This question comes up a lot, so let’s clear it up properly. Using actual seawater Fresh seawater contains microbes, organic matter, and unpredictable minerals. While high pH soap isn’t a friendly environment for microbes long-term, cold process soap does not sterilise seawater in a controlled way. The contaminants and mineral load remain, which can lead to: accelerated trace reduced or unstable lather sweating or texture issues higher risk of DOS over time Because of this, most experienced soapmakers do not recommend using raw seawater in cosmetic soap. Cosmetic sea salt is different Cosmetic-grade sea salt is: washed and purified dried and consistent free from biological contaminants This makes it suitable for skin products and repeatable soap batches. What people usually mean: Soleseife The correct method is Soleseife (German for brine soap). Soleseife uses: distilled water cosmetic sea salt (fully dissolved first) then lye added to create a controlled brine solution This is not the same as high-salt “salt bars” where large amounts of salt are added to oils. Why Soleseife works predictable and repeatable very hard bars smooth, creamy lather (less bubbly, more dense) no microbial or contamination risk Bottom line If you want a “sea soap”: ❌ raw seawater = unpredictable and unnecessary risk ✅ distilled water + cosmetic sea salt = professional, controlled method That method already has a name — Soleseife — and it exists for a reason. If there’s interest, I can share a clean Soleseife cold process soap recipe and usage tips in a recipe... Comment if interested.

This chart reflects how essential oils behave in soap, especially cold process, after saponification and cure. Top Notes (Fade Fast in Soap) Light molecules. Smell bright at pour, often faint after cure unless anchored. Sweet Orange Lemon (steam distilled) Lime (steam distilled) Bergamot FCF Grapefruit (FCF) Eucalyptus (globulus, radiata) Peppermint Spearmint Soap reality: These usually fade the most. Best used with a middle or base note to help them last. Middle Notes (Soap Workhorses) Moderate volatility. These form the core scent of most soaps. Lavender Rosemary Geranium Clary Sage Cypress Tea Tree Juniper Berry Cardamom Soap reality: Middle notes survive cure better and give structure to a blend. Many “single EO” soaps rely on these. Base Notes (Anchors in Soap) Heavy molecules. Evaporate slowly and help hold other scents. Patchouli Vetiver Cedarwood (Atlas, Virginian) Sandalwood (true or sustainable alternatives) Benzoin (resinoid) Amyris Frankincense (resin-rich types hold better) Soap reality: Even a small amount can dramatically improve scent longevity in CP soap. Important Soapmaking Clarifications Note category does NOT change with percentage Using more lavender doesn’t make it a base note — it stays a middle note. Ratios affect dominance, not chemistry A 60/40 blend only changes what your nose notices first. Soap is harsh on scent Heat, alkalinity, and long cure times mean some oils behave very differently than in candles or perfumes. Balanced blends last longer Top + middle + base usually outlast single-note or top-heavy blends. Example (Soap Context) Lavender + Rosemary Lavender = middle note Rosemary = middle note No matter the ratio, this is a middle–middle blend. It will smell lovely but may benefit from a small base note if longevity is important. Safety reminder (non-negotiable): Always calculate usage rates for soap and IFRA categories. Understanding scent structure helps blending — it never replaces EO safety calculations.

This comes up a lot in soapmaking groups, and it’s often misunderstood. Top, middle, and base notes are properties of the essential oil itself — not the percentage you use in a recipe. Each essential oil has a natural evaporation rate based on its chemistry: Top notes Light, fast-evaporating oils. They smell bright at first but fade fastest in soap. (e.g. citrus, eucalyptus) Middle notes Moderate evaporation. These usually form the main body of a soap scent and hold reasonably well. (e.g. lavender, rosemary, geranium) Base notes Heavy, slow-evaporating oils. These help anchor blends and improve scent longevity in soap. (e.g. patchouli, vetiver, benzoin) Common misconception Changing the ratio does not change the note category. Example: Lavender = middle note Rosemary = middle note A 60/40 or 50/50 blend doesn’t turn one into a top or base note — they are still both middle notes. The ratio only affects which scent is more noticeable, not how the oil behaves chemically. What actually matters in soap Top notes fade the fastest during cure Middle notes usually survive cure better Base notes help anchor the blend and extend scent life Balanced blends are more stable than single-note formulas Understanding this makes scent blending in soap simpler, more predictable, and less frustrating. Safety note (because it matters): Always calculate usage rates for soap and IFRA categories before formulating — understanding scent structure never replaces safety checks.