Gel Formulation with Specific Ingredients and Scent Improvement

Question

Hello, I would like to ask two questions:

I want to create a gel texture using the following ingredients:
- Water (remaining amount)
- Sulfate Free Shampoo Base
- glycerin
- Propylene Glycol
- Poloxamer 184
- Poloxamer 124
- Phenoxyethanol
- SugarThick
Is the following mixing order correct? Combine water in a beaker, then add ingredients 2-7. After that, warm SugarThick until dissolved and add it to the mixture.
The ingredients Sulfate Free Shampoo Base and Poloxamer 184 have a rather strong odor. How can I improve the scent or make the gel odorless? At which step should I add the fragrance or odor neutralizer? Please advise.

MySkinRecipes Expert · Accepted Answer

Gel Formulation and Scent Improvement

Regarding your first question about the mixing order for your gel formulation, the proposed steps are generally correct. You can start by combining the water with the Sulfate Free Shampoo Base, Glycerin, Propylene Glycol, Poloxamer 184, Poloxamer 124, and Phenoxyethanol. Then, prepare the SugarThick by warming it separately until it becomes liquid (around 50-60°C) and slowly add it to your mixture while stirring gently until the gel thickens. Avoid overheating the SugarThick as this can affect its quality.

For your second question about the strong odor from the Sulfate Free Shampoo Base and Poloxamer 184, you can improve the scent by adding a fragrance oil or essential oil to the gel. Alternatively, you can use an odor neutralizer to help reduce the base smell. It is best to add the fragrance or odor neutralizer towards the end of the formulation process, after the gel has thickened and cooled down. This helps to ensure the stability and effectiveness of the scent or neutralizer.