[Aniela]

Hi Helike,

As one who made quite a few room-sprays using essential oils (for personal use), I suggest you take @ozgirl‘s advice.

Only a proper designed fragrance will have the qualities you’re looking for. Essential oils are not standardized- their smell can/will differ from batch to batch (due to weather, soil condition, etc), and also it can take ages to arrive at the best combination.

However, if you want to experiment by yourself, you could start with a proper base (not glycerin) like Isopropylideneglycerol.

Best of luck!

[Aniela]

Hello,

Not a soap-maker but bear with me, I’m bringing gifts😇

You say “What I don’t understand is how I can make a soap with only stearic acid and another with only palmitic acid.” but they say in the patent “Experimentation has proved that the soap or cream containing the specified palmitic-stearic mixture, glycerin, and water, as disclosed in this specification”- plus the obvious NaOH/ KOH.

On a older post (stick deodorant, but the theory applies), @Bobzchemist said “If you’re trying to make a solid stick, it would probably be easier to use Sodium Hydroxide and Stearic Acid. Heat your water/zemea mixture to no more than 85C, start stirring, add Stearic Acid, wait until it’s dissolved, add Sodium Hydroxide, mix 30 minutes while reaction completes, (it’s exothermic, so you will probably shoot up to 95C without heating further. If your starting water mixture is too hot, the extra heat from the reaction will make the batch boil - not a good thing) Add your other ingredients and cool down. Pour into sticks at about 60 - 70C” so I’d venture to say that if you replace the “zemea” with glycerin and follow the procedure, you’ll have your soap.

Here’s the link to the old post, it might help https://chemistscorner.com/cosmeticsciencetalk/discussion/making-deodarant/

chemistscorner.com

Making Deodarant - Chemists Corner

Hi Perry, I've recently challenged myself into making my own deodorant and never got past the first step which was dissolving sodium stearate in some…

[Aniela]

Hi there,

Most of the reputable suppliers in Europe do say, more or less, something like this regarding the GS SE “The pH value of the emulsion is optimally between 6.8 and 8.2 and thus already in the slightly alkaline range. You can still achieve stable emulsions with a ph-value of 5.5 if you combine it with other emulsifiers. GSC palm oil free is suitable here.

But also gel formers, like Xanthan transparent or Xanthan Cospaderm X34 with an input concentration of 0.2-0.4% or fatty alcohols, which stabilise the water phase, allow to lower the ph-value to ph 5.5 with a little lactic acid.“

Also, reading this thread might help https://chemistscorner.com/cosmeticsciencetalk/discussion/how-is-this-formula-its-so-soapy-and-its-ph-is-8/

[Aniela]

Thank you @MarkBroussard , and @Graillotion (for the comment on CCT that opened my eyes in this regard)- I’m still formulating for myself and family/friends, but it’s good to know beforehand such important details.

[Aniela]

Hi there,

Not planning to launch anything yet but if “a local manufacturer will handle the formulation and production” I would expect them to do just that.

There are quite a few online sources which can give you an idea of what is selling best on the market, and what are the ingredients used in those products. Here’s one link, randomly chosen: https://www.glamour.com/gallery/best-dark-spot-corrector

[Aniela]

Hi there,

I’m assuming it’s the same serum you described in your other post. So you used/want to use xanthan gum+glycerin in an oil? Do you want to replicate a certain product? I’m asking because it’s not clear why would someone add water soluble peptides and xanthan gum and glycerin in an oil mixture.

[Aniela]

Hi, no intention to confuse you. I said a minimum pH of 4.5 and I didn’t state the maximum (8). So no worries about pH🙂 Best of luck with your new experiment.

[Aniela]

Hi, given your formula and assuming that your pH is minimum 4.5 (Hallstar guidance), it looks like the issue could be the process. I can only say that heating at 75C, adding the hyaluronic acid in the cool down, and following the advice given in the thread regarding the mixing process, should give you the right result. Also, the emulsion might not look too thick right after making it (so don’t try to achieve thickness by overmixing), but it will reach it’s final consistency in aprox. 48 hours.

[Aniela]

Hi there, this is a topic with quite some history here. If you just type in “search forums” any word related (stick deodorant/sodium stearate/deodorant) you’ll find a wealth of info which will definitely help you. Happy researching🙂

• This reply was modified 6 months, 1 week ago by  Aniela.

[Aniela]

HI, this might answer some of your questions, Maria https://chemistscorner.com/cosmeticsciencetalk/discussion/help-problem-with-ceteareth-25/

chemistscorner.com

Help! Problem with Ceteareth 25 - Chemists Corner

Hi Everyone I have a problem with a formulation about Hair water based pomade and I would like you to help me solve it The problem is that…

[Aniela]

Hi, you say you want to know “the mixing time and speed to prepare, for example, a cream”. I don’t own the mixing equipment you have, but: you would increase your chances to an answer if you would reffer to a specific formulation of the said cream and the quantity you’d want to make. Different emulsifiers require different times and speeds as do different quantities. Other ingredients present in your product can influence the answer too. Regarding the rpm of your equipment, the answer should be out there, in the World Wide Web😉

[Aniela]

Hello, “fresh” member here😀 I’ve seen up-close two very different cases: a friend’s daughter whose straight hair went “Shirley Temple” when she was about 12-13y, and another friend, whose almost “afro” hair went straight in the process of giving birth (the doctors blamed the stress factor). So yeah, Mother Nature is something…

[Aniela]

Wow, such a comprehensive answer, thank you @Graillotion .

I guess I needed to hear (read) this to finally give-up on the idea that oils are far more than emollients.

The more you learn about the oils…. the less exciting cosmetics gets. Hence, I often encourage those starting out…not to learn the ins and outs of oils… as you can quickly lose your fervor once you really start to understand things.

Hard to swallow this bit, but I’m a big girl, so I’ll survive 🙂

Thank you for the link, I’ve watched the video a few years back, and you’re right, having to choose between the reality and myth, I chose the latter as I wanted to keep… the Christmas alive.

I’ll leave the Christmas for kids and focus on the essentials:

but then make sure you actually formulate with the functions you need…. elegance, moisturizing, a bit of barrier….and lots and lots of marketing.

PS- did anyone tell you that you’d make a wonderful teacher?

[Aniela]

The previous one is from The X Files😉 (too young?)

Thank you @nkpalaci for taking your time and sharing your experience.

It’s true, not every product needs a buffer. I’ll come back on this subject when in doubt about a specific formula.

PS -I hope your “gray-hair-growing” emulsion is on the right track. Best of luck🙂

[Aniela]

Thank you for your answer, @Perry44

Good question🤔 I’d say, because I’m not a chemist, I’m more scared, as I am not aware beforehand of the possible unwanted interactions/reactions in my products- therefore I try to “cover all bases”.

I was not aware that “It’s not really a thing that is given much attention in professional formulating.” so thank you for highlighting this.

[Aniela]

It is not wrong, it is a nonsensical action: you need water as a solvent for water soluble ingredients.

You could sign-up for the beginner course offered here, to get some knowledge on ingredients and emulsion making.

Check the ingredients on the eyelash serums with peptides on the market: water is the first ingredient on the list.

[Aniela]

Hi, not Perry, but he said it will.