Modifying Witch Hazel Alcohol-Free Toner

You've asked about improving the scent and changing the texture of your Witch Hazel Alcohol-Free Toner. Here's some guidance:

Adding Scent

To add a pleasant scent to your toner, you should use cosmetic-grade Fragrance Oils or Natural Essential Oils. These are designed for use in skincare products.

• Fragrance Oils (like Jasmine Fragrance Oil or Poeme) offer a wide variety of scents, including inspired-by perfumes.
• Natural Essential Oils (like Holy Basil Oil) provide natural plant-derived aromas.

Flavorings are typically used for lip products or edible items and are not suitable for a toner applied to the face.

Start by adding a very small amount (e.g., 0.1-0.5%) and increase gradually until you achieve the desired scent strength. Over-adding fragrance can cause skin irritation.

Changing Texture to Gel or Cream

To thicken the liquid toner into a gel or cream, you need to add a water-phase thickener or gelling agent. The Witch Hazel Toner is primarily water-based.

• Silicone thickeners (like Silicone Thick™) are designed to thicken silicone oils, not water-based liquids, so they are not suitable for this toner.

Here are some suitable water-phase thickeners that can help you achieve a non-sticky, easy-to-spread, and well-absorbing texture:

• CreamMaker EG™: This is an easy-to-use liquid thickener that works in cold process. It helps create supple gels and creams with a soft, light feel and good absorption. It's a good choice for lotions and serums.
• Aristoflex AVC: A popular powder gelling agent that creates clear gels with a pleasant, non-sticky feel that spreads easily and absorbs well.
• Sepimax Zen: Another versatile powder gelling agent that is known for its tolerance to electrolytes and a wide pH range, providing clear gels with good texture.
• Hydroxyethyl Cellulose (HEC): A non-ionic powder thickener that forms clear gels. It generally requires heating to dissolve properly.
• Carbomer 940: A common powder gelling agent that creates clear gels. It requires neutralization with an alkali (like Triethanolamine) to thicken and is sensitive to low pH and electrolytes. Since your toner is slightly acidic (pH 4.5-5.5), you would need to adjust the pH after adding Carbomer.

Start by adding a low percentage (e.g., 0.5-1%) of the chosen thickener and gradually increase it until you reach your desired gel or cream consistency. The maximum usage rate varies depending on the specific thickener, but typically ranges from 1% to 3% for a gel texture.

Always perform small test batches to ensure compatibility and achieve the desired texture and feel before making a larger batch.