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Adding scent oil

Shavin’ Yeti

Shavin’ Yeti

Sr. Shave Member
I am wondering if there is a specific way to add scent oil to a soap that is light or lacking a particular scent. I noticed with my new CBL Bergamot & Lemon soap that I can not detect a lemon scent either from the tub or when lathered. I have some lemongrass essential oil that would give it a nice lemon aroma and I want to know if it would work to add a drop or two on the top of the soap and spread it around. Would this harm the soap? Would it cause any other problems?
 
A few things. First, lemon is not lemongrass. Secondly, I tried adding lemongrass essential oil to a soap or aftershave (don't remember which) and it lit me up like a Christmas tree when I used the soap or aftershave. OTOH, I have had good luck adding lavender essential oil to soap lather--it really improved the scent. I bought some really nice lavender essential oil in Sequim, Washington last Summer during their annual Lavender Festival. In both cases, I added drops to the soap lather or aftershave before using. I did not put any essential oil directly on to the soap puck, just in to the lather I was using that particular day.

So for me, lavender was a success but lemongrass was not. You can always test it out.
 
Southsider said:
A few things. First, lemon is not lemongrass. Secondly, I tried adding lemongrass essential oil to a soap or aftershave (don't remember which) and it lit me up like a Christmas tree when I used the soap or aftershave. OTOH, I have had good luck adding lavender essential oil to soap lather--it really improved the scent. I bought some really nice lavender essential oil in Sequim, Washington last Summer during their annual Lavender Festival. In both cases, I added drops to the soap lather or aftershave before using. I did not put any essential oil directly on to the soap puck, just in to the lather I was using that particular day.

So for me, lavender was a success but lemongrass was not. You can always test it out.
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Thanks for the info. I will certainly do a test lather before first trying it with an actual shave. Lemongrass oil is the only thing I have on hand right now until I get some actual lemon Essential oil. The last thing I want is shave soap lighting me up like a 🎄. If all else fails, I will just find a good lemon aftershave. The soap performance is great, just lacking the lemon I was after.
 
I’ve had success putting a drop or 2 of essential oil on the puck of Unscented soap before lathering. After rinsing the soap puck after the shave I couldn’t detect any residual scent.
 
I used some clary sage EO my wife has. I used waaaay too much the first time I tried it and have settled on 1-2 drops now.
 
I made a lemongrass soap and it turned out ok. Some people here have used it as well. Is it his hard or soft soap? If hard a few drops on top should be fine before each use. If soft then blending some in should be fine as well.
 
The Monkey said:
I made a lemongrass soap and it turned out ok. Some people here have used it as well. Is it his hard or soft soap? If hard a few drops on top should be fine before each use. If soft then blending some in should be fine as well.
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It is firm, not triple milled hard, but you can dent it with your finger.
Did the lemongrass give you any face burning 🥵 sensation?
 
Shavin’ Yeti said:
I am wondering if there is a specific way to add scent oil to a soap that is light or lacking a particular scent. I noticed with my new CBL Bergamot & Lemon soap that I can not detect a lemon scent either from the tub or when lathered. I have some lemongrass essential oil that would give it a nice lemon aroma and I want to know if it would work to add a drop or two on the top of the soap and spread it around. Would this harm the soap? Would it cause any other problems?
Click to expand...
Adding a few (or a lot) drops of essential oil that you are typically tolerant of to the surface of any soap will usually be ok, ost soaps will readily absorb the oil over several days and continue to work as if you did nothing to them. I often add scent oils (essential or fragrance oil) to vintage pucks that have lost scent, seal them in a ziplock and let them rest for a long time to regain some scent. Some soaps can be warmed (hot car for a day is the best way to gently warm a soap) to soften it enough to allow you to add your desired oil and stir it in a little.

as far as lemon grass EO goes, that stuff is pretty powerful, a little often goes a long way. A fewdrops on the surface, close the lid and let it sit a day or two and you will find the first lathering might be more lemon grass than anything (not a bad thing, lemon grass is good stuff) but the residual scent might be what you wanted.
 
CBLindsay said:
Adding a few (or a lot) drops of essential oil that you are typically tolerant of to the surface of any soap will usually be ok, ost soaps will readily absorb the oil over several days and continue to work as if you did nothing to them. I often add scent oils (essential or fragrance oil) to vintage pucks that have lost scent, seal them in a ziplock and let them rest for a long time to regain some scent. Some soaps can be warmed (hot car for a day is the best way to gently warm a soap) to soften it enough to allow you to add your desired oil and stir it in a little.

as far as lemon grass EO goes, that stuff is pretty powerful, a little often goes a long way. A fewdrops on the surface, close the lid and let it sit a day or two and you will find the first lathering might be more lemon grass than anything (not a bad thing, lemon grass is good stuff) but the residual scent might be what you wanted.
Click to expand...
Thanks for the great information.
 
CBLindsay said:
Adding a few (or a lot) drops of essential oil that you are typically tolerant of to the surface of any soap will usually be ok, ost soaps will readily absorb the oil over several days and continue to work as if you did nothing to them. I often add scent oils (essential or fragrance oil) to vintage pucks that have lost scent, seal them in a ziplock and let them rest for a long time to regain some scent. Some soaps can be warmed (hot car for a day is the best way to gently warm a soap) to soften it enough to allow you to add your desired oil and stir it in a little.

as far as lemon grass EO goes, that stuff is pretty powerful, a little often goes a long way. A fewdrops on the surface, close the lid and let it sit a day or two and you will find the first lathering might be more lemon grass than anything (not a bad thing, lemon grass is good stuff) but the residual scent might be what you wanted.
Click to expand...
Any suggestions on a brand of essential oil? Thinking about adding orange and/or lemon or some combination.
 
Shavin’ Yeti said:
Any suggestions on a brand of essential oil? Thinking about adding orange and/or lemon or some combination.
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If you’re going to add it to soap I don’t think it matters as much what the brand is, aftershaves and other topical or ‘therapeutic’ purposes would be more picky. The thing to watch out for with citrus EO’s is the X concentration, cheaper stuff is often less concentrated but that isn’t a bad thing. More concentrated citrus EO’s have a very high potential to cause irritation without adding much more scent intensity. I don’t know about lemon but you can probably get an orange EO from Walmart or a local health food or pharmacy or hobby lobby. Orange, patchouli, lavender and lemon grass are pretty common. You can search eBay too, I forget the brand but there is a brand that is pretty readily available in smaller quantities on eBay at a decent price. The sizes aren’t great for making much but they are perfect for what you are looking to do.
 
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