Many soap makers pursue the craft of soapmaking to eliminate chemicals, allergens, toxins, and other unwanted chemicals. The ultimate goal is to craft a natural homemade soap and you don’t get much more natural than using essential oils. However, choosing which one to use is where the whole magic lies. Your choice will set the personality and scent of your DIY handmade soap. Above all, there is nothing quite like the feeling of bringing a sense of fine art to your daily skincare routine.
Today, let us explore the great variety of essential oils you can get hold of and experiment with. Be adventurous and let your imagination run wild and free as we guide you along the way.
WHOLESALE BULK ESSENTIAL OILS FOR SOAP MAKING
Many are in the zone now of using DIY homemade soaps. Read here why you should start using them, too. And because they both spark creativity and sustainable living, we have a rising number of soap makers as well. However, as a beginner, it can sometimes be overwhelming to start when there are about 90 essential oils in existence, each with a unique smell and with potential health benefits.
Essential oils are the essence of highly scented flowers and plants in high concentrations. When it comes to adding scent to your handmade soap, the possibilities are endless. This sometimes confuses beginners as to which essential oils are suitable for soap making.
In this article, we have put up every guide you need to know when dealing with bulk essential oils for soap making. This includes a discussion of which essential oils last longer for your handmade soap and the best way to blend them. Along the way, we will also give some hints and tips that will be useful in your soap making journey.
WHY SCENTS FADE IN HOMEMADE SOAPS AND HOW TO MAKE THEM LAST
Although using essential oils for handmade soap is a good thing, the recurring problem often discussed by many is how to make its scent last. It is probably the biggest issue faced by soap makers.
Soap fragrance fades because the high PH level in soap affects the scent — either altering or, at worst, hibernating the scent over time. However, there are a few means you can try to get your scent to stick longer. Ultimately, it is a case of trial and error of what works for you. There is no definite way which explains why it helps to have bulk essential oils.
WHAT ARE NOTES IN ESSENTIAL OIL BLENDS?
Essential oils are generally divided into 3 categories namely top, middle, and base note, to distinguish their scent and staying power. Understanding them will pave the way in creating the perfect blend of oils for your handmade soap. Let us learn these notes further.
- Top notes — Also known as head notes, the top notes are considered as first impression scents. They are the scent you smell first once you breathe in the blend. They are often described as cheerful, bright, light and refreshing. However, they evaporate quickly because of their tiny, light molecules. Some of the essential oils under this category are Sweet Orange, Lime, Citronella, and other citrusy essential oils. There are a few exceptions such as Lemongrass and Peppermint.
- Middle Notes — The middle note is often referred to as the “heart note”. This is because once the top notes evaporate, the middle note gives your soap the “heart” of the smell. Essential oils that fall under this category do not evaporate quickly. They also linger on the skin longer than top notes. They can be floral, woody, spicy, and on some occasions, citrusy. Some of the popular middle notes are Lavender, Geranium and Neroli essential oil.
- Base Notes — The essential oils under the base note category stay the longest. Contrary to top notes, they have heavy molecules that take much longer to evaporate. Because of this, they add more depth and richness to a blend. Some of the popular base notes are Ylang ylang, Sandalwood and Patchouli essential oil, among others.
BLENDING BULK ESSENTIAL OILS FOR SOAP MAKING
Creating blends can be a little complicated but it can always be fun if you let your adventurous side be at play. Some soap makers find that combinations tend to give better scents in soap than a single fragrance. Try to experiment with the range of notes you have just learned. You can go as far as using 4 to 5 different essential oils.
Furthermore, go easy on using base notes. Using too much can overpower other scents. For instance, using Ylang ylang essential oil is too strong to bear in the bottle but are incredibly versatile and long-lasting in soaps given that they are used in the right amount. To make an impact, the amount of base note needed is less than that of middle and top notes.
To keep you guided, always take note the total amount of essential oils (in grams) should not exceed 3% of the soap recipe. Others that are even more concentrated should only consider about 1 -2 % of the total recipe. With that said, you may take this proportion as your basis when starting to create your blend:
- 30% blend for the top note
- 60% blend for the middle note
- 10% blend for the base note
As we have mentioned, there is no cut and dried formula for every blend. One contributing factor is because every person differs in preferences — it is either they like a scent strong or simply prefer a mild one. But you can always heed a variety of good suggestions for blends. We will share them with you shortly.
BULK ESSENTIAL OILS FOR COLD PROCESS SOAPS
Ah, the trickiest method for soapmaking is the cold process. The method itself kills the fresh fragrance or that the fragrance itself complicates the soap making process. For this method, essential oils are preferably added last to help retain its scent. Indeed, it can be disappointing to have lost a scent you had hoped for. But we have here a few hints and tips you can put to use when dealing with cold process soaps.
- Some scents can’t withstand the pH level and heat of the process. Most of these are citrusy and lighter floral essential oils. However, other essential oils can withstand the process. Patchouli, Ylang ylang and Litsea Cubeba are known to last longer.
- Increasing the amount of oil might be necessary to keep the fragrance. Use a fragrance calculator to identify how much will you need to add. This is necessary as some oils are already more concentrated.
- Since base notes hold the most scent in soaps, it is helpful to blend a lighter fragrance with something that has better retention.
ANCHORING FRAGRANCES FOR BULK ESSENTIAL OILS IN SOAP MAKING
You don’t have to give up on citrusy oils just yet. Anchoring its fragrance might be a solution. You can anchor scents by either using other essential oils good in anchoring or by using powders. Anchoring the fragrance of your essential oil simply means that you are giving it something to hold on to while the soap cures and evaporates the excess liquid out.
For citrus oils, adding a bit of Patchouli essential oil somehow helps in retaining the fruity scent. Chemistry, indeed, is very powerful and grand. It provides a solution for what we thought is impossible in soap making. Moreover, adding Kaolin white clay powder to your soap recipe can also help. The essential oil adheres to the powder whilst creating a nice lather and soothing skin.
BULK ESSENTIAL OILS IN COMBINATION FOR COLD PROCESS SOAP
With that in mind, we have listed below ten (10) recommended combinations you might want to start with if considering cold processed soap.
- Lavender and Litsea Cubeba (or May Chang) essential oil
- Lavender and Peppermint essential oil (or any mint kind)
- Lavender and Lime essential oil (or any citrusy kind)
- Rosemary and Spearmint essential oil
- Lime and Spearmint essential oil (a.k.a. Mojito blend)
- Petitgrain and Sweet Orange essential oil
- Peppermint and Lemon essential oil
- Peppermint and Spearmint essential oil (a.k.a. Double mint blend)
- Spearmint and Patchouli essential oil
- Bergamot and Cedarwood essential oil
BULK ESSENTIAL OILS FOR MELT AND POUR SOAP MAKING
One huge advantage of the melt and pour process is that it is easier to do and safe to craft around children. Additionally, another upside for this method is that the soap isn’t alkaline and does not require a high temperature. This means that any of the fragrances you choose will likely stick and last for a while. The essential oils notoriously known to easily fade can be preserved with the melt and pour method.
Furthermore, please be cautious and not drop undiluted essential oils in your soap recipe as this can possibly cause skin sensitivities. We always advise our readers to research more on their chosen essential oils — to familiarise themselves with the concentration of their preferred oil.
MELT AND POUR SOAP BASES
In this process, you will make use of a pre-made base. Such bases have already undergone saponification. This means that there is no lye involved anymore and is, therefore, more convenient. With that said, it is important to understand that not all soap bases are made natural. Here at N-essentials, however, we have a number of natural soap bases you can choose from. Some of the most sustainable and popular options are SLS and SLES Free Soap Base, Crystal Honey soap base, and Hemp soap base, among others.
ESSENTIAL OILS BLENDS FOR MELT AND POUR SOAPS
Because this process is simpler, you can draw some quick and easy blend inspiration for your melt and pour soap.
- Relaxing blend: Lavender, Ylang ylang and Frankincense essential oil
- Calming blend: Lavender and Cedarwood essential oil
- Uplifting blend: Grapefruit, Lime and Lemon essential oil
- Cleansing blend: Tea Tree, Pine and Lemon essential oil
- Orange bliss: Sweet Orange and Frankincense essential oil
- Feminine scent: Geranium, Palmarosa, and Bergamot essential oil
- Love-inspired blend: Ylang ylang, Clary Sage, and Patchouli essential oil
- Spicy blend: Nutmeg, Clove Leaf, Bergamot and Ginger essential oil
MORE TIPS FOR CONVENIENT SOAP MAKING WITH ESSENTIAL OILS
Over the years, N-essentials have grown and gained experience and knowledge regarding natural soap making, especially with quality supplies to use. Before we wrap up, we would like to leave you with the following reminders that will be of great help in the long run:
- For the melt and pour method, it helps if you grease your moulds before you start. Once you have combined your solid ingredients with your essential oil blends, greasing the mould will be easily forgotten. Save time and effort by doing this beforehand.
- Never allow your soap making supplies to run out. The last thing you need is having a shortage supply in the middle of soap making.
- For the cold process method, wait for 3 to 5 days before cleaning all your equipment. This prevents you from getting raw, harmful lye on your hands.
- Save money by buying wholesale. Purchasing bulk items at a wholesale price will make a big difference in your expenses. This is particularly true for those who like to make soaps frequently or does it for business.
- Lastly, don’t forget to have fun!
FINAL THOUGHTS
If you take it one step at a time and research the different soap making supplies, especially essential oils, you will find that every aspect of this craft is a fun hobby to learn. Its customisation varies widely. This is a good thing since we all have distinct skin types and address different skin issues.
On a general scale, what we have discussed above are only a fraction of the thousand possibilities you can create. If you are fully dedicated to the craft, it helps to stock bulk essential oils for soap making. It makes sense to start simple and easy, but then you don’t have to limit yourself with just one or two essential oils on hand.
Finally, dealing with bulk essential oils for soap making encompasses three things — art, beauty, and chemistry. From the most simplified recipe to the most exquisite one, every bar is unique. We hope you let your imagination take the wheel and further your creative endeavours for this craft!
LEARN MORE ABOUT SOAPMAKING
Haven’t gotten your hands working yet? Learn more about soap making with these articles to get you started:
- Guide to Making Your Own Soap
- Premium Homemade Soapmaking
- Quality Soap Making Ingredients and Supplies
WHERE TO BUY BULK ESSENTIAL OILS AT A WHOLESALE PRICE ONLINE IN AUSTRALIA
Finding premium quality bulk essential oils? Look no further, N-essentials Australia is your trusted supplier of top-quality bulk essential oils for soap making. Everything you will need for your craft, we can provide for you in bulk at a wholesale price.
If you wish to know more about our products, you are very welcome to browse through our online catalogue. You can also get in touch with us if you wish to discuss bulk orders via email at info@n-essentials.com.au. Our team will gladly accommodate you.