Are essential oils or fragrance oils better for soap making?

Author: Miss Freeda Zulauf DVM  |  Last update: Friday, October 10, 2025

Choosing the Right Oil for Your Soap If your soap is intended for people with sensitive skin or those who prefer natural products, essential oils could be the better choice. However, for creative, bold scents or commercial purposes, fragrance oils might suit your needs better.

Is it better to use essential oil or fragrance oil in soap?

The general rule is essential oils don't last long in soap. Some EOs are longer lived than others, but its been my experience that fragrance oils are more likely to provide a stronger, longer lasting scent.

Which oils are best for soap making?

The best base oils to use for soap are saturated fats. They make the bar harder and last longer. These are usually solid oils that have to be melted before use, such as Coconut oil, Cocoa Butter or Palm Oil. Then there are the unsaturated fats that can be added to the soap for their properties.

Are essential oils better than fragrance oils?

Essential oils are natural products with no synthetic ingredients. Fragrance oils are not natural products and do contain synthetic ingredients. Only essential oils can be used for aromatherapeutic purposes. Both can be used in home crafting projects, and both are safe to use when handled correctly.

What is the 30/50/20 rule for essential oils?

Follow the 30:50:20 ratio when mixing scent notes - 30% top note (3 drops), 50% middle note (5 drops) and 20% base note (2 drops), label each new blend clearly. Essential oil blends perform best after 'resting' for a day or so, this will allow the oils to blend and harmonise fully.

Best Essential Oils for Soap Making

Can you mix essential oils with fragrance oils?

It's perfectly fine to blend essential oils with fragrance oils for the purpose of making candles and melts. Keep in mind that some essential oils smell unpleasant when burned, so thoroughly burn testing your candles is important.

What is the best essential oil for skin?

Some of the essential oils for skin care that are renowned for their cleansing and tonifying properties include lavender, sandalwood, tea tree, frankincense and grapefruit.

What lasts longer fragrance oil or essential oil?

Fragrance oils, being synthetic, tend to last longer and provide a broader range of scents. If you prioritize longevity and a diverse aroma palette, fragrance oils are the way to go. However, if you lean towards a more natural approach, essential oils offer a pure and unadulterated fragrance.

Can you use fragrance oils in soap making?

Both essential oils and fragrance oils are used by many soap makers and have their advantages and drawbacks. Making the right choice depends on the outcome we're looking for and our personal preferences. Choose the right ingredient for your needs and have fun. The possibilities are endless!

What are the cons of fragrance oils?

The negative impact of fragrance chemicals on human health includes cutaneous, respiratory, and systemic effects (e.g., headaches, asthma attacks, breathing difficulties, cardiovascular and neurological problems) and distress in workplaces.

What is the cheapest oil to make soap with?

Canola oil is an affordable option for soap. It produces a balanced bar with creamy lather. It's also a great substitute for olive oil. You can use canola at 15-40% in cold process.

Which fragrance is best for soap making?

Vanilla. This one should be no surprise. It has universal appeal as a scent and is included in almost every bakery scent along with being an excellent mixer with amber, lavender and other earthy scents. This is an absolute must have for all soap makers.

What oils increase lather in soap?

Lathering hard oils include coconut oil, palm kernel oil, babassu oil, and murumuru butter. On the other hand, conditioning hard oils are oils and butters such as palm oil, cocoa butter, lard, tallow, kokum butter, illipe butter, sal butter, mango butter, and shea butter.

What essential oils should not be used in soap?

I do not recommend using benzoin or orris root as both are skin sensitizers and have potential to induce allergic reactions. If you choose to use either, please label your soap accordingly.

Can you put too much fragrance oil in soap?

If you have too much oil, you can end up with soap bars that are greasy and soft. These may never fully harden into a good bar of soap.

What is the best essential oil for soap making?

Top Essential Oils For Soap Making
  • Lavender Essential Oil. Lavender essential oil is a mid-note and has a herbal, floral fragrance. ...
  • Lemon Essential Oil. Bring the smell of summer to your soaps! ...
  • Rosemary Essential Oil. ...
  • Cedarwood Essential Oil. ...
  • Sweet Orange Essential Oil. ...
  • Peppermint Essential Oil. ...
  • Ylang Ylang Essential Oil.

Which is better for soap, fragrance oil, or essential oil?

Choosing the Right Oil for Your Soap

If your soap is intended for people with sensitive skin or those who prefer natural products, essential oils could be the better choice. However, for creative, bold scents or commercial purposes, fragrance oils might suit your needs better.

How to keep scent in homemade soap?

To ensure the scent stays strong, cure soap in a cool, dry place out of direct sunlight. Learn more in the How to Store Handmade Bath Products article. You can also dip a cotton ball or balled up paper towel in the fragrance oil and place it by the soap while it's curing.

How many drops of fragrance oil for soap?

The amount of fragrance oil used in soapmaking can vary depending on personal preference and the type of fragrance being used. As a general guideline, a common recommendation is to use approximately 0.3 to 0.5 ounces of fragrance oil per pound of soap.

Are essential oils better than fragrance?

Fragrance oils offer a wide range of synthetic scents with remarkable longevity, making them ideal for various commercial products. Essential oils provide natural aromas and potential therapeutic benefits, making them a popular choice for holistic well-being and eco-friendly products.

Can I substitute fragrance oil for essential oil?

If a formulation called for 0.5% essential oil and you want to use a fragrance oil instead I'd use 0.1% fragrance oil and replace the missing 0.4% with more water (if it's a formulation that contains water) or more liquid carrier oil (for anhydrous products).

Can fragrance oils be used on skin?

Like essential oils, fragrance oils are generally perfectly safe for use on the skin if they're properly diluted. This means that your chosen fragrances either need to be combined with a carrier oil or sufficiently integrated into the other ingredients of your product.

Which essential oil is like Botox?

Why It's “Nature's Botox”: Rich in vitamin E and omega-6 fatty acids, prickly pear oil deeply hydrates and improves skin elasticity, mimicking Botox's “firming” effect. Science-Backed Benefit: Studies show prickly pear oil increases skin moisture retention by 50% and reduces transepidermal water loss.

Can I put 100% essential oil on my skin?

While essential oils are best known for their aromatherapy properties such as inhaling the aroma, they can also be used on the skin as well. However, you'll want to make sure they are diluted, as pure essential oils can be too powerful to use on certain areas of the body in their natural form.

Does frankincense remove age spots?

Its ability to promote cell regeneration may help fade dark spots caused by sun damage and aging. The oil can give your skin a radiant look by smoothing out texture and creating a more even tone.

Previous article
What are double doors on a house called?
Next article
How do you revive a tree in shock?