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Witch Hazel as an emulsifier ?
We are looking as formulating a room spray using essential oils.
I have seen this statement on a number of blogs:
Witch Hazel – This ingredient acts as an emulsifier so the oil evenly distributes throughout the blend. You could substitute a pinch of salt or even replace witch hazel for vodka in these recipes if you’d like.
Being in a Muslim country, the vodka is out (although I don’t mind a drop myself).
Witch Hazel is sold as liquid with around 14% alcohol. Am wondering if this is what’s providing the emulsifier, and not the Witch Hazel, referred to in the above blog statements?
I also see Witch Hazel sold in powder form, but the 12 page Safety Data Sheet provided by the supplier says Water Solubility “Not Available.”
Anyone here have experience with Witch Hazel as an emulsifier?
I know we could use something like Polysorbate 20, but the customer is not so keen on this ingredient.
Thanks
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3 Replies
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Witch Hazel is not soluble in water so it isn’t much of an emulsifier for oil and water systems.
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I would think that it is the ethanol in the witch hazel that is helping to solubilise the essential oils.
The reason you see it on a number of blogs is because people copy and paste from other blogs.
Can you use denatured ethanol rather than vodka to get around the restrictions?
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Yes @Perry, agreed, not soluble. So seems a myth perpetuated by ingredient suppliers and as @ozgirl mentions, by bloggers.
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