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TEC as an antisoaping device….
I try and learn something new every day. Many of you know I have a love affair with Triethyl Citrate.
So, I learned a long time ago….when I am mixing my water phase, I will sometimes get bubbles (starting to head towards soaping concept…wait for it), and as I add my (lactic) acid to bring pH to the proper level… the bubbles are quickly killed, as the pH is lowered into the ideal range.
So we know that soaping is bubbles…and it appears that acids must reduce the surface tension, as they appear to be bubble killers?
So someone asked me about why I use TEC, and in a quick search for a mfg marketing blurb…I came across one that said TEC was good at reducing soaping! I had not read this before, or even really thought about it, as my formulas never soap (for a multitude of intentional reasons). But I do assist with many that make soapy messes.
So can anyone chime in on how effective TEC would be for possibly someone (not me) that would not want to use dimethicone?
Also what is the mechanism…that TEC is using to reduce soaping?
Aloha
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11 Replies
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@Graillotion i dont know the answers to your question about soaping but i really want to try TEC, i’ve been curious about it for a while. Is there anywhere to buy it in smaller amounts? I havent seen it anywhere. You said you use it in deodorant, does it help deodorize?
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I get my TEC here: Buy Triethyl Citrate (TEC) Online Store - Essential Natural Oils
You can get a pound for $15. Don’t think you’ll find it small pak…much cheaper. The perfumers try and tear your head off.
As far as using it in deo….in has to be part of a system…not just something you toss in…and hope for the best. As a simple illustration…it is citric acid held in reserve…and the idea is…it will release free citric acid as it is needed…keeping the pH in the pit low. Therefore…if you toss it in with high pH ingredients like baking soda (yuck), it would be counter intuitive. But an excellent building block in a low pH system.
Aloha.
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In food industry, TEC is used as a processing aid, for example as whipping aid for egg yolk… because it helps with the foaming. I can’t see any reason why TEC should reduce foaming except that enough might decrease hydrophilicity of the water phase. This would shift the apparent HLB or HLD of the emulsifiers to more ‘lipophilic’ = away from the foamy detergent side of the spectrum. But that would likely require quite a few % (as can be found in a deodorant). The same effect can be observed with other ‘lipophilic’ water soluble ingredients such as medium chain fatty alcohols.
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@Graillotion what ratio do you typically use when solubilizing oils with it? I know it varies greatly with the type of oil but for instance if I am currently using Polysorbate 20/EO at 4:1 is it typical to use about the same amount of TEC, or less/more?
And does it ever cause a ph drift downward?
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GeorgeBenson said:@Graillotion what ratio do you typically use when solubilizing oils with it? I know it varies greatly with the type of oil but for instance if I am currently using Polysorbate 20/EO at 4:1 is it typical to use about the same amount of TEC, or less/more?
And does it ever cause a ph drift downward?
Well…I have only used it for EO’s on a mosquito lotion. In that project I used it at 1%.
I think pH drift tends to upwards…things like urea. And TEC is good at keeping it where you set it.
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GeorgeBenson said:@Graillotion i dont know the answers to your question about soaping but i really want to try TEC, i’ve been curious about it for a while. Is there anywhere to buy it in smaller amounts? I havent seen it anywhere. You said you use it in deodorant, does it help deodorize?
I recently bought 80mL TEC at Perfumer’s Apprentice.
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Shiro said:GeorgeBenson said:@Graillotion i dont know the answers to your question about soaping but i really want to try TEC, i’ve been curious about it for a while. Is there anywhere to buy it in smaller amounts? I havent seen it anywhere. You said you use it in deodorant, does it help deodorize?
I recently bought 80mL TEC at Perfumer’s Apprentice.
Many, MANY times more expensive there. For the same $15 you paid…you can get half a kilo here: Buy Triethyl Citrate (TEC) Online Store - Essential Natural Oils
TEC is a really inexpensive ingredient, not sure why they always want to tear your head off?
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Hehe…pick your $15 value. I suppose one could argue…the one on the right…takes up too much space?
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@Graillotion, Thank you for this vendor info and sharing your ice cream maker for making lotion. I really appreciate your comments in this forum.
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Syl said:@Graillotion, Thank you for this vendor info and sharing your ice cream maker for making lotion. I really appreciate your comments in this forum.
Sadly…as meticulous as I am in formulating…the same aspect applies to COG’s. Even though I am basically paying worst case scenario…repacker prices, I still search for the best value. VALUE….not lowest cost. I actually waste a lot of money…buying the same thing from all possible vendors, then deciding who has the best version of item X…and then I pay WHATEVER price it takes, to get the best version….Go figure.
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Graillotion said:Shiro said:GeorgeBenson said:@Graillotion i dont know the answers to your question about soaping but i really want to try TEC, i’ve been curious about it for a while. Is there anywhere to buy it in smaller amounts? I havent seen it anywhere. You said you use it in deodorant, does it help deodorize?
I recently bought 80mL TEC at Perfumer’s Apprentice.
Many, MANY times more expensive there. For the same $15 you paid…you can get half a kilo here: Buy Triethyl Citrate (TEC) Online Store - Essential Natural Oils
TEC is a really inexpensive ingredient, not sure why they always want to tear your head off?
Oh wow! I’m definitely switching suppliers! Thank you for the tip.
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