Before we go into details; I will love to discuss the blending of essential oils. So, you can have a clear understanding of essential oils in soap making.
Blending Essential Oils
Nobody loves to create a beautiful-smelling natural bar soap that doesn’t last. By understanding more about essential oils, you can blend them to make sure they last for a year or more.
Top, Middle, and Base Notes
Essential oils are divided into top, middle, and base notes; although many fits in more than one category. By combining them, you ensure that even if your top notes fade slightly, the middle and base notes will last much longer.
▪ TOP NOTES are the first-impression scents that don’t last long. Examples: lemon, lime, orange, grapefruit, bergamot, lavender, lemongrass, eucalyptus, peppermint, tangerine, and niaouli.
▪ MIDDLE NOTES are noticeable to the senses after they process the top notes and last longer. Examples: chamomile, cinnamon, clove, clary sage, fir needle, rosemary, geranium, juniper berry, tea tree, thyme, and cypress.
▪ BASE NOTES are very important because they help middle and top notes last longer in your soap. Try adding small amounts of these: patchouli, frankincense, myrrh, cedarwood, ginger, sandalwood, vetiver, helichrysum, rose, jasmine, ylang-ylang, and neroli.
Lavender
LAVANDULA ANGUSTIFOLIA
Precautions: Always dilute and perform a patch test on your wrist before first-time use.
A middle to top note with a sweet floral and herbaceous scent. Blends well with lemongrass, patchouli, vanilla, cedarwood, peppermint, lemon, or cypress.
Lemon
CITRUS LIMON
Precautions: Though not a danger in soap, phototoxicity or severe burning from the sun or tanning beds can occur when lemon essential oil is applied directly to the skin. Always dilute and perform a patch test on your wrist before first-time use.
A top note with a clean citrus scent. Blends well with lavender, ylang-ylang, chamomile, frankincense, rose, neroli, or eucalyptus.
Tea Tree
MELALEUCA ALTERNIFOLIA
Precautions: Always dilute and perform a patch test on your wrist before first-time use.
A middle note with a warm, fresh, spicy-camphoraceous scent. Antibacterial, making it great for acne soap. Blends well with lemon, cypress, lavender, rosemary, marjoram, basil, peppermint, lime, or chamomile.
Sweet Orange
CITRUS SINENSIS
Precautions: Always dilute and perform a patch test on your wrist before first-time use.
A top note with a sweet citrus scent. Blends well with basil, ylang-ylang, cinnamon leaf, clove, frankincense, lavender, juniper berry, neroli, or rose.
Rose
ROSA DAMASCENA
Precautions: Always dilute and perform a patch test on your wrist before first-time use.
A middle to base note with a rich, sweet, floral scent. Most commonly used as an aphrodisiac. Blends well with chamomile, lemon, lavender, sandalwood, patchouli, clary sage, neroli, or vetiver.
Cedarwood
JUNIPERUS VIRGINIANA
Precautions: Always dilute and perform a patch test on your wrist before first-time use.
A base note with a soft woody scent. Blends well with fir, cypress, patchouli, or rose.
Patchouli
POGOSTEMON CABLIN
Precautions: Always dilute and perform a patch test on your wrist before first-time use.
A base note with an earthy, musky, smoky scent. Blends well with lavender, lime, rose, sandalwood, cedarwood, geranium, frankincense, or orange.
Ylang-Ylang
CANANGA ODORATA
Precautions: Always dilute and perform a patch test on your wrist before first-time use.
A base note with a rich, sweet floral scent. It is known for its ability to calm and is considered an aphrodisiac. Blends well with lemon, eucalyptus, peppermint, grapefruit, vetiver, patchouli, mandarin, or orange.
Lemongrass
CYMBOPOGON FLEXUOSUS
Precautions: Can be a skin irritant to some. Always dilute and perform a patch test on your wrist before first-time use.
A top note with a heavy lemon scent. Can be used as a natural insect repellent. Blends beautifully with lavender, tea tree, rosemary, ylang-ylang, geranium, grapefruit, or cedarwood.
Peppermint
MENTHA PIPERITA
Precautions: Not for use with small children or elderly. Always dilute and perform a patch test on your wrist before first-time use.
A top note with a fresh, minty, herbaceous scent. It is considered to be an uplifting and energizing scent. Blends well with basil, eucalyptus, rosemary, tea tree, lavender, fir, cypress, geranium, or grapefruit.