Preventing Rancidity in Oil-Based Products

Regarding your questions about preventing rancidity in oil-based products and the use of ROE and Rosemary Essential Oil:

Previously, natural oils from MySkinRecipes included added ROE. However, currently, they are sold without added ROE to ensure the highest purity. Instead, a small amount (approximately 0.01%) of Vitamin E (Tocopheryl Acetate) is added to help slow down the oxidation process.

For long-term storage of your oil-based products, especially if producing for sale, it is highly recommended to add Rosemary Oleoresin Extract (ROE). ROE is a highly effective antioxidant, particularly when used in conjunction with Vitamin E. While Vitamin E helps protect ingredients from deterioration due to oxidation, ROE offers higher efficiency in preventing rancidity.

Regarding Rosemary Essential Oil, it does contain components similar to those in ROE, such as Carnosic acid, which have antioxidant properties. However, the concentration of these beneficial compounds in Rosemary Essential Oil can vary significantly between different batches. This makes it difficult to ensure consistent antioxidant performance in your formulations. Rosemary Oleoresin Extract (ROE), on the other hand, is typically standardized to contain a specific level of Carnosic acid, providing reliable efficacy batch after batch.

Therefore, for consistent and effective protection against rancidity in products intended for sale, using standardized Rosemary Oleoresin Extract (ROE) directly is the recommended approach. If you are making products for personal use, Rosemary Essential Oil can potentially offer some antioxidant benefits, but its effectiveness may be less predictable compared to standardized ROE.