Choosing Solubilizers for Air Spray and Clear Surface Cleaner Formulas
Question
Hello, I’m interested in using the shop’s Solubilizer to develop Air Spray and Surface Cleaner formulas, so I’d like to ask for more information.
From the website information, I found Flora Solve Clear, Ultra Solve, and Eco Solve. It states that Ultra Solve is more efficient than Flora Solve Clear, while Eco Solve has performance equivalent to Ultra Solve. I’d like to ask for more details as follows:
- If the use is specifically for dissolving Fragrance Oil and Essential Oil in water, which one has the highest efficiency?
- If comparing the clarity of the finished formula, how should Flora Solve Clear, Ultra Solve, and Eco Solve be ranked?
- What is the main difference between Ultra Solve and Eco Solve, since their performance is stated to be similar?
- For a Room Spray / Air Spray formula with fragrance at around 0.5-3%, which one does the shop recommend most?
- For a clear water-based Surface Cleaner formula with fragrance at around 0.3-0.5% and mild surfactants already in the formula, which one should be chosen?
- Can all 3 withstand storage at 40-45°C similarly, and which one has the best long-term stability?
- Please advise the recommended usage ratio of each one for Fragrance Oil and Essential Oil.
Thank you.
Answer
For this Air Spray / Room Spray and clear Surface Cleaner use case, the practical ranking from the current catalog data is:
| Question | Recommendation | Reason |
|---|---|---|
| Highest solubilizing power for fragrance oil / essential oil in water | Eco Solve™ or Ultra Solve™ | Eco Solve™ is described as comparable/equivalent to Ultra Solve™ and usable at the same concentration; both are higher performance than Flora Solve™ Clear. |
| Best choice for clear fragrance spray | Eco Solve™ first, Ultra Solve™ second, Flora Solve™ Clear for easier perfumes/EOs | Eco Solve™ specifically states excellent clarity, no yellowing, and lower cost. Ultra Solve™ is useful when the oil blend is difficult to dissolve. Flora Solve™ Clear is clear/colorless/odorless but generally needs a higher solubilizer:oil ratio. |
| Main difference between Ultra Solve™ and Eco Solve™ | Different blend and cost positioning | Ultra Solve™ is a higher-price blend containing Coceth-7, PPG-1-PEG-9 Lauryl Glycol Ether, and PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil. Eco Solve™ is positioned as a lower-cost alternative with performance comparable to Ultra Solve™ and can be used instead of Ultra Solve™ at the same concentration. |
| Surface Cleaner, clear, fragrance 0.3-0.5%, with mild surfactants | Eco Solve™ is usually the first trial choice | The fragrance level is low, the target is clarity, and Eco Solve™ is cost-effective with excellent clarity. Existing surfactants may reduce the amount needed, but compatibility must be checked in the final formula. |
For clarity, there are two separate points:
- Solubilizing efficiency: Eco Solve™ ≈ Ultra Solve™ > Flora Solve™ Clear.
- Visual clarity / color neutrality: Eco Solve™ has the strongest catalog claim for excellent clarity and no yellowing. Flora Solve™ Clear is also clear/colorless/odorless. Ultra Solve™ is a clear liquid and strong solubilizer, but the catalog does not claim better visual neutrality than Eco Solve™.
Recommended starting ratios:
| Product | Fragrance oil / essential oil starting point | Practical trial range |
|---|---|---|
| Flora Solve™ Clear (Fragrance Solubilizer) | 2-3 parts solubilizer : 1 part oil | 2-5:1 depending on oil type; some EOs may need up to 5:1. |
| Ultra Solve™ | Start around 1-3:1 for fragrance/EO trials | Adjust within the product usage range of 1-10% in the finished formula. |
| Eco Solve™ (Clear, Powerful Solubilizer) | Start around 1-3:1 for fragrance/EO trials | Can be trialed at the same concentration as Ultra Solve™; adjust within the product usage range of 1-10% in the finished formula. |
For Room Spray / Air Spray with fragrance 0.5-3%, we would normally start with Eco Solve™ because it gives Ultra Solve™-level performance with lower cost and excellent clarity. For the high end of 2-3% fragrance, test several ratios because some perfume blends can require much more solubilizer and may become too viscous or harder to spray, especially with Flora Solve™ Clear.
For Surface Cleaner with fragrance 0.3-0.5%, start with Eco Solve™ at a low ratio, then increase only until the formula is clear after 24-48 hours and after heat/cold observation. Because the formula already contains mild surfactants, the required solubilizer level may be lower than in plain water.
For heat stability, the catalog specifically states that Flora Solve™ Clear can withstand 40°C and 4°C without performance issues. Eco Solve™ is described as withstanding hot and cold temperatures and providing excellent clarity. Ultra Solve™ can be stored at room temperature away from sunlight/heat and has a 1-10% usage range; its internal pH range is 4-8, same as Eco Solve™. For a 40-45°C storage test, we recommend confirming with your actual fragrance and surfactant system because fragrance composition is often the main variable affecting haze, separation, and odor shift.
Suggested lab screen:
- Make 3-5 small beakers per solubilizer ratio.
- Premix solubilizer + fragrance/EO first until uniform.
- Add that premix into water or the main formula, not the reverse.
- Check clarity immediately, after 24-48 hours, after 4°C, and after 40-45°C.
- Choose the lowest solubilizer level that remains clear and sprayable.
Overall: for your two target products, Eco Solve™ is the best first choice. Keep Ultra Solve™ as the next option when the fragrance/EO blend is especially difficult, and use Flora Solve™ Clear when you want a clear/colorless/odorless solubilizer for easier fragrance systems and the higher ratio is acceptable.
Related Products Mentioned
Ultra Solve™
