the soap before it goes into the mold, so when the essential oils are added, they won’t
react with the already neutralized lye. If you are using ground herbs, pumice, or
other solid additives, soak them in your essential oil blend before adding them to the
soap; they will release the essential oils slowly, and make the scent last longer.
Beware of citrus oils; these can cause the soap mix to curdle, and should be used
in very small amounts, if at all. Also, citrus oils (and other top-note oils) have a
tendency to disperse sooner, because they have a lower evaporation point than other,
heartier oils. If you want to use citrus oils in your soap, add them at trace, instead of
in the base oil, so they won’t adversely affect the soap-making process. If there is a
scent you love that is prone to disappearing quickly, try using another, similar scent
that sticks around longer. Also, always use top, middle and base notes; even if you
only want a single scent, use other scents that are similar or complementary, so that
the scent will have more staying power.
The best time to mix your essential oils is as the soap batter is beginning to
thicken, but before it has reached the trace stage. If you mix the essential oils any
earlier, some of the oil will evaporate, because the oils are highly volatile. So, mix
them just before you are about to use them. Also, use a spoon to mix the essential oils
with the batter, instead of a stick blender; a stick blender can cause the soap mixture
to seize, at which point you’ll be unable to pour the soap into molds.
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