Solubilizers for Essential Oils in Water-Based Formulas

To effectively combine natural essential oils with a water-based gel or liquid soap, especially if you aim for a clear product or are using a higher concentration of essential oil, you can use a solubilizer. Based on your needs, the following products are suitable:

• Flora Solve™ Clear (Fragrance Solubilizer): This product is specifically designed to combine essential oils and fragrance oils with water or water-based gels without needing alcohol. It helps create clear, stable micro-emulsions. For best results, mix Flora Solve™ Clear with the essential oil first at a ratio of 2-5 parts Flora Solve™ Clear to 1 part essential oil, then add this mixture to your water-based formula. The exact ratio needed can vary depending on the specific essential oil, with some requiring up to 5 times the amount of solubilizer.

• Ultra Solve™ and Eco Solve™: These are high-performance solubilizers that can effectively dissolve various oils, including essential oils, in water, helping to achieve clarity. They can be used at a rate of 1-10% in your formula. Eco Solve™ offers similar performance to Ultra Solve™ but is a more cost-effective option.

If you are adding a small amount of essential oil (not exceeding 1%) and clarity is not essential, you might be able to add the essential oil directly to your liquid soap base without a solubilizer.