Orange Butter Lip Balm
This has been one of our most popular promotional lip balms! We are often asked if we brought this lip balm to events, conferences and even business meetings.
This...
Fragrance Testing in Cold Process Soap: Sweetgrass, Chocolate Mousse, Bayberry, Hydrogen, and Cherry Blossoms
I have more photos for our Fragrance Testing Series! This is a long series of blog posts that shows the testing of our fragrances in Cold Process Soap. We are testing ALL of the fragrances in our catalog at their maximum recommended usage rate for Cold Process Soap and showing you pictures of what the finished soaps look like in a side by side comparison with an unscented control batch. Since these fragrances are all being tested at their maximum recommended usage rate, I wouldn’t recommend using more fragrance. These soaps are strongly scented and will smell much stronger when wet.
| Our first fragrance today in Cold Process Soap is Sweetgrass. Our catalog notes that “Sweetgrass is a herb often used by Native Americans. This fragrance oil captures the scent perfectly, giving feelings of a fall meadow at your nose. It is sweet and hypnotic with a green freshness. Once you smell it you will be hooked. A very inviting fragrance” I definitely agree very irresistible. This is light, green, fall meadow scent. I keep going back to this soap, it surely has a great aroma.
There was not any discoloration of note and this means you can make that fall themed swirl you have always wanted without worrying about the fragrance causing discoloration. We used the maximum suggested usage rate of 2.5%, which is 0.4 ounces of fragrance in our 1 pound test batch. |
 Sweetgrass fragrance oil on the left and control on the right. |
 Chocolate Mousse fragrance oil on the left and control on the right. |
Our second fragrance in Cold Process Soap is Chocolate Mousse. Under the description for Chocolate Mousse, our catalog says “There are two types of people in the world when it comes to chocolate. Those that like chocolate and those that just have to have it! This fragrance is likely to take the most casual chocolate admirer and convert them to a serious chocolate lover. Chocolate mousse smells like a freshly made milk chocolate dessert. Roben writes to us: “Whenever I use the body butter, lotions or sprays I’ve made with it, everyone follows me around like I’m the ice cream truck!” This is definitely a fragrance for the chocoholic in the family! Jamie even wrote to us that her friend’s son tried to trick them into thinking he was sleepwalking when he just wanted to curl up with a Chocolate Mousse soap!” I love chocolate and think this is the best way to get that mesmerizing aroma without the calories!
There was moderate discoloration of note a milk chocolate brown.We used the maximum suggested usage rate of 2.25%, which is 0.36 ounces of fragrance in our 1 pound test batch. |
| Our third fragrance in Cold Process Soap is Bayberry. According to our catalog Bayberry, “Finally a bayberry worthy of our tester’s approval! A year round favorite that has been a festive holiday tradition for generations. This unisex blend has long been known for its warm irresistible aroma. A favorite for men’s soap and toiletries.” Our Bayberry fragrance reminds me of Christmas and some candles that a friend brought from Colonial Williamsburg that were made with bayberry wax and beeswax. It also is well liked for men’s products.
There was not any discoloration of note and this means you can make that green swirl you have always wanted without worrying about the fragrance causing discoloration. We used the maximum suggested usage rate of 2.25%, which is 0.36 ounces of fragrance in our 1 pound test batch. |
 Bayberry fragrance oil on the left and control on the right. |
 Hydrogen fragrance oil on the left and control on the right. |
Our fourth fragrance in Cold Process Soap is Hydrogen. According to our catalog, “Hydrogen is the ultimate in new fragrances. Top fruity notes of apple, grapefruit, peach and leafy greens; with middle notes of lily, lavender, rose and violet; and finally base notes with amber, sandalwood, and raspberry musk. Let Hydrogen be elemental in your new line of fragrances!” Hydrogen has been a old favorite of mine, I really enjoy the fruity and musky scent. It provides an element of energy and gives you that oomph that everyone needs.
There was not any discoloration of note and this means you can make any swirl without worrying about the fragrance causing discoloration. We used the maximum suggested usage rate of 2.75%, which is 0.44 ounces of fragrance in our 1 pound test batch. |
| Our fifth and last fragrance for today in Cold Process soap is Cherry Blossom. According to our catalog “If you like Bath & Body Works Japanese Cherry Blossom, try our Cherry Blossom Fragrance. We think you will be hard pressed to tell the difference! This delightful floral blooms within the fruity green top notes of this fragrance. A touch of jasmine merges with muguet and rose for a mysterious signature blend that carries through to a background of musk & sandalwood.” An exotic floral blend that when one gets a whiff of will ask mmm, ‘what’s that and where do I get me some’.
There was not any discoloration of note and this means you can make that pink and white swirl you have always been dreaming of without worrying about the fragrance causing discoloration. We used the maximum suggested usage rate of 2.75%, which is 0.44 ounces of fragrance in our 1 pound test batch. |
 Cherry Blossom fragrance oil on the left and control on the right. |
Thank you for joining us today! We will be releasing more pictures as we continue testing soaps. If there is a fragrance you would like to see, let us know and we will put it at the top of our list!
Here are the details about our test batches before we added any fragrances!
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Ingredients Hydrogenated Soybean Oil Coconut Oil Olive Oil Shea Butter Sodium Hydroxide (Lye) Water |
Equipment Scale Microwave Safe Container Spoons Pipettes Immersion Blender Soap Mold |
Recipe:
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Recipe in Grams 170 grams Hydrogenated Soybean Oil 142 grams Coconut Oil 113 grams Olive Oil 29 grams Shea Butter 64 grams Sodium Hydroxide (Lye) 177 mL Water |
Recipe in Ounces 6 oz Hydrogenated Soybean Oil 5 oz Coconut Oil 4 oz Olive Oil 1 oz Shea Butter 2.26 oz Sodium Hydroxide (Lye) 6 fl oz Water |
Recipe in Percentages 37.5% Hydrogenated Soybean Oil 31.25% Coconut Oil 25% Olive Oil 6.25% Shea Butter Q.S. Sodium Hydroxide (Lye) Q.S. Water |
Our temperatures for lye and oils are between 125°F and 130°F to handle our currently cool weather. We make our soap with a 6% superfat. All of the batches we make are mixed to light trace and then the fragrance is added. After the fragrance is added we mix until the fragrance is incorporated and then we pour into the mold.
Basic Bar Soap
This recipe is the basic recipe that we use to test fragrances, colors or other additives.
Ingredients
- 4 oz Coconut Oil or Palm Kernel Oil (See Comments...
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