Vanilla Colour Stabiliser

Fragrance Oils Causing Discoloration & Stabiliser Effectiveness

Several fragrance oils can cause discoloration in soap, typically due to high vanillin or naturally dark extracts.

Here’s a rundown:

Fragrance Type	Discoloration Tendency	Stabiliser Effectiveness
Vanilla & derivatives	🟤 High (brown tint)	✅ Yes, very effective
Chocolate/Cocoa	🟤 Moderate to high	✅ Yes
Coffee	🟤 Moderate	✅ Sometimes
Patchouli	🟤 Mild yellowing	❌ Not effective
Cinnamon & Spices	🟤 Amber/light brown	❌ Limited effect
Sandalwood	🟤 Tan shading	❌ Minimal benefit
Amber	🟤 Amber to orange	✅ Partially helpful
Musk	⚪ Slight yellowing	❌ Not recommended
Honey/Molasses	🟤 Brown tint	✅ Somewhat effective

• 👃 Vanillin is the main culprit—it oxidizes and browns over time.
• ✅ The stabiliser is best at countering vanillin-related browning, not general dark oils or natural extracts.
• 🧼 Always check your fragrance’s IFRA sheet or ingredient breakdown for vanillin content.

 

Vanilla Colour Stabiliser – Other Uses

The Vanilla Colour Stabiliser is mainly formulated for melt and pour soap making, but here are some lesser-known and situational uses:

• 🕯️ Candle crafting: Occasionally used to limit discoloration in scented candles with vanilla or chocolate tones—though results may vary and it’s not its primary purpose.
• 🎨 Bath bombs: Not officially recommended, but some crafters experiment with it to preserve color in vanilla-scented bath bombs.
• 🧼 Layered soaps: Perfect for keeping layers crisp and clean when alternating vanilla-based and clear soap bases.
• 🔬 Testing fragrance blends: Used by developers to trial how vanilla notes behave in test batches without visual interference.
• 🚫 Not suitable for lotions or body sprays: It doesn’t work with aqueous or alcohol-based products.