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ESSENTIAL OILS AND FRAGRANCES
A good bar of soap is not only one that offers great skin-care qualities, it also should be a truly sensory experience. One of the ways of achieving this is by using Fragrances. These come in two forms in soapmaking, I use both.
ESSENTIAL OILS
These are aromatic oils produced from a plant and sometimes diluted with a carrier oil such as Almond oil. The plant oil may be distilled with water or steam or it may be extracted with solvents or carbon dioxide. Some soapmakers prefer to use essential oils because they are more 'Natural' however, some people are allergic to particular ones, some are not recommended for use during pregnancy and some just don't work well in soap such as citrus oils which tend to fade quickly. If you want to experience a natural essential oil but you are not familiar with the properties of individual oils I suggest you choose lavender, its pleasant, easily available and generally safe. I have listed the main oils I use below and their properties to help you in making your decision about which soap to choose.
FRAGRANCE OILS
This is an artificial fragrance aroma in a carrier oil. Many soapmakers prefer to use these as they are generally non-toxic and don't have the same sensitivity problems as some essential oils do. They may, like essential oils, cause allergic reactions too. Unlike essential oils they don't tend to fade in the soapmaking process, some smell great and some smell truly horrible!
ESSENTIAL OILS USED IN MY SOAPS AND THEIR PROPERTIES
BENZOIN
This has a sweet, warm aroma, its a resinous oil which has a great calming and uplifting effect on the mind, its said to help the sad and lonely. It is used to boost the circulation, helps with respiratory problems, improves the skins elasticity and soothes irritated skin. It is also used to help 'fix' other more difficult oils such as citrus in the soap
CINNAMON
A warm, spicy oil, great for fighting exhaustion, feelings of depression or weakness. It is also a powerful anti-rheumatic, fighting colds and flu as well. It is also an analgesic (pain killer)
CITRONELLA
A sharp, strong smelling oil with citrus undertones. Renowned for its insect repelling qualities, but is also great for clearing the mind, combating oily skin and sweaty feet!
EUCALYPTUS A powerful, antiseptic scent. Useful as an insect/flea repellent. Anti-fungal and a good ingredient in a hand soap.
GINGER
A warm oil often used for digestive problems as well as nausea (morning sickness or travel upset). It is also of value for treating colds and flu especially for catarrh and lung conditions. It is said to help bruising of the skin
GRAPEFRUIT Clear and strong fragrance, good for greasy skin and has anti-fungal and astringent qualities. Best when used with Benzoin to help 'fix' the scent in soap.
LAVENDER My absolute favourite -
Renowned for its soothing and relaxing qualities, a very healing oil which help you to sleep, prevents headaches, relaxes the mind and spirit. It has great healing properties and is said to really help heal burns on the skin
PATCHOULI
A deep, earth scent which is calming, grounding, banishes lethargy and sharpens the wits. Its best feature is its binding action which could be useful for loose skin especially after dieting, it helps regenerate tissue, cools inflammation and heals rough skin
PEPPERMINT Clean and fresh, can be a little overpowering. Peppermint is best used alone, it has antiseptic and insect repelling properties. Soap made with peppermint is a good choice for the morning after the night before!
SWEET ORANGE
A zingy, revitalising oil which brings cheer and happiness to the mind. It is said to help dry and irritated skin cope with everyday life
TEA TREE
A powerful natural antiseptic which is one of the only essential oils that can be applied directly to the skin. It is also anti fungal, antibacterial, antiviral and anti-inflammatory. A very useful oil
YLANG YLANG
An extremely fragrant oil with a calming effect on the mind and body. It is supposed to be an aphrodisiac and is often used in 'sensuous' massage oils. It has a balancing and stimulating effect on the skin
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