Adding Color and Fragrance to Water-Based Pomade

Question

I am making a water-based pomade using a MySkinRecipes formula, which is initially clear. I would like to add color and fragrance to it, similar to commercial products that have various scents and colors.

Could you please advise on the following:

What type of color can be used, and at which step in the formulation process should it be added?
What type of fragrance oil is suitable, and how should it be incorporated into the formulation?

MySkinRecipes Expert · Accepted Answer

Adding Color and Fragrance to Water-Based Pomade

To customize your water-based pomade from the MySkinRecipes formula by adding color and fragrance, here is how you can do it:

Adding Color

For water-based formulas like pomade, you should use water-soluble colorants. We have a variety of options available. Some examples include:

Black Color Powder (Water-Soluble)
Black Color EasyWash™
Caramel Color EasyWash™

These colors are highly concentrated, so you only need to use a very small amount. Add the colorant to the water phase of your formulation while mixing. Start with a tiny amount and gradually add more until you achieve your desired color intensity.

Adding Fragrance

You can add fragrance to your pomade using fragrance oils. We offer a wide selection of fragrance oils. Examples include:

Poeme (compare to Lancome)
Healing Spa
Cherry (Fragrance Oil)

Fragrance oils should typically be added during the cooling phase of your formulation, after the main heating and mixing steps are complete. This helps to prevent the volatile fragrance compounds from evaporating due to heat, ensuring the scent remains strong in the final product. Add the fragrance oil drop by drop and mix thoroughly until the desired scent level is reached.

By adding water-soluble colors and fragrance oils, you can personalize your water-based pomade to have the look and smell you prefer.