Emulsifying Wax (Monodiglyceride and Sodium Stearate) is a vegetable derived processed ingredient used to emulsify (bind) your water and oils/butters together.  It is also a slight thickening agent, used to give body to a formulation, although to make a firmer product like a cream/hair mask, you will still require a thickener e.g Cetyl Alcohol, Guar Gum.  It is one of the easiest emulsifiers to use (add to and heat with your Oils and Butters) and is used by many crafters of lotions, creams, hair conditioners, leave in hair moisturisers etc.  Use between 2 and 6% of your total end product weight, 5% is typical useage. 

Cetyl Alcohol is used in 1 to 6% proportion of your total finished product weight, the more you use the thicker your product will be. Around 3% is typical (add to and heat with your oils/butters), with an additional thickening Gum at the whisking phase. It will help to stabilise and thicken your product and will also provide additional moisturising properties.  Normally used in products which contain Oils/Butters and Waters such as lotions, creams, hair conditioners, leave in hair moisturisers etc.

An unscented base ingredient made with saponified Organic Olive Oil & Coconut Oils, Glycerine and Water.  This lovely product can be used to make very mild, gentle and yet cleansing Shampoo's (which is what I use it for without watering it down and my desert dry hair does not strip at all), Shower Gels, Foam Baths,  Domestic Cleaning Products etc.  NB the lye used to make liquid soap is not present in the end product due to the soapmaking process called saponification.

It can be used on its own or you could add Essential Oils or Comsetic Grade Fragrance Oils.  It can also be watered down, 2 parts water to 1 part of the organic liquid soap base heated on a double boiler (heatproof dish over a pan of simmering water).  To thicken, add a little Xanthan or Guar Gum if required.  If you use it this way you will need to use a preservative due to the water content  and if you use Essential Oils, remember to add them once your product has cooled or they will evaporate.  If you wish to colour your product, use water soluble dye. 

Quick and Simple Recipes                                                                                            

Shampoo Organic Liquid Castille Soap Base, Lavender, Rosemary and Peppermint Essential Oils, 2% Carrier Oil, 2% Glycerine

Refreshing & Moisturising Body Wash  Soap Base, Orange, Lemon, Geranium Essential Oils, 3% Glycerine, 2% Light Carrier Oil e.g Sweet Almond, Grapeseed

Available in 100, 250 and 500ml sizes

Use: add to your product once you are at the stage of whisking, add a small pinch at a time as it will thicken up your product significantly. It can be used as a stand alone thickener or combined with cetyl alcohol (at around 3%), which is how I use it for Lotions, Creams and Hair Conditioners or Treatment Masks.

Guar Gum also acts as an Emulsifier (although I would use it in combination with an emulsifer such as the wax) and product Stabiliser.