Home Cosmetic Science Talk Formulating Essential oils separating in water.

  • Essential oils separating in water.

    Posted by SERGE on August 25, 2015 at 10:26 pm

    I am trying to dissolve few essential oils (sage, tea tree,
    clove, lavender, eucalyptus) in water.

    Total concentration of all essential
    oils in lotion is 3-4%

    Total concentration of ethyl alcohol is 10-15 %

    Water 80 – 87 %

    I used for this formulation ethyl alcohol 95% and its
    dissolved well.

    This formula is separating after mixing with water.

    Please advise me any natural solvent for essential oils.

    What kind of other chemicals available?

    Any help with this would be greatly appreciated.

    bobzchemist replied 8 years, 7 months ago 3 Members · 2 Replies
  • 2 Replies
  • belassi

    Member
    August 26, 2015 at 1:15 pm

    The alcohol being volatile will evaporate. Diluted it will not act as a solvent which is why the oil comes out of suspension. You need a solubiliser such as Polysorbate-20.

  • bobzchemist

    Member
    August 26, 2015 at 1:46 pm

    This is pretty basic. The alcohol and water will ALWAYS combine into an alcohol/water solution. That leaves the fragrance oils/essential oils all by themselves, and they will separate unless you use much more alcohol. To get them into solution, you need a fragrance solubilizer. There are a few around, just search for them.

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