Ordering Essential Oils
. I received a phone call from WSP customer service this morning and found out that the bitter almond fragrance they sell is actually made with cassia essential oil and sweet almond (fixed) oil. There isn’t any bitter almond in it at all, but somehow it smells like almond, so that’s what they have labeled it. I’ve smelled cassia essential oil, and I don’t remember it smelling like almonds, but maybe the one I had wasn’t the best quality. I also received some advice from another soapmaker that WSP has a pretty great honey almond essential oil blend that doesn’t irritate your skin, so I’ve ordered both so I can decide between them.
I also received some insightful comments on the previous post from Josee who has used the bitter almond essential oil from Liberty Natural.
Liberty Natural sells the bitter almond EO FFPA FFC. There is some paperwork to fill out first but once done, they keep them on file so you don’t have to do it again next time you want to buy. I have some here and I can assure you it is VERY potent stuff. Used at 0.5 PPO it still almost drove me out of the house. This EO has been modified, the prussic acid removed, so that it is safe to use. The reason you have to fill out paperwork is because benzandelhyde is the precursor to amphetamine.
Indeed, if you look at the Certificate of Analysis for this product, it says Prussic Acid (Per FCC Test): 0.015% max.
Besides looking at the almond essential oils, I’ve also placed an order with Essential Oil University for some other essential oils & blends. Although I do like to create my own scent blends, sometimes it is more cost effective to buy the pre-blended oils. Eventually, I’m fairly certain that all of my products – including soaps – will be scented naturally. I’m starting this process slowly, however. I do love my synthetic fragrances!
Essential oils have so many facets to them – they aren’t just good for fragrance! They have aromatherapy benefits and other properties that can make them highly potent. I’m hoping to learn more about those properties as I blend and create products that are beneficial to my customers. This includes watching for cautions related to skin irritation, or oils that are to be avoided during pregnancy. Most of the larger suppliers don’t have this information on their websites, so I have to go looking elsewhere. I wish I could go to the Handcrafted Soapmaker’s Guild conference in May to learn more from Robert Tisserand. He’s going to be one of the speakers, and he’s a well-known expert on the subject. Can someone take good notes for me, if you’re going? (I just read that Tisserand advises to completely avoid cassia in skin care applications. [Robert Tisserand, Essential Oil Safety (United Kingdom: Churchill Livingstone, 1995), 204.] Perhaps I shouldn’t have purchased the bitter almond fragrance from WSP.)
I did find a “top pick” essential oil list from experienced soap teacher Marla Bosworth of Back Porch Soap Company. She has a top 5 list that includes some different oils as well as her reasons for picking them and blending suggestions.
Hopefully those resources will help someone. Meanwhile, I’ll be waiting patiently for my packages to arrive!
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I saw Tisserand at last year’s conference. Although his lecture is interesting, I didn’t find it as informative as I hoped because he is limited on time and basically tailors his information to be delivered to the masses. What you really want to do is to get one of his books, although some are very hard to come by. See if your library carries one..if not ask the reference librarian to do an ILL (interlibrary loan.) Perhaps they can get it from another library. He has one on EO safety that’s really good.
It’s good you are doing your homework. I use mostly EO’s and only once in awhile an FO. I have tons of books on the subject, although they are all packed for moving. Many people don’t take the time to do their research and can really put together some dangerous stuff. Tisserand did mention that he has never done research on what happens to EOs during the soapmaking process. But if you are learning about each EO and you use it at a low percentage, you’ll do fine.
I’m still using your dead sea mud soap…that has EOs. Works very nicely and lasts a long time since I just use it on my face. I need to try making some of my own facial soaps, one of many things on my to-do list.
@Erica – I hadn’t thought of checking my library! I just checked and they have the Spanish version only! Guess I’ll have to look elsewhere. Glad the Dead Sea Mud soap is working for you. I did research those essential oils and used them specifically for the facial blend. 🙂
Hm. Is the bitter almond essential oil returnable? If not, you can use it as a comparison to the other almond-like essential oils to see if they hold up to their almondy claim.
That honey almond one sounds nice though.
@Dennise – I’m not sure if it’s returnable or not…I do plan to use it as a reference though.
Hi Amy! I think you’re going to be glad you switched to EOs -they’re just so interesting and beneficial!
I thank you for your info on WSP -I think I’ll try their Honey-Almond. I love the smell of almond, and I’ve used EO University’s “Bitter Almond”, but was concerned about exposing my family to Bitter Almond 24/7 (same concern I have with fragrance oils) so I haven’t ordered any more. I haven’t checked the “Top 10” list, but I’m going to -new blend suggestions are always welcomed! 😀
Thanks for all the great info Amy:) just be careful with the Cassia EO, my books say it’s a dermal toxin, dermal irritant and sensitizer and mucous membrane irritant and that it is one of the most hazardous oils, so don’t know if it is much better than the Almond? Maybe the one with prussic acid removed might be the way to go, it sounds good.
@Jan – Yes, after I ordered it, I saw that Tisserand does not recommend it for skin care at all. I’m curious to smell it, but I suppose that will be the end of it.
Oh what a pain! if you haven’t opened it, would they exchange or do a refund for you maybe? good customer relations and all:)
@Jan – Don’t know. Haven’t received it yet! It’s on the borderline of not worth the hassle. 🙂
hi amy,
thanks for mentioning my blog post on my favorite top 10 e.o.’s in soap in your post. it’s great to share information with other soapmakers! i’m starting to sell my soaps at my local farmers’ market soon and am looking forward to developing some new blends (& get direct customer feedback). feeling a bit stuck using the same oils, so i’m eager to branch out. i agree that sometimes it’s good to buy blends just to mix it up 🙂
@Lori – Of course, you’re welcome! Our farmer’s market has just started up too and I’m glad to be back – best wishes to you!!