Addressing Cloudiness in Your Alcohol Gel

It sounds like you're encountering cloudiness in your alcohol gel formulation using Pro Polymer. This is a common issue, often related to ingredients that aren't fully compatible or soluble in the main base.

Based on your formula and the product descriptions, the most probable causes for the cloudiness are:

• Essential Oil: Essential oils are not water-soluble and will cause cloudiness when added directly to a water/alcohol base without a solubilizer.
• Aloe Vera Extract: The Aloe Vera Extract you are using contains electrolytes, which can interfere with the gelling ability and clarity of Pro Polymer, especially if added incorrectly or in high concentrations. The description also notes that adding electrolyte-containing ingredients after the gel is formed is better.

Here's how you can adjust your formulation and process to improve clarity:

1. Use a Solubilizer for the Essential Oil: You need to pre-mix your Essential Oil with a suitable solubilizer before adding it to the main gel base. Polysorbate 20 or Polysorbate 80 are good options for this.

   • Mix the 1% Essential Oil with 1-5 times its amount (or more, test to find the minimum needed) of Polysorbate 20 or Polysorbate 80 until the mixture is completely clear.
   • Add this clear oil/solubilizer mixture to your formula. You will need to adjust the Water percentage slightly to accommodate the added solubilizer. For example, if you use 3% Polysorbate 20, reduce the Water from 24.4% to 21.4%.

2. Adjust Mixing Order for Aloe Vera Extract: The Pro Polymer description suggests that electrolyte-containing ingredients should be added after the gel has formed.

   • Prepare your gel base first using Water, Ethyl Alcohol, and Glycerine. Ensure the Pro Polymer is fully hydrated and the gel is formed before adding other ingredients.
   • Then, add the Aloe Vera Extract and the pre-mixed Essential Oil/Solubilizer blend.

3. Consider Pro Polymer Concentration: If the Aloe Vera Extract's electrolytes still affect the gel's viscosity or clarity, you might need to slightly increase the Pro Polymer concentration (e.g., from 0.6% to 0.8%) to compensate, as suggested in the Pro Polymer description for formulas with electrolytes. Remember to adjust the Water percentage accordingly.

Revised Procedure Outline:

• Combine Water, Ethyl Alcohol, and Glycerine.
• Slowly sprinkle Pro Polymer onto the surface of this liquid mixture while stirring gently (avoid high-speed blending).
• Let the mixture sit for a period (e.g., 1 day as suggested for full hydration) or stir gently until a uniform gel forms.
• In a separate container, mix the Essential Oil with Polysorbate 20 or Polysorbate 80 until completely clear.
• Add the Aloe Vera Extract to the formed gel base and mix gently.
• Add the clear Essential Oil/Solubilizer mixture to the gel base and mix gently until uniform.
• Check viscosity and clarity. If needed, prepare a small amount of additional Pro Polymer gel base and add it to adjust.

By using a solubilizer for the essential oil and adjusting the mixing order to add the Aloe Vera Extract after the gel is formed, you should significantly improve the clarity of your alcohol gel.