Suspending Body & Face Wash

Mixture Instructions

Bath Care Mixing Instructions

Gel and clear bath products can react differently to various fragrances or essential oils. Some may become cloudy or thin, others may thicken, and some may remain unchanged. Each fragrance or essential oil behaves differently.

Fragrance suppliers are not required to disclose all components in their blends, often citing proprietary information. Ingredients can include butylene glycol, propylene glycol, glycerin, carrier oils, hexane, or other solvents, all of which may affect the texture and clarity of the finished product.

Common Reactions & Solutions

Cloudy Appearance (Not Caused by Bubbles)

Cause: The fragrance or essential oil is not fully blending into the gel.

Solution: Pre-blend the fragrance with a solubilizer before adding it to the gel, especially when using higher fragrance loads.

Product Becomes Watery

Cause: The fragrance has reduced the viscosity of the gel base.

Solution: Allow the product to sit overnight, as viscosity may recover naturally. If the product remains too thin, add a gel thickener according to the supplier’s instructions.

Gel Becomes Too Thick or Jelly-Like

Cause: The fragrance has increased the viscosity of the gel.

Solution: Allow the mixture to sit overnight, as the texture may normalize. If the product remains too thick, add a small amount of distilled or deionized water and mix thoroughly.

Before You Begin Testing

Disinfect all utensils, containers, and equipment that will come into contact with the product.

A simple method is to lightly mist surfaces with rubbing alcohol (isopropyl alcohol) and allow them to air dry.

Tools & Materials

• Plastic container
• Scale (optional)
• Spoons and stirring utensils
• Plastic zip-lock or freezer bags (for pouring and storing samples)
• Fragrance or essential oil
• Color (optional)
• Solubilizer (if required)
• Gel thickener (if required)

Testing Steps

1. Place your container on a scale and tare (zero) the reading.

   If you do not have a scale, use a graduated measuring cup.

2. Pour a predetermined amount of gel base into the container.

   A good test amount is 240 mL (8 oz), which is easy to measure and work with.

3. Add fragrance or essential oil at 0.5% to start.

   For 240 mL (8 oz), this is approximately ½ teaspoon of fragrance.

4. Stir slowly to avoid creating bubbles.

5. Evaluate the results.

   If you would like a stronger scent, add an additional ⅓ teaspoon of fragrance and observe any changes.

6. If the gel still appears stable, add color if desired.

   Allow the sample to sit overnight to confirm that it maintains its clarity and consistency.

7. If the gel becomes cloudy and does not clear overnight, restart the test using a solubilizer.

Using a Solubilizer

A solubilizer helps break fragrance oils into tiny droplets so they disperse evenly throughout the gel.

1. Blend 1 part fragrance with 1 part solubilizer in a separate container.

   Example:

   • ½ teaspoon fragrance
   • ½ teaspoon solubilizer
2. Mix thoroughly before adding to the gel.
3. Observe the results.
4. If additional fragrance is desired, add:
   • ⅓ teaspoon fragrance
   • ⅓ teaspoon solubilizer
5. Continue monitoring for cloudiness and viscosity changes.

If the Product Becomes Too Thin

Allow the sample to sit overnight.

If it remains too thin, add a suitable gel thickener according to the manufacturer’s instructions and mix thoroughly before re-evaluating.

Filling Bottles

• Pour the gel into a zip-lock or freezer bag, cut a small corner from the bag, and squeeze the product into bottles.

OR

• Pour directly from the container if the gel is thin enough to flow easily.

Allow the finished product to rest overnight before final evaluation and packaging.