Pillow Spray Clarity Issue
Question
I am trying to make a pillow spray with a volume of 20ml. The formulation I used is:
- Essential Oil (Grapefruit, Geranium, Vettiver) 1% (0.5ml.)
- Flora Solve Clear 5% (1.5ml.)
- DiWater 94% (18ml.)
- Phenoxyethanol SA 1% (0.2ml.)
My mixing steps were:
- Mix Essential Oil (1) + Flora Solve Clear (2) until combined.
- Add the mixture from step 1 to DiWater (3) and stir until combined. The solution started to become clear after a while.
- Add Phenoxyethanol SA (4) and stir again. The solution became cloudy and did not become clear again.
Could you please provide some advice?
- Was my mixing procedure correct?
- Why did the solution become cloudy again after adding the preservative?
- How can I mix it to make the end product clear?
Answer
Pillow Spray Clarity Issue
Understanding the Problem
Your formulation became cloudy after adding the preservative, Phenoxyethanol SA (Optiphen Plus). This often happens when the solubilizer isn't quite enough to keep the essential oils fully dispersed in the water phase, especially after adding other ingredients like preservatives which can sometimes impact the stability of the solution. Phenoxyethanol SA contains sorbic acid, which can slightly alter the pH and affect the solubilizer's performance.
Recommended Solution
The most effective way to achieve a clear product is to increase the ratio of Flora Solve Clear to your essential oil blend.
- Your current ratio is 5 parts Flora Solve Clear to 1 part essential oil (5:1).
- Try increasing this ratio in small test batches. You might need a ratio of 8:1, 10:1, or even higher depending on your specific essential oil blend. For example, try using 8% Flora Solve Clear with 1% essential oil, or 10% Flora Solve Clear with 1% essential oil.
Mixing Steps
Your mixing steps are generally correct, but ensure thorough mixing at each stage:
- Mix the essential oils with the calculated amount of Flora Solve Clear. Stir or blend very well until the mixture is completely clear.
- Slowly add this clear oil/solubilizer mixture to the water phase (DiWater) while stirring continuously until fully combined and the solution becomes clear.
- Add the Phenoxyethanol SA (Optiphen Plus) and stir thoroughly until fully incorporated. Observe the clarity.
By increasing the amount of Flora Solve Clear, you provide more micelles to encapsulate the essential oil molecules, helping them remain dispersed and the solution stay clear even after the addition of the preservative. You will need to experiment to find the optimal ratio for your specific essential oil blend.
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