[DiscoMonkeys]

Just jumping onto this old thread.

Is there a need to add water at all? Could I just use alcohol?

The reason I ask is for shelf life. I’m looking at adding a preservative since I’ve been making one with a higher amount of water in it. But the preservative apparently lasts 12-18 months. I wonder if I could get a longer shelf life by just using alcohol, and how that would affect the room spray?

[DiscoMonkeys]

Hi Phil!

Thanks for the info. I chose Saliguard since it’s approved in the EU, does it not perform well in sprays? The US one I was originally looking at (Germall Plus) is actually banned in the EU now. It seems the EU regulations are much stricter. The only other commonly mentioned one I’ve found is Optiphen Plus which does seem to be available in the EU.

I understand the need to add a preservative. I’m just thinking customers probably don’t want to think about it.

[DiscoMonkeys]

Very interesting, and a good point about how we want to brand the product.

We currently make candles and try to use the cleanest scents we can find. So it would be nice to follow that theme. It does feel “wrong” to me to have to put preservatives in, and I think we would have a hard-ish time explaining how that fits with our brand.

That being said, unless i go full alcohol, from what I know water-based solutions are really only going to be “safe” a matter of days, right? You run the risk of things growing in there quite quickly. Water is life, as they say.

I’d be interested to hear more, obviously if you’re willing to share. What kind of shelf life are you seeing with yours right now?

Thanks again

[DiscoMonkeys]

Wow this is all really interesting stuff. Thanks for sharing your knowledge.

On a side note, I’ve seen a few “pre-made” preservatives designed for room sprays and the like, and a lot of them have that combo of phenoxyethanol, caprylyl glycol, and sorbic acid. So that’s quite worrying.

There doesn’t seem to be the same VOC restrictions where I live, or in the UK which would be our next market if we ever get that big. So alcohol it is!

Thanks again for all your input @PhilGeis !

[DiscoMonkeys]

Thanks for the detailed answer.

If I’m being honest, this wants to make me give up on the whole idea 🤣

I’m a bit confused about phenoxyethanol and caprylyl glycol though, since PF are a California company and it’s what they’re using as preservatives. Are you saying these 2 are not suitable?

I’m also fine with using 20% ethanol instead and just dealing with the US VOC restrictions if/when we look at the US market. It looks like the UK market doesn’t have the same restrictions.