Beyond his role as a senior assistant district attorney, Justin Marrus enjoys spending his free time on a variety of indoor and outdoor activities. Justin Marrus is an avid hiker, blacksmith, and soapmaker.
With just a few natural ingredients and the chemical compound sodium hydroxide, enthusiasts can easily make soap at home. Using essential oils is a common way to add scent or curative properties to a homemade bar.
While there are no official guidelines to the number of essential oils to add to a soap batch, soaps made for sale in the European Union must keep essential oil below three percent of total batch weight. This ratio can help avoid skin irritation and other undesirable side effects.
Essential oils are usually one of the last ingredients added to a soap mixture. If the oil is added too early, the scent may become undetectable. Some popular oil options include bergamot, geranium, and lemongrass. Soapmakers often use a blend of harmonious oils to create a well-rounded and inviting scent.
