I’ve created the following guide for solubilizing oils into water to assist you in your formulations. Here, I cover the basics, and give you formulation tips and product suggestions.
Micellar dispersions are the most common type of clear, oil-in-water dispersions using surfactants and/or solvents. If the particle size of the dispersed phase is <100 nm, the dispersion normally appears clear. Typically these dispersions are used to solubilize fragrance oils into water based products and have a particle size of ~5nm.
Formulation tips:
- Generally, more polar oils are easier to solubilize into water and require less surfactant. For example, 10 grams of Polysorbate 20 can solubilize ~1-3 grams of fragrance oils and only .1-.3g of non-polar oils.
(EU: Polysorbate 20) - When solubilizing most oils, start with a ratio of 10 parts solubilizer to 1 part oil and titrate down. For fragrances, start with 5 parts solubilizer to 1 part fragrance oil.
- Liquid solubilizers are preferred vs. solid types due to ease of processing.
(EU: Liquid solubilizers) - Water soluble solvents, in which the oil dissolves, can help reduce the amount of solubilizer needed.
- Solvents can usually help reduce the amount of solubilizer needed. 1, 2 hexanediol is by far the best, followed by 1, 2 pentanediol, diethylene glycol mono ethyl ether, and dimethyl isosorbide.
(EU: 1, 2 hexanediol | 1, 2 pentanediol | dimethyl isosorbide) - Use combinations of solubilizers for better efficiency. Many of the most efficient ones are surfactant blends.
- Monitor the particle size distribution changes (sub-micron particle size analyzer) over time using clarity loss or particle size changes as endpoints.
- Generally, a loss in clarity or particle size change over time can be caused by Ostwald Ripening. Adding a small amount of nonpolar oil or a polymeric surfactant can be helpful to minimize the problem.
Recommended Solubilizers:
- The key historic benchmark solubilizer is PEG 40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil (Cremophor RH 40 – BASF) (EU: PEG 40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil)
- Eumulgin HPS (PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, PPG-1-PEG-9 Lauryl Glycol Ether – BASF, Coceth 7 – BASF) (EU: Eumulgin HPS)
- Cosmacol N119 (C12-C13 Pareth 9-Sasol) Recommended green options not containing ethylene oxide based surfactants
- Sophogreen (Water, Glucose, Rapeseed Fatty Acid-Soliance)
- Sepiclear G7 (Heptyl Glucoside-Seppic)
The views, opinions and technical analyses presented here are those of the author or advertiser, and are not necessarily those of ULProspector.com or UL Solutions. The appearance of this content in the UL Prospector Knowledge Center does not constitute an endorsement by UL Solutions or its affiliates.
All content is subject to copyright and may not be reproduced without prior authorization from UL Solutions or the content author.
The content has been made available for informational and educational purposes only. While the editors of this site may verify the accuracy of its content from time to time, we assume no responsibility for errors made by the author, editorial staff or any other contributor.
UL Solutions does not make any representations or warranties with respect to the accuracy, applicability, fitness or completeness of the content. UL Solutions does not warrant the performance, effectiveness or applicability of sites listed or linked to in any content.
SIR, I AM DEVELOPING PERFUMED WATER AND ESSENTIAL OIL WATER , I HAVE JUST EMULSIFED ESSENTIAL OIL AND PERFUME WITH WATER BY MEANS OF SOLUBLIZER. THE PROBLEM IS THE END PRODUCT IS FOAM , I WANT TO GIVE FOAM LESS PRODUCT SO PLEASE GIVE ME BEST SUGESSTION FOR ANTIFOAMING. I AM ALSO ADDING DI SODIUM EDTA, GLYCERIN 3% PROPYLEN GLYCOL % FOR MOISTURISATION. THANKS I HOPE YOU WILL RESPONCE ME.
I would like to know the ways through which oil can be solublized so well with water that it can be used in automatic room freshener machine
Hi,
I run a laundry service, moreoften i get clothes covered in oil, Pls tell what i can do to remove their oil completely. Pls suggest something that is cost effective and easily available.
Thanks
How do I make clear, transparent castor oil emulsion in water?
Hi,
We are doing scenting on mass scale. we like to find a surfactant to dissolve oil (essential/fragrance oil) in water. Solution will be diffused into atmosphere by nebulizing.
Since our product will be inhale by public for long hours (12hrs) on daily basis, we would like to have a safe product (IFRA guideline).
Could you recommend us a surfactant we can purchase.
1. SAFE
2. Appearance remain for at least 2 years
Mineral Oil 8%
Caprylic/Capric Triglycerides 2%
Isopropyl Isostearate 2%
Cetyl Alcohol 4%
Emulsifiers 4%
Polyols 5%
Water Soluble Active 1%
Water 74%
Preservative qs
When you add up the oil phase ingredients, mineral oil through cetyl alcohol, you determine that the oil phase
comprises 16% of the total formulation. In order to calculate the required HLB of this oil phase, you will need to next
calculate the contribution of each ingredient to the total oil phase, as shown below:
Ingredient % of each in total/% of oil phase to total
= % contribution of oil phase
Mineral oil 8/16 = 50%
Caprylic/Capric Triglycerides 2/16 = 12.5%
Isopropyl Isostearate 2/16 = 12.5%
Cetyl Alcohol 4/16 = 25%
Oil Phase Ingredient Contribution x Req. HLB Equals
of Ingredient
Mineral oil 50.0% 10.5 5.250
Caprylic/Capric Triglycerides 12.5% 5.0 0.625
Isopropyl Isostearate 12.5% 11.5 1.437
Cetyl Alcohol 25.0% 15.5 3.875
Estimated Required HLB for Emulsifier System 11.2
Hi,
Thanks for your website, useful for passionate chemists!
I am making a massage gel therapy. The formula is about 40% alcohol, 45-50% water. I am using AQUPEC to make a gel and unfortunately, when I add Cetiol HE, the solution becomes cloudy. I tried different Solubilizers/Emulsifiers such as PEG-40, PEG-7 and Solublizer LRI. So far, Solubilizer LRI is the best. However, to give the solution translucent, a high amount of Solubilizer is required. Besides, the solution is still a bit cloudy and it is as well a bit expensive. Thus, would you have any other suggestions to solve my issue? Many thanks, Best.
Thanks you for the information above. Please let me know how I can dissolve Zinc pyrithione in water.
Hi!
I am making liquid soap when should I add my PEG-40 to optimize for lather enhancement and emulsifying?
Small bit in the sopanification process?
Hi. We have a company called Sure Air using essential oil blends for odour control in either liquid form or a gel (SAP). We have been trying to come up with a bloc unit that shrinks allowing the essential oil to evaporate off as a strong but pleasant odour. Having failed using blends of soap and SAP with the odour control little is achieved in wicking off a strong scent and a less than 1% shrink.
Where would one start to make an effect odour block? It surely has to start as a liquid solution, possibly heated to aid blending (low temp) that sets like a candle yet shrinks looking like an old apple core releasing most of the trapped essential oil.
Interesting article!
Hi. How could I produce a clear viscosity in combining castor oil or mineral oil in water. I tried several experiments but it turned out into a cloudy mixture.
Can you tell me how to solubize oil into water for edible purposes? Or could you recommend a food grade solubizer and or surficant?
Thanks so much!
Dear George
I can’t thank you enough for your help.
My Question , am in process of developing a formula of mouth wash 95% from natural ingredient , the challenge was the choice between extract and essential oil( Cloves and Thuja) , in term of cost and solubilization .
What do you recommend as solubilizer or Natural Formula ?
Your help is always appreciated
Can you tell me a good way to dissolve CBD (Cannabidiol) oil into water? What kind of emulsifier or solubilized would work that is non-toxic. Would a solicitor help? Thank you.
Dear Sir,
I have also used Polysorbate, to make water base pefumes but iet gives milky look.
I would like to know which solvent to use to get this look as well being non alcoholic. Also is it skin friendly.
thanks
Hello sir
Can you help I want to mix up essential oil with distril water
How can it will mix up
awaiting for your reply
Dear sir
Any new Solubalizer for oil in water , which will give clear (Transparent), non foaming, also with a less ration as compared to oil i.e. 10:1, Your guidance would be of great help.
try with capry glucoside.
hello!
I am using polysorbate 20 as a solubilizer for mixing essential oils and water, but I’m getting a cloudy mix rather than a clear spray, what do you recommend? I want to use only non toxic ingredients for my blend.
thanks
Dear Sir,
I have some deodorant & antiperspirant roll on products (alcohol base). I put them into incubator with 45oC, after 2 months, they are clear (in incubator), when I took them out of incubator, put them at RT, after 8 hours some samples got hazy but I put again into incubator (45oC), they was clear. Why did the appearance of sample change?
The fragrance is more soluble in the formulation at 45C than at RT.
I’m working on the same issue. A 25% castor oil product that will mix with water. All my efforts to date have made thick milky product.
Hi
I’m working on a surfactant formulation for a liquid hand-wash. It consists of SLES and CMEA, polyox, PEG-7 G C primarily. I am looking for solubilisers to disperse it efficiently in water – when this concentrate is diluted. Right now, there is phase separation occuring. Do you have any suggestions i could try?
Thanks
Prateek
hi. i am trying to make baby perfume alcohol free. using polysorbate 20, and/or neodol 91-8 (ashland) leads to a tacky feel. what should i add to the formula to remove this feel?
if i am willing to make it with alcohol, what solubiliser should i use and in what percentage alcohol is considered safe for babies?
is there a certain percentage of alcohol we can put in the formula and still claim alcohol-free? (i saw it in burberry baby cologne)
Hi
I am looking THC Oil, water soluble. Is there any emolsfier I can use that is safe for consumption?
dear sir
during mixing of cocamidopropyl betaine , castor oil , carbomer with water it ppt how to make a mixture of
50 ml of cocamidopropyl betaine
10 ml of peg castor oil
30 mg of carbomer
dist. water till 10 liter
which is formula of one of my products with other ingredients
please help me to make a viscus mixture like shampoo without precipitation
Hi, we produce paper air freshener, but there is a challenge we faced in the area of what to mix to achieve a lasting scent. Presently, we use either ethanol or methanol to dilute the fragrance. Which solubilizer can we use to mix/dilute the fragrance for commercial purpose. Thanks
Hi George. I can across this while gather information on creating a water soluble fragrance to be used in a hot tub. What would you recommend as far a surfactant to use for a creating a water soluble fragrance for use in a hot tub.
contact: [email protected]
Dear George. I go on make a glycerin with fragrance like lavander oil and Citronella oil , i want this product clear . i make my experiment
as ( 48 gm glycerin + 100 micron tween 80 + 100 micron eithylalchole +100 micron fragrrance ) but is turbid
what is your advice to me and I ask also about the preservitive
You may want to try tapioca starch dissolved in glycerine plant derived. It will take the taglines away. 1′-2 tsp dissolved in 3tablespoons glycerine per say q 6 oz of finished liquid warm up each to 140 F. Mix with stick blender. Then add witch hazel 1-2 % of the weight of your finished liquid shake at room temperature, add preservative.
Hi…. I am glad that i came across this post. I am trying to make a pine oil based floor cleaner… Main ingredient is Pine oil about 20mL, citronella oil about 10mL and i have been using NP-9 as my surfactant…
At first the mixture look pretty white as i expected.. But the mixture turn into 2 seperates solution just under 24hrs… White lotion on top and the water at the bottom. Can i get help on how to make the perfect mix PLEASE??
I want to mix some edible oil + emulsifier with the SLES.
Is this possible to make good bonding between oil + emulsifier ?
Dear sir I am researching on make ng transparent watery creams. Which solubeliser is best for a clear gel formation. I am using 48% water, 50% glycerin, fragrance oil and preservative both @1 %. Your help shall be highly appreciated.
Best Regards, Madiha Humbal
How we can prepare Deo without Alcohol and Gas?
Please suggest me
Contect me on Gmail I can resolve your issue. My watsaap No is ›+92333355158
I try to formulate a Serum Product based on water with 3% Tea Tree Essential Oil, 2% Betain Salicylate, 10% Polysorbate 20 and Hyaluronic acid as a thicker.
But I had problems with Stability of products,
Could you help me?
Which solubilizer would you suggest using to solubilize cbd oil into water without using a peg?
Try using Poly Suga Mulse D9 (Sorbitan Oleate Decylglucoside Crosspolymer, 65-68% solids-Colonial Chemical)
HA is a poor thickener. Try using Ultrez 30.
Please I want to make a blend of Isopropyl alcohol, lemon essential oil and olive oil but I don’t know the surfactant to use.
Please I look forward to getting a reply from you as soon as possible.
Thanks.
Don’t use Isopropyl alcohol in a personal care formulation and skip the Olive oil. Non polar oils like Olive oil are normally very difficult to solubilize compared with fragrances or essential oils.
Hi George,
I want to make fragrance drinking water which having normal taste of water but having different smell like rose, apple while drinking.
But the water should be 100% non toxic.
Could you please guide me how can i make such type of water?
Water soluble flavors/essences are commercially available.
Hello sir
My prob is Turbidity, when i add perfume into Coconut oil base it turns into hazy. How to overcome with th[is problem.Pls suggest me.
Need to use a less polar perfume oil. Check if the perfume contains a solvent like Dipropylene Glycol or anither solvent. You can also try using more polar oils in your formulation.
I am formulating water based perfume, I already made it clear perfume by using solvent but my problem is the stickiness.
somebody help me how to eliminate the stickiness.
Thanks,
Rhea
Unfortunately high levels of surfactant can cause stickness. Optimizing your formulation to reduce surfactant level and using Hexanediol can help.
how about the milky solution, how ca I make it stable without separation. what is the best mixture of solubilizer and emulsifier?
thanks.
rhea
You need to use a thickener to provide yield or resting viscosity. Emulsions typically are only stable when they have a particle size less than 100nm.
I wish to prepare a simple fragrance water emulsion. In which I’m adding oil soluble fragrance to ethanol and hydrogenated castor oil; to water, but the resulting product becomes foaming. Tried using defoamer , which makes the product hazy. How to correct.
a.prateek
for hand wash with formulation mentioned by you, it will resolve your formulation problem by adding
1 pre blend – 75% by wt of PEG 7GC and 25% by wt of Uni PCMX -standard or premium
grade- both grades are supplied by Alive Life Sciences email [email protected]
you may add this ready solution in your formulation above. this will sort out all problems.
PCMX will also act as safer disinfectant in hand wash free from recent FDA 19 banned list
Hi,
Depending on the amount of castor oil, foaming is expected. Defoamer is an alternative. I had the same issue before and I used another defoamer that was water soluble. You can try Xiameter AFE-0700 antifoam emulsion.
i hope it helps you.
Hi George!
I am attempting to dilute Argan oil and Jojoba oil with water for a hair serum. However, as expected, I can’t get the oil and water to blend. What would you suggest I use to blend? I’m not concerned about color, but would prefer the texture to remain slick, not sticky.
Thank you,
Mia
Need to make a oil in water nano emulsion. Follow some of the suggestions in the article.
Would the solubilizer affect the transparency of the water? Like, for example, would it still be transparent?
I can be transparent if formulated correctly.
Hi we making air freshner tags which is made from hand made papaer .please suggest ratio for long lsting fragrances
What should i add in Lauryl Alcohol ethoxylate (LAE EO 7) such that if its added to water in small quantity it forms milky emulsion (Cloudiness kind of efffect)?
need help regarding same
Find an oil that is soluble in the Laureth 7. the mixture should turn milky when water is added
Hi, I am working on an alcohol-free fragrance and while all the surfactants listed work very well in the formula, it does not hold when introduced to heat. Are there any solubilizers or surfactants that would raise the cloud point so it does not separate at high temperatures?
Unfortunately you did not provide enough information describing the problem. Is the formulation initially milky or clear?
Hi i have alai same problem while making gel when i add water it become cloudy pls tell me ine more aoulbilizer.i can use that will give me pure transparent work, because one i add frangance it get cloudy.pls reply sir
If I’m using a solublizer supersolv with my essential oil room spray, is it beneficial to also add vegetable glycerin or should I eliminate that from the formula?
I wish to produce an alcohol free baby perfume but using polysorbate causes a milky cloudy solution..which emulsifier can I use to obtain a clear solution
Please read the article titled Solubilizing Oils into Water (January 23, 2014 – above). Polysorbate 20 is a poor solubizing agent.
I am looking for an inexpensive natural solubilizer for oil of Lemon Eucalyptus. Please recommend.
need help for making pine oil based floor cleaner .
i hope u have sol yr problem.
please gude me to make cleaner.
regards
vijay
I agree with Beth. Soaps are poor surfactants for shampoos.
I would like to formulate a spray-type formulation for the Veterinary purpose. I have a combination a fixed oil. How to convert these oils into a formulation (spray-able)? I am thinking about emulsion but I need more detailed information or idea on this. Please let me know.
I am trying to make perfume using fragrance oils, perfumers alcohol, Di propylene glycol and benzyl benzoate. What preservative and solvents can I add so the product is more commercially viable but still safe of the skin.
Depending on the Ethanol concentration you may not need any preservative (at least 20-30%).
I created a fragrance based on Aroma chemicals (Iso E super, Hedione, Coumarin,Evernyl, Ethylene Brassylate) and naturals (citrus oils, vetiver, Lavender and a few others)
I am trying to add it two different bases for hand Sanitizers
one is made of Ethanol 60-80% – water 20-30% – Aloe< 1.0 Dimethicone <0.1
the other Ethyl Alcohol (70%), Water, Isopropyl Myristate, USP Glycerin, Tert-Butyl Alcohol, Denatonium Benzoate
I was thinking on using TEC for both bases, would that be suitable ?
thank you !
Hi, Gus,
AMP or Quadrol (BASF) is a better choice than TEA.
Thank you for reading,
George
Hello,
You mentioned that 1,2 hexanediol may help reduce amount of solubilizer needed. Should the diol be premixed with the solubilizer? Or should the diol be added to the water phase before the solubilizer/oil blend?
Thank you for the helpful article!
Hi, Michelle:
Yes, premix the diol with the solubilizer and fragrance.
Thank you for reading,
George
Hi thank you for this article .
I want to mix water, borax , and vegetable oil with ph higher than 8 . But I want to keep the solution from separation . Looking for a cheap solution 🙂
Thanks in advance I’m using this on my metal drill press 🙂 not for my face lotion . Haha
Hi am making Cal perfume gel request you to kindly let me know what solubilizer to mix oil,water methanol so can get clear transparent instead foaming appearance.
Hi, Giovanni:
It can’t be done using those ingredients; you’ll need some free fatty acid.
Thanks for reading,
George
Hi, Siddhart:
You should not use Methanol in any personal care formulation.
Thanks for reading,
George
Hello,
I know this is a different realm of chemistry but I am conducting an experiment with motor oil and it is vital that this oil be fully mixed in a water column. i believe that an emulsion or carrier solvent would be the solution- would the rules outlined in this article also apply to synthetic motor oil? What solvent carrier might work with this substance?
Thank you
Vincent O’Hara
Dear sir can you suggest the Surfactants for solubilization of petroleum oil like SN – 150, N – 100 etc in water for form the micro emulsion.
Thank you
I am making car freshener gel and was considering to use PPG for mixing oil and water. Before i was using propylene glycol which is totally wrong i think. I read somewhere but now i have realized PPG should be used in the ratio of 2:5 of oil and PPG and water being 80g and the oil and PPG mixture being 14g. Will this be perfect? Or should i use some other surfactant?
Hi, Gunpreet:
You need a surfactant to solubilize the fragrance into your PPG/water mixture.
Thanks for reading!
George
Hello
I want to make eco friendly pesticide with cottonseed oil. Which surfactants blends i need to use and amounts for stable vegetable oil concentrate?
Thank you.
I unfortunately don’t formulate pesticides.
Is there any edible solubilizer, working on making rose water from rose oil
Please refer to the UL Prospector article on solubilizing actives.
https://www.ulprospector.com/knowledge/5870/pcc-solubilizing-oil-into-water-tips/
https://www.ulprospector.com/knowledge/330/pcc-solubilizing-oils-water/
Thanks for reading!
George
hiii
you dont need to add solubilizer you just mixed your extract with alcohol then add it in water if it show milky then you use PEG 40 (hydrogenated castor oil) in that add extract and alcohol water.
Hi, Kalpesh:
This can sometimes work. The preferred method is to add a fragrance, solvent, solubilizer premix to water.
Thanks for reading!
George
Hi
You should use 70:30 ratio of Polysorbate 20 to Fragrance oil