One of the most frequently asked questions in my student community is this - How to make essential oils last longer in soap? And rightly so!
Adding essential oils to soap is a great way to scent your soaps and keep it all natural but here’s the thing…
Essential oils are potent & volatile plant extracts that can evaporate or break down when exposed to heat and the alkaline conditions of soapmaking, causing their scent & properties to fade over time.
And this can be particularly frustrating, especially to aspiring soapmakers.
Although essential oils are naturally subtle compared to their synthetic counterparts - the fragrances, listed below are 6 ways you can extend the scent experience of your soaps with essential oils.
Anchor with scent fixers
Additives like clays, starches & base essential oils can be used to anchor the scents in soap for longer. You can mix them well ahead of time to make aromatic components cling on to the clay/starch particles and prevent it from evaporating quickly.
Blend essential oils
Understanding how to blend essential oils based on scent notes & scent families can help you come up with well rounded scents that last longer in soaps.
You can also blend based on ‘synergy’ if you want to experience certain aromatherapeutic effects when the warm shower hits the soap.
Use the maximum permissible amounts
The International Fragrance Association (IFRA) regulates the amount of essential oils you can use in soaps for safety & preventing skin sensitization. You are free to use upto this maximum permissable amount in soap that will invariably contribute to an elongated scent experience
Use high quality essential oils
There is no doubt that the quality of essential oils play an important role in the longevity of the scent.
True, good quality essential oils are expensive but because of their quality, you can actually get away with less amount of essential oils for the desired scent payoff thus reducing costs significantly.
Dry them right
Natural handmade soaps need to dry/age/cure for a period of 4-6 weeks before using them. Cure soaps in a cool, dry, airy place out of direct sunlight. This can prevent scent evaporation to a certain extent.
Store them right
Using some cotton wool dipped in the predominant essential oil & placing them in trays/boxes where you store them can help prevent some scent fading.
I have personally been successful with techniques 1-4. But feel free to experiment & find a method that works for your soaps.