EO Offline?

[The Last Chimney]

Where do you get essential oils in the real world? They're easy to find online, but I'm kind of a newbie at computers and have not yet perfected the art of smelling the internet.

Bath and Body has fragrance oils for room-scentifyers or whatever. Would those work as well in soaps as EO's?

 

[Geordon]

Personally, I would stay away from the room-scent oils, but dedcated "fragrance oils" can be found that are specifically made for body applications like soap and perfumes. Those should be fine.

As for looking for oils in the real world, you might want to hit the local health food store as well as New Age shops. Those places often stock a variety of oils that would be decent to use.

HTH

 

[BillC]

Whole Foods carries a lot of EOs. My local mega mart has a few limited EOs in their "health foody" section - Tea Tree, Lavender and Peppermint.

 

[The Last Chimney]

Thanks! I no longer live anywhere near a WF, sadly, but I'll look for a different health food place.

 

[Fortitudo Dei]

I'm primarily interested in EO's for soap making where larger quantities are needed. If you only need a few drops then much of what follows probably won't apply.

Though I am normally supportive of small businesses, the mark-ups that occur on essential oils being sold in retail stores are often obscene (and I don't blame the retailers for that as much as their suppliers). Though it galls me to say it, I suggest you use the tester bottles which are generally available to sample at many health stores or "New Age" shops to see what you like, then purchase what you need on-line. As long as the essential oils are "pure" (i.e. uncut with a carrier oil) there will likely only be minor variations between what you sample in a shop and what you can buy on-line. Fragrance oils however can vary quite wildly between different suppliers / brands.

A case in point : at my local stores, I can buy Bergamot, Cedarwood, and Mandarin essential oils (in my own currency) for about $10 - $15 for a small 10ml bottle. On the other hand I can purchase on-line top quality 250ml bottles of pure Bergamot for $35, Cedarwood for $26 and Mandarin for $25. Larger amounts cost even less per ml.

As far as soap making is concerned, it's a no-brainer.

 

[HoratioCaine]

Bath and Body Works used to carry a range of essential oils, as did the Body Shop. I don't know if they still do or not, but it's worth looking. Otherwise, any store that specializes in natural goods stands a good chance of having some.

As for using other fragrance oils, it depends on what you're looking for. As mentioned, I would not recommend using room fragrance in skin care products. It may not be safe for use on the skin. As for fragrance oils for cosmetic use, you can use those, but they may not be as natural smelling as essential oils. That doesn't mean they aren't good, just different. Basically, if you want something that smells as close to the real plant (or wood, or flower, or whatever) as possible, essential oils are the way to go. If you're more flexible regarding how natural the oil smells, and just want something that smells "good," fragrance oils might meet your needs just fine. Sniff around and see what you think.

 

[Osborn Cox]

I found an adequate selection at my local Hobby Lobby. 1/2 oz bottle for about $6.

 

[MrGuy]

Chances are good you can find a "Whole Foods" type store around any somewhat larger metro area. I don't have a Whole Foods anywhere close, but I do have a couple of places that are similar. One is a specialty store that caries organic beef and bison (I do live in the "Wild West" ) along with a mind boggling choice of vegetarian alternatives. They have whole spices from around the globe and a huge cardboard display of Burt's Bees products. They also have a pretty good choice of EO's.
The other is what most would call a "head shop". They have hemp clothes, hemp soap, hemp moisturizers, hemp lip balm, kayaks and kayak supplies, mood rings, a huge cardboard display of Burt's Bees products, and EO's