parts coconut and 1 part lime for a zesty scent + 1 pineapple or mango for a sweet twist.
Rose Garden: A romantic and floral blend of rose and other flower fragrance oils.
Use two drops of rose and one drop of another flower fragrance oil, such as gardenia, jasmine, or lilac + 1 green tea or cucumber for a fresh note.
Sandalwood Amber: Use two parts sandalwood and 1 part amber for a deep scent + 1 musk or vanilla for a smooth finish
When it comes to mixing fragrance oils, it is essential to note that there are kindred and complementary categories.
Kindred Notes
Scent families next to each other on the fragrance wheel are called “kindred.”
These notes share characteristics and blend together harmoniously. For example, consider the Amber and Woody categories.
These notes are often found together in fragrance because they create a balanced, familiar aroma.
Complementary Notes: Scent families opposite each other on the fragrance wheel are called “complementary.”
Complementary notes have a distinctly different olfactive character, creating complex and intriguing blends, For example, the Amber and Ozonic categories.
These notes are often paired in fragrance, as their contrasting natures create a sophisticated and luxurious aroma.
Remember, there is no right or wrong way to blend fragrances. Fragrance is a personal preference. What you love, other people may not, and vice versa.
What Temperature Do You Add Fragrance To Soap?
The temperature at which you add fragrance to soap depends on the soap you make.
For cold process soap, add fragrance oil when the lye and oils are at a temperature range of 120-130 ° F.
Add fragrance oil after the soap base cools to around 140-150º F for hot process soap.
Add fragrance oil when the soap base cools to around 140-150º F for melt-and-pour soap.
Adding fragrance oil to a soap batter that is too hot can cause the fragrance to burn off or vaporize, resulting in a weaker scent.
Adding fragrance oil to soap batter that is too cold can cause false trace or separation of the oils.
Additionally, stirring gently but thoroughly is essential to achieve an even fragrance distribution throughout the soap mixture.
What Is The Best Fragrance Percentage In Soap?
There is no definitive answer; the ideal fragrance percentage for soap-making depends on several factors.
Including the type of fragrance oil, the desired strength of the scent, and the specific guidelines provided by the fragrance oil supplier.
However, as a general guideline, a fragrance percentage of 2-5% of the total soap weight is commonly recommended for most soap formulations.
Here’s a breakdown of fragrance percentages based on different considerations:
1. Light Fragrance: 1-2% of the total oil weight of the batch, not the batch rate, but the total oil weight rate of the batch.
This is because everyone soaps differently with how much water or liquid they put in their soap.
Suitable for those who prefer a subtle hint of fragrance. It is ideal for soaps focusing on a gentle background scent.
2. Standard Fragrance: 2-4% The most common range for soap making.
It provides a noticeable and well-balanced scent without being overpowering.
3. Strong Fragrance: 4-5%
Suitable for soap types where a bold, more intense, robust scent or fragrance is desired. Important Considerations:
a. Fragrance Oil Type:
The concentration of fragrance compounds can vary between different oils.
Some are more potent, requiring a lower percentage, while others are milder, allowing for a higher rate.
However, according to IFRA, the percentage of fragrance oils in soap should not be more than 5%
b. Intended Use:
Consider the purpose of the soap. Bathing soaps benefit from a milder fragrance, while decorative or novelty soaps or candles may tolerate a more aromatic scent.
c. Regulations and Guidelines:
Be aware of any regulatory guidelines or recommendations the fragrance oil supplier provides.
Some oils may have specific usage instructions to optimize performance.
Some companies will say to use 5%, while others will use IFRA max usage.
d. Personal Preference:
Your personal preference plays a significant role.
If you enjoy a more subtle scent, opt for the lower end of the percentage range, while those who love a strong fragrance Choose a higher percentage.
Tips for Accuracy:
Weigh Fragrance Accurately
Use a digital scale to measure fragrance oil accurately. Precision is crucial to achieving the desired scent strength.
Consider Soap Base Characteristics:
The type of soap base used can affect how well it retains fragrance.
Use 0.7 ounces of fragrance oil per pound of cold-process soap for cold-process soap.
For hot process soap, add 15-20 grams of fragrance oil per kilogram of soap base, or 0.5 oz to 0.70 oz per 2lbs of soap base, after the soap base cools down.
For melt-and-pour soap, you can add 10 grams of fragrance oil per kilogram of soap base or 0.5 oz of fragrance oil per pound of soap base.
Add 0.4 ounces of fragrance oil per pound of rebatch soap.
Before committing to a large batch, test your fragrance percentage in a small set to ensure it meets your expectations.
However, these are only suggestions, and you may need to adjust the amount of fragrance according to the type and strength of the fragrance oil and your desired scent intensity.
Some fragrance oils are stronger or weaker than others, so you may need to use more or less to achieve the same effect.
You can also create your custom blends by mixing different fragrance oils together, using the fragrance notes, categories, and ratios as a guide. how much essential oils to scent soap.
Conclusion
Mixing fragrance oils for soap is a fun and creative way to make your soap more appealing, personalized, and enjoyable.
You can create unique scents that suit your preferences and personality by following simple tips and tricks.
Use some examples of fragrance oil blends as inspiration, or try them out for yourself.
The possibilities are endless, so have fun experimenting with different fragrance oils and see what you can come up with!
