[ozgirl]

The SCI only ‘melts’ to become a paste type consistency. It does not become a clear liquid.

For best results try melting the SCI with only your liquid surfactant. Do not add the SLSA until after the SCI is melted. I remember reading (not sure where) that amphoteric surfactants (e.g. Cocamidopropyl betaine) work best to aid the melting of the SCI so you could try adding some amphoterics.

This link might help more.

https://www.windypointsoap.com/blogs/formulas/basic-shampoo-bar-formula

[ozgirl]

Do you have a fragrance? Some fragrance components can can turn pink under certain conditions.

[ozgirl]

Have you spoken with your fragrance supplier about this issue. A good supplier should be able to guide you to which fragrance types are most appropriate for your high pH conditions.

Also look at current products on the market and this will also give you an indication of which types might be suitable.

[ozgirl]

Definitely sounds like paneling of your bottles and is generally caused by essential oils, fragrances and some solvents. It is commonly seen with orange solvents (d’limonene) in cleaning products.

Your best option is to change your bottle or your fragrance.

This article has more information

https://mindustries.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/M_Ind_paneling_whitepaper.pdf

[ozgirl]

Yes you can use a boss head (like in picture 3) to attach a 3 or 4 finger clamp or a beaker or reactor clamp. The one you choose will depend on the size of your beaker or flask.

Example 3 Finger Clamp

https://www.fishersci.co.uk/shop/products/three-prong-clamps-1/12378149

Example Beaker Clamp

https://www.fishersci.co.uk/shop/products/aluminum-alloy-stainless-steel-clamp/11789027

Example Reactor Clamp

https://www.fishersci.co.uk/shop/products/alloy-zinc-plated-steel-reaction-vessel-clamp/10360295

[ozgirl]

I’m not sure about other countries but in Australia you only need to disclose the ingredient into one of 4 concentration categories. <10%, 10-30%, 30-60% or >60%. You are advised to put narrower ranges where possible but it is not mandatory.

I work predominately with cleaning product SDS but it is similar for other product types

If I have an active ingredient with great label appeal that might have 0.5% in the formulation we would list it as <10% but if it is a less desirable ingredient (from a customer point of view) such as phenoxyethanol at 0.6% we would put it as <1% or even <0.7% so that customers can see it being used at less than the regulatory limit.

Unfortunately SDS will only give a rough idea to the concentration used and you need to use your knowledge of ingredient usage rates to get closer to what they actually use.

[ozgirl]

Have any of your raw material suppliers changed? This could be why you are only seeing the issue now. Unfortunately not all materials with the same name are equal in terms of performance or quality.

[ozgirl]

To get any specific help you will need to supply the whole formula with percentages.

Are you trying to make a water in oil emulsion?

[ozgirl]

Microbial contamination is your most likely reason for the bad odor. What is your pH? Kathon CG is best up to pH 7 with some activity up to pH 8.

What type of discoloration? What colorant are you using? Is the color fading (UV stability of dye) or is it turning yellow/brown (fragrance oxidation)?

You can change packaging to opaque or use PET with UV filters to help reduce color changes.

[ozgirl]

It sounds like microbial contamination.

Benzalkonium Chloride (cationic) is not compatible with your anionic surfactants.

What is the initial pH? It needs to be around pH 5 for the sodium benzoate to be effective as a preservative.

[ozgirl]

Why are you using so much Poly Suga Mulse D9? I have only ever seen it used at 1 or 2% as a fragrance solubilizer.

[ozgirl]

Also consider that soap may not be the best choice for dish washing as soap scum can build up in the drains.

[ozgirl]

What method was used for making the soap bars. It is my understanding there is significant water loss during the curing process for cold process soap manufacture.

It is possible that the bars were originally in specification when they were first cut but have lost water over time and are now out of specification.

In any case, if your agreement was for a certain specification and the bars are out of specification then (depending on your contract terms) they really should be responsible for replacing the bars.

[ozgirl]

Why would you agree to make this for a customer without even doing a small trial run and stability test in the lab?

The ratio of emulsifier to oil phase seems to be incorrect. Why not just use a standard E-wax?

Why are there only 2 phases. The essential oils, extracts and preservatives are all probably better suited to the cool down phase rather than the oil phase.

As others have mentioned some xanthan gum and a humectant would help to improve this formula?

Hope this helps ????

[ozgirl]

It is possible that it is microbial contamination. What is your pH?

[ozgirl]

@Wren333 Click on one off the three Topic areas at the top of the page (General, Formulating, Cosmetic Industry) and then you should see a button for New Discussion.

[ozgirl]

Thanks @PhilGeis

Phenoxyethanol is not liked by customers so I added the phenethyl to help cover gram negative bacteria.

[ozgirl]

You can get clear PET bottles with UV Filters in the plastic that reduce the impact of UV on your product.

[ozgirl]

Using a colorant that you don’t know its origin is concerning from a safety point of view.

It also means that you can’t really trouble shoot the issue because you don’t know what you are working with. I would look for a different colorant with a known origin.

[ozgirl]

Remember you will need to add enough preservative to your powder to be effective once it is diluted. Assuming that most of your customers will be diluting with tap water so you will need a robust preservative to counteract that.

[ozgirl]

Your preservative (Methylchloroisothiazolinone (and) methylisothiazolinone) has it’s best activity at pH 7 or below. It is active up to pH 8 but the effectiveness of the MCI decreases at pH levels higher than 7.

[ozgirl]

Thanks Phil. I agree that the EWG verification is BS. Along with most of the other verification programs.

I will definitely test any preservative system we end up going with. I am just trying to knock out any that are clearly insufficient before we go to trials.

[ozgirl]

I will check it out.

I really hate giving up my phenoxyethanol but unfortunately market pressures dictate what sells.

[ozgirl]

Good idea.

I haven’t worked with phenethyl alcohol before? What concentration of Phenethyl alcohol is recommended?

Have you tried a combination of Benzyl Alcohol, Phenethyl Alcohol and Sodium Benzoate?

[ozgirl]

Thanks Phil.

Could you clarify if you mean to add additional sodium benzoate to the above preservatives or just look for preservative systems that include benzoic acid/sodium benzoate?

Thanks for the tip about the dilution.

I will have a look at the EWG verified products for more preservative ideas.