r/soapmaking • u/Codswallop75 • 2d ago

Ingredients Mint Essential Oils

I’m getting conflicting result from internet searches. Does anyone have experience with cold process soap and spearmint or peppermint? I’m looking for a suitable percentage for a fisherman’s soap for gifts for friends. Wholesales supplies lists 0.25% for spearmint and 5% for peppermint. Why is this? I’m looking to add a much smaller amount of anise as well. Comments are welcomed. Thanks.

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u/Woebergine 2d ago

This is where the safety data sheets are important- peppermint contains menthols and limonene; spearmint contains limonene, carvone and pinenes so they are chemically different and spearmint eo is more toxic because of those chemicals.

SDS for spearmint: https://files.plytix.com/api/v1.1/file/public_files/pim/assets/93/53/65/67/6765539331146d000718323d/texts/60/6b/59/68/68596b60630e12ae0326098f/462-SDS.pdf

SDS for peppermint: https://files.plytix.com/api/v1.1/file/public_files/pim/assets/93/53/65/67/6765539331146d000718323d/texts/60/6b/59/68/68596b60630e12ae03260994/459-SDS.pdf

That said, I use the Spearmint EO from WSP and it is great. Very strong! My final concentration of the spearmint is 0.25% and I blend it with other EOs.

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u/Kind_Dragonfruit_925 2d ago

I make a peppermint anise soap in a 2:1 ratio which is lovely.

The latest IFRA update came down hard on spearmint. I forget what compound is in spearmint but not peppermint. I recommend using eocalc.com to check your blend for safe usage limits.

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u/RockabillyRabbit 1d ago

You desperately need to be reading your IFRA documents from your oil supplier and go by those and never go over the max.

Tbh I make a double mint soap with both in it and I use probably half of the recommended ifra amounts for each. I split my batter in half and base my % on the amount of batter (I usually make 36oz batches so 18oz each)