Preservatives are an important part of DIY bath and body products. They help prevent mold and bacteria growth, which extends the shelf life of products and makes them safe to use. Check out this post for more information on the options we carry and how to use them.
Preservatives are recommended for products made with water or products that may get water splashed in during use. This post has information on whether they’re needed for soap, lotion, and more. Keep in mind these are general rules and may be different based on your preference, how the product will be used, whether you’re selling the product, etc. It’s a great place to start and adjust from there.
Cold process and melt and pour soap
Preservative: No
You never have to worry about adding a preservative to cold process or melt and pour. They have a pH level of 9-10, which doesn’t allow mold or bacteria to grow. Just another reason to love handmade soap.
Liquid soap
Preservative: Optional
Amount 0.5-1% of the total weight
Type: Optiphen ND
Like bar soap, liquid soap has a pH level that doesn’t allow mold to grow. However, it does require distilled water for dilution. You can add a preservative to be extra careful or if you plan to sell it. The same goes for the Bramble Berry liquid soap bases – you can add preservatives to the ones that need to be diluted, but the ready-to-use options are already preserved and don’t need extra.
Lotion
Preservative: Yes
Amount: 1% of the total weight
Type: Optiphen, Phenonip, or Germaben II
Lotion always needs a preservative because it’s made with water. Without one, the shelf life will only be a few weeks.
Body butter
Preservative: No
This is a simple mixture of butter and oil. Because there’s no water and it will likely be applied to dry skin, don’t worry about a preservative. As always, you can add one if you plan to sell it.
Scrubs and bath salts
Preservative: Optional
Amount: 1% of the total weight
Type: Optiphen or Phenonip
While most scrubs and bath salts aren’t made with water, they are usually stored in the shower and can get water splashed in during use. We recommend a preservative for that reason. You can skip it if the recipe is for personal use and stored in a cool, dry area in between uses.
Bath bombs
Preservative: No
Bath bombs don’t contain water so they don’t need a preservative. When choosing witch hazel to wet them, make sure it’s alcohol based or already has a preservative.
Balms
Preservative: No
Like body butter, balms don’t contain water and they’re usually applied to dry skin. You don’t need to worry about a preservative. That goes for body balm and lip balm.
Room sprays, linen sprays, and perfume
Preservative: Yes
Amount: 1% of the total weight
Type: Optiphen ND
If your recipe contains water, it will need a preservative. If not, check the ingredient list and make sure whatever you’re adding has one. For instance, this Lavender Linen Spray is made with ingredients that already have preservatives. That means you don’t need to add another one. The same goes for recipes that are oil based.
I have several questions I would like someone from Bramble Berry to answer. I would like a direct email address for my questions as I have so many. Then you can use whatever you want on your posts. Please help me!!!!
Our direct email is [email protected] but we are happy to answer questions on our blog as well.
If replacing the distilled water with aloe juice would the preservative still be necessary in lotion?
Yes because Aloe Juice still contains water you would need a preservative.
I’m making bath salts to sell. How would you add a preservative? With the fragrance oil? Or separately.
Adding with the fragrance would be the easiest way to incorporate it evenly.
Should I add any preservative to bath butter if yes which
Preservatives aren’t necessary in bath butter unless you’re adding water to your project. You may also choose to include one in case your customer puts wet hands into the mixture.
I am trying to start making my own lotion and am having a hard time figuring out a recipe. I’m just wondering when you are supposed to add the preservative? Also, which preservative do you find is the best all around for lotions? Thanks!
Here’s an awesome blog post on how to create homemade lotion recipes and it answers all of your questions: https://www.soapqueen.com/bath-and-body-tutorials/lotion/how-to-create-homemade-lotion-recipes/
Hi! Thanks for all the info! The product that I am questioning about are Bath Salts. I understand that the preservatives will not stop a botanical from going moldy. Is there something that will preserve or prolong the life of bath salts that contain herbs or flowers? I see these being sold all the time. My clients love all the herbal stuff in their bath salts but I don’t want to be selling something that will go moldy!
Thanks for your help
Katherine @ Sweet Home Soapery
The dried botanicals will not go moldy in bath salts if no extra moisture is added. Water is usually what introduces bacteria and begins the molding process.
See an example in our Wild Rose Bath Salt DIY: https://www.soapqueen.com/bath-and-body-tutorials/rose-bath-salt-diy/
What about the moisture introduced with the fragrance oil? Will that cause mold?
No, fragrance oils do not contain any water.
Would something using commercial castile soap such as dr bronner’s, which already contains water and oils, as a base need additional preservatives?
https://shop.drbronner.com/pure-castile-liquid-soap
If you were to add extra water to the soap then you would most likely still need to add a small amount of preservative. A finished store bought soap isn’t usually meant to be customized like that.
Find our Natural Castile Liquid Soap Base here:
https://www.brambleberry.com/shop-by-product/ingredients/bases/liquid-soap/natural-castile-liquid-soap-base/V000450.html
I want to know how much preservative I can add to 100ml rosewater for example, (what quantity if the preservative should I add? I don’t understand the 1% term, pls I need more practical explanation. Thanks
Our rosewater has a small amount of preservative already to keep it shelf stable so you would not want to add more to it on its own.
To figure out the 1% calculation for another product, let’s say 16 oz of lotion you would take 16 and multiply that by 0.01 (1%) which equals 0.16 oz.
Thank you for the great information you are giving ; am learning a lot
Thinking of getting the optiphen ND for room sprays but also need something for other products that are not water based, such as lotion. Can Optiphen ND be used for any of the products that say optiphen on them? Or would it be better to have the regular optiphen as well for those?
Yes you can definitely still use Optiphen ND in lotions with fine results.
When it comes to products like a water based toner or facial mist, what would be the best preservative to prevent the ickies from growing? Optiphen ND says it’s water soluable but best for surfactants, and brambleberry no longer sells optiphen plus. Would ND be fine?
Optiphen ND is perfectly fine for water based products and that is typically what we use for our recipes like that. I would use it around 1%.
I want to make hair conditioner what preservative do you prefer?
I would recommend using Optiphen as a preservative for hair conditioners.
Optiphen: https://www.brambleberry.com/Optiphen-P3682.aspx
See an example of it used in our DIY Ginger & Moringa Oil Hair Conditioner:
https://www.soapqueen.com/bath-and-body-tutorials/moringa-ginger-hair-conditioner/
Iam unable to find the belly butter recipe with shea and cocoa butters…need to check quantities as I love it and want to make more.
We have two belly butter recipes that both contain Shea and Cocoa Butters.
Bramble Baby Belly Butter: https://www.soapqueen.com/bath-and-body-tutorials/bramble-baby-belly-butter/
Whipped Belly Butter: https://www.soapqueen.com/bath-and-body-tutorials/lotion/whipped-belly-butter-tutorial-2/
I’m wanting to make sugar scrub cubes (coconut oil, sugar, melt and pour soap, and essential oils), which preservative would be best to use for this?
If you’re wanting to add a preservative to your sugar scrub cubes as a safeguard I would recommend an oil soluble preservative like Optiphen or Phenonip.
Optiphen: https://www.brambleberry.com/Optiphen-P3682.aspx
Phenonip: https://www.brambleberry.com/Phenonip-P4038.aspx
Hello what’s the best preservative for Ghassoul clay, thank you very much.
Preservatives are only necessary if your product contains water – you can refer to the above post for a proper preservative to go with your project if it does contain water.
What about oil perfumes? Considering that normally there is no water in an oil perfume (because oils are hydro repellent), then I guess there is no need for a preservative. But how can I avoid them to go rancid?
Your perfume oil will not need a preservative since it doesn’t contain any water and isn’t likely to come into contact with it.
Preservatives will not protect against oil rancidity. Vitamin E is known to help slow the oxidizing process of fixed oils though which will prevent the rancidity for a little bit of time.
Vitamin E Oil: https://www.brambleberry.com/Vitamin-E-Oil-P3200.aspx
What ingredients in the Lavender Linen Spray already have preservatives in them? I’m looking to add Linen Sprays to my product line.
It is the Lavender Essential Water. All of our essential waters are preserved already.
Great information but my question is, why lotions need Optiphen and perfumes and spray Optiphen NA?
This has to do with the solubility of the preservative – some of them perform better in water, and some in oil.
I love this site its very informative