Fragrances for solid soaps (vanillin-free)

Vanillin-free fragrances for your homemade scented soaps

Would you rather avoid vanillin in your fragrances? We have gathered here all the fragrances in our catalogue that do not contain any. A handy starting point for scenting your soaps while limiting the risk of discolouration.

An initial guide to compatibility, to be confirmed with a test

This selection is above all an initial indication. Vanillin is indeed known to make certain soaps yellow or brown over time: choosing a vanillin-free fragrance therefore reduces this risk. That said, it is not an absolute guarantee — and the reverse is also true. In practice, almost all our candle fragrances can be suitable for soap making, with or without vanillin.

The only truly reliable rule is the test. A fragrance's behaviour depends on its composition, its dosage and, above all, the process used. We always recommend carrying out a small trial before embarking on larger-scale production.

Cold-process saponification or Melt & Pour base: a decisive role

The manufacturing process changes things considerably. In cold-process saponification, the reaction between the lye and the oils and fats is chemically active: some components of a fragrance, including vanillin, can react, speed up trace or alter the colour. The choice of fragrance is therefore more sensitive here.

With a Melt & Pour base (ready-to-melt soap), there is no saponification reaction: the fragrance is simply incorporated into an already neutral base. Compatibility is then much broader, and a fragrance containing vanillin remains perfectly feasible — any yellowing being mainly a matter of appearance, not safety.

Vanillin: a definition

Vanillin is an aromatic substance found in vanilla pods; it is also the synthetic aroma that most faithfully imitates its scent. It is used to bring out certain olfactory notes in our fragrances.

It is the most widely used aroma in the world: between 12,000 and 15,000 tonnes are produced each year. It is found in ice creams, yoghurts, biscuits and confectionery, but also, for example, in medicines.