How Much Essential Oil For 2 Pounds Of Soap?

Adding essential oils to handmade soap provides many benefits. Essential oils not only provide pleasant scents, but they also have therapeutic properties when applied to the skin. Using pure essential oils allows soap makers to create natural soaps that moisturize, relax, energize or heal the skin.

When adding essential oils to soap, it’s important to use the proper amounts. Too much oil can lead to skin irritation, while too little may not provide enough scent or benefits. This guide provides tips on how much essential oil to use per pound of soap.

Factors That Determine Amount

The amount of essential oil needed for soap making depends on several factors:

Desired Scent Strength. Some essential oils like lavender and lemon have lighter scents, while others like clove and cinnamon are quite strong. If you want a light scent, use less oil. For a stronger scent, use more oil up to the maximum safe usage rate.

Oil Properties. Each essential oil has its own properties that affect how much to use in soap. For example, some essential oils are more likely to cause skin irritation at high levels. Others may discolor the soap or accelerate trace. It’s important to research usage rates for each specific oil.

Personal Preference. Scent preferences are highly individualized. Some people love strong scents while others prefer subtle aromas. Consider your target audience and test different oil amounts to find the ideal concentration for your desired scent strength.

Overall, start on the low end around 0.5-1% of your oil weight and adjust up gradually until you achieve the scent you want without exceeding the maximum safe usage rate.

Recommended Usage Rates

There are some general guidelines from reputable sources on how much essential oil to use when making soap:

According to Modern Soapmaking, a usage rate of 2-4% of the total soap oils is commonly recommended for essential oils in cold process soap recipes (https://www.modernsoapmaking.com/blog/essential-oil-usage-rates-ifra-guidelines).

Lovely Greens notes that the EU considers an essential oil usage rate of 3% or less safe for wash-off products like soap, based on the total weight of the oils/fats used (https://lovelygreens.com/make-soap-with-essential-oils/).

The EO Calc website has a calculator that can help determine safe usage rates based on IFRA standards, by inputting the total weight of oils in a soap recipe (https://www.eocalc.com/calculate-usage-rate/).

Common Essential Oils for Soap

Some of the most popular essential oils for soap making include:¹

Lavender essential oil – With its floral scent and skin-soothing properties, lavender is one of the most versatile essential oils for soap. It blends well with many other oils.

Eucalyptus essential oil – Eucalyptus oil adds an invigorating, medicinal fragrance to soaps. It’s said to have cleansing effects. Eucalyptus pairs nicely with mint and tea tree oils.

Lemon essential oil – Bright, citrusy lemon oil stimulates the senses. It mixes well with lavender and peppermint. Use sparingly, as it can irritate skin in high amounts.

Tea tree essential oil – With its rich, woody aroma, tea tree oil acts as an antiseptic. It’s often added to soaps for oily skin and other properties. Combine it with eucalyptus or rosemary oil.

Scent Strengths

Essential oils can be grouped into light, medium, and strong scent categories based on their odor intensity. This helps determine how much of an oil to use when blending.

Light oils like lavender, lemon, and chamomile have low odor intensity ratings of 1-3. Medium oils like eucalyptus, thyme, and lemongrass are in the 4-6 range. Finally, strong oils like clove, cinnamon, and oregano have high intensity ratings of 7-10. (Kelley)

When formulating essential oil blends, it’s important to balance the scent strengths. Using too much of a very strong oil can overpower lighter scents. Consulting a scent strength chart helps select oils in proper proportions.

Max Safe Rates

When working with essential oils, it’s important to be mindful of the maximum usage rates to avoid skin irritation. According to the International Fragrance Association (IFRA), essential oils should not exceed a 3% concentration in leave-on products like soap (https://www.modernsoapmaking.com/blog/essential-oil-usage-rates-ifra-guidelines). Exceeding these guidelines increases the risk of sensitivity reactions.

Some soap makers recommend staying below a 1-2% essential oil concentration. It’s best to be cautious and conservative with your usage rates, especially when working with oils like cinnamon leaf, clove bud, and lemon myrtle which have lower IFRA limits.

When using multiple essential oils in a blend, make sure the total combined usage stays within safe guidelines. Start low with a 0.5-1% usage rate for your first few test batches until any potential issues are identified.

Blending Oils

Mix different essential oils to create complex aromas for your soap. Blending allows you to layer scents and customize the fragrance profile. Follow general guidelines when mixing oils:

• Use 3-5 oils in a blend for best results. More than 5 can muddle the scent.
• Include top, middle, and base notes for a well-rounded aroma. Top notes lift the scent; middle notes are the heart of the blend; and base notes provide depth.
• Follow a 30:50:20 ratio. Use 30% top note oils (like citrus or herbs), 50% middle note floral oils, and 20% base oils like vanilla or sandalwood. For a 10ml blend: 3 drops top note, 5 drops middle note, 2 drops base note [1]

Mix oils in a glass container. Cover and allow to synergize for 1-2 days before using. The scent will change and improve as the oils interact.

Storing Soap

One of the key factors in preventing scent fading in soap is proper storage. There are a few simple tips to follow:

• Wrap soap in wax paper or plastic wrap after it has cured and hardened. This helps prevent the essential oils from evaporating.
• Store soap in a cool, dark place like a cupboard or drawer. Heat and light can accelerate scent loss.
• Avoid storing soap with other fragrant products like candles or perfumes, as this can cause the scents to mingle.
• Consider using scent-locking plastic bags for long term storage. Make sure to squeeze out excess air before sealing.
• Don’t store soap in the bathroom where heat and moisture from showers can impact scent.
• Use soap within 1-2 months for best fragrance retention. The scent will fade over time no matter how well it’s stored.

Proper storage can help extend the life of your soap’s scent, though some fading over time is inevitable. Using a higher percentage of essential oils can also improve longevity. But with good storage practices, handmade soap can retain its signature scent for many weeks or months.

Skin Safety

When using essential oils, it’s important to be aware of potential skin sensitivities and allergic reactions. According to Healthline, the most common reaction is contact dermatitis, which causes redness, itching, and rash where the oil touched the skin. Reactions can occur immediately or up to 48 hours later.

To avoid unwanted reactions, it’s recommended to perform a skin test before using a new essential oil, especially on larger areas of skin. To test, mix a couple drops of the oil with a carrier oil and apply a small amount to the inside of your elbow or wrist. Cover with a bandage for 24 hours, then check for any irritation or rash before wider use. If any reaction occurs, discontinue use and wash skin thoroughly with gentle soap.

It’s also advised to start with highly diluted oils at first, and gradually increase concentration as tolerated. Blending with other oils can also help reduce risk of sensitivity. Those with known allergies should avoid oils from the same botanical families.

Conclusion

In summary, essential oil usage rates can vary based on the oil’s strength, your personal scent preference, and skin safety. When in doubt, start with a lower usage rate around 0.5-1% of the soap’s weight. You can always add more fragrance in your next batch. Blending complementary oils is a great way to create complex scents. Store finished soaps properly to preserve the oils’ aromas. Finally, be sure to properly label your soaps, especially if using oils that may cause skin irritation at higher rates. With some care and testing, essential oils can provide a wonderful aromatic touch to handmade soaps.

Some final tips: avoid using citrus oils at more than 0.5% as they can irritate skin. Always check usage recommendations from reputable sources, and conduct a small batch skin test before fully committing to an oil blend. Lastly, if you want to ramp up a scent, try adding essential oils to the lye water too. Hopefully these guidelines give you a good starting point to experiment with essential oil soap scents.