{"id":41,"date":"2026-03-16T18:52:50","date_gmt":"2026-03-16T17:52:50","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.7virides.com\/cs\/suroviny\/etericky-oleje\/"},"modified":"2026-03-25T11:19:31","modified_gmt":"2026-03-25T10:19:31","slug":"etericky-oleje","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.7virides.com\/en\/suroviny\/etericky-oleje\/","title":{"rendered":"Essential Oils in Soap: Guide to Selection, Usage Rates and Stability"},"content":{"rendered":"
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TL;DR:<\/strong> EOs behave differently in soap than in aromatherapy - alkalinity breaks them down, volatility weakens them. Safe: 1-3% by weight of oils. Accelerating EOs (cinnamon, cloves): max 0.5%, cooler production temperature. Citrus will dry out - fix with patchouli or cedar. Always check IFRA limits.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

Essential oils (EO) are volatile aromatic compounds obtained by distillation of plants. In soap they fulfil three roles: fragrance, potential therapeutic effect (aromatherapy claim) and in some cases natural antibacterial properties. But soapmaking has specific rules for EOs that do not apply in perfumery or aromatherapy - the alkaline environment of saponification, high temperatures and aging time will dramatically affect how EOs work in the final soap.<\/p>\n

Why EOs behave differently in soap than in aromatherapy<\/h2>\n

Alkaline degradation values some chemical compounds - at pH 10-12 of fresh CP soap, EO will partially decompose or change. Volatile monoterpenes evaporate during production and aging - the aroma of fresh soap is not representative. Some EOs contain compounds (eugenol in cloves, aldehydes) that speed up saponification to minutes or seconds - \"soapmaking acceleration“ is the most common problem for beginners. Finally, IFRA (International Fragrance Association) sets maximum safe concentrations for different products - high doses can irritate the skin.<\/p>\n

Safe usage rates in CP soap<\/h2>\n

General rule: 1-3% of the total weight of the oils.<\/strong> For 500 g of oils, this means 5-15 g of essential oil (approximately 1-3 teaspoons). But it depends on the specific EO - IFRA limits vary. Some oils can be used in higher concentrations without risk, others must be lower.<\/p>\n

Overview of common EOs and recommended usage rates in soap<\/h3>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Essential oil<\/th>\nRecommended % (shear)<\/th>\nScent stability<\/th>\nTrace acceleration<\/th>\nNote<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
Lavender (Lavandula angustifolia)<\/td>\n1-3 %<\/td>\nMedium<\/td>\nNo<\/td>\nMost versatile EO<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Peppermint (Mentha piperita)<\/td>\n1-2 %<\/td>\ngood<\/td>\nNo<\/td>\nMax 2,5 % (IFRA) - menthol<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Eucalyptus<\/td>\n1-2 %<\/td>\ngood<\/td>\nNo<\/td>\nIrritant in high dose<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Tea tree (Tea Tree)<\/td>\n1-2 %<\/td>\nMedium<\/td>\nNo<\/td>\nAntimicrobial<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Lemon\/orange\/pepper<\/td>\n1-2 %<\/td>\nlow<\/td>\nNo<\/td>\nCitrus EOs fade quickly<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Bergamot (without photosensitizers)<\/td>\n1-2 %<\/td>\nlow<\/td>\nNo<\/td>\nNo phototoxicity just bergapten-free<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Rosemary<\/td>\n1-3 %<\/td>\ngood<\/td>\nNo<\/td>\nAt the same time antioxidant<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Clove<\/td>\n0,5 % max<\/td>\ngood<\/td>\nYES (strong)<\/td>\nEugenol accelerates strongly<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Cinnamon (bark)<\/td>\n0.05 % max<\/td>\ngood<\/td>\nYES (strong)<\/td>\nIrritant, IFRA limit very low<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Cinnamon (leaf)<\/td>\n0,6 % max<\/td>\ngood<\/td>\nYes<\/td>\nEugenol - accelerates<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Ylang ylang<\/td>\n0,8 % max<\/td>\ngood<\/td>\nNo<\/td>\nStrong scent - less = more<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Cedar<\/td>\n1-3 %<\/td>\nexcellent<\/td>\nNo<\/td>\nEarthy, masculine<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Patchouli<\/td>\n1-3 %<\/td>\nexcellent<\/td>\nNo<\/td>\nScent fixative \u2014 extends others<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Frankincense (incense)<\/td>\n1-3 %<\/td>\ngood<\/td>\nNo<\/td>\nPremium, luxury<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Palmarosa<\/td>\n1-3 %<\/td>\nMedium<\/td>\nNo<\/td>\nSimilar to pink geranium<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Geranium<\/td>\n1-3 %<\/td>\nMedium<\/td>\nNo<\/td>\nSensitive skin - caution<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

Trace accelerators: how to handle them<\/h2>\n

Essential oils with a high content of eugenol, aldehydes or some terpenes accelerate saponification - especially cinnamon, clove, nutmeg and some citrus oils. How to work with accelerators?<\/p>\n

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  1. Cooler production temperatures:<\/strong> Work at 35-40 \u00b0C instead of 45-50 \u00b0C. Lower temperatures will slow down the reaction.<\/li>\n
  2. Light trace and speed:<\/strong> Add the EO on a very light trace and immediately pour into the moulds. Do not stir longer than necessary.<\/li>\n
  3. Splitting the bag into small batches:<\/strong> If you are making a multi-coloured soap with accelerating EO - not suitable. Choose another EO or fragrance oil (FO) without acceleration.<\/li>\n
  4. Test ahead:<\/strong> Always test a new EO in a small batch (100 g of oils) before a large batch.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    Citrus EOs: volatility problem and solutions<\/h2>\n

    Citrus essential oils - lemon, orange, grapefruit, lime - are primarily composed of monoterpenes (d-limonene and related compounds). These compounds are extremely volatile and oxidize rapidly in an alkaline environment. The result: the citrus aroma in the finished soap is weak or non-existent after 4-6 weeks of aging.<\/p>\n

    Solutions:<\/strong><\/p>\n