How do you mix your lotion base and f/o??

[busymommy]

I am using MC Soy lotion base and I was wondering how everyone else mixes their base and fo. I made my first bottle by putting in the fo and then the lotion and shook like crazy. This base is so thick that I am afraid I will not get it mixed well. If there are any tips or tricks to this, please let me know.

[Shirelle407]

Hi I mix mine with a mixer it works really well.

[gerrie]

If you're doing a small batch, the zip lock bags work great. I mix in my lotion, color and FO in those bags, but one suggestion.......use the freezer ones, the sandwich bags have a tendency to come unzipped, and you end up with your lotion all over. Then just snip the corner of the bag and squeeze the lotion into your bottle or jar.

[scentsme]

If you're doing a small batch, the zip lock bags work great. I mix in my lotion, color and FO in those bags, but one suggestion.......use the freezer ones, the sandwich bags have a tendency to come unzipped, and you end up with your lotion all over. Then just snip the corner of the bag and squeeze the lotion into your bottle or jar.

I do the same. & don't use the "cheapie" ziplocs either, they always leak. But the ziploc way is the easiest I've found as well & it's great to just squeeze the mixed lotion into a jar or bottle, just like squeezing frosting onto a cake!

[sockmonkey]

I've had to fill a couple of special order requests for a particular scent that wasn't part of my regular line up that I make in bulk, so what I did was pour the lotion in the bottle first then add FO and with the plastic tube from the lotion pump stir it around a bit, shake it and then stir it some more.

If you have thick lotion then shaking isn't going to do much good. If you're just making one bottle at a time you can put a zip lock baggie inside a cup for support, fill it with your lotion and FO and stir it, then seal it, cut a small tip off one corner and then fill your container. Trust people when they tell you not to go cheap on the baggies. I tried it once and the zipper stayed closed, but the side of the bag split and lotion was slowly oozing out and I didn't know it until I felt lotion on my arm at one point. Then I noticed it all over my apron (thank goodness I was wearing one), and even on my shoes.

[thecandlespastore]

I make a master batch of lotion enough to about 16 8 oz bottles that sells very quickly. I do not scent though the entire batch though, keep the entire thing unscented and then scent as my orders come in. Measure out 8.5 oz or whatever I need for the order, heat up the mixture a little bit, add the FO and then whisk the crap out of it, pour, viola! Done! FO incorporates better when the lotion is warm.

[Darbla]

In a glass bowl with a spoon. If you did it in a large glass measuring cup, the spout may help you control pouring into a bottle.

If it's thick like what you're talking about, I put it in the jar it's going into anyway and stir the FO into it.

Darbla

[Chickie1st]

I've had to fill a couple of special order requests for a particular scent that wasn't part of my regular line up that I make in bulk, so what I did was pour the lotion in the bottle first then add FO and with the plastic tube from the lotion pump stir it around a bit, shake it and then stir it some more.

If you have thick lotion then shaking isn't going to do much good. If you're just making one bottle at a time you can put a zip lock baggie inside a cup for support, fill it with your lotion and FO and stir it, then seal it, cut a small tip off one corner and then fill your container. Trust people when they tell you not to go cheap on the baggies. I tried it once and the zipper stayed closed, but the side of the bag split and lotion was slowly oozing out and I didn't know it until I felt lotion on my arm at one point. Then I noticed it all over my apron (thank goodness I was wearing one), and even on my shoes.

This is what I do also.

[ah-soy]

When scenting individual bottles, I use a cake decorating tip...you can either use the bags the deco kits come with (these are often too big for one filling) or attach the tip to a good baggie as other have stated.

[Jami]

Ziploc baggie method for me as well. It was the easiest way to mix with the least amount of clean up. Snipping that corner makes packaging a breeze. I use quart size for smaller batches and gallon size for bigger batches.