Vanilla Stabilizer
Vanilla Stabilizer slows down the natural process of discoloring or browning of formulations by stabilizing the vanilla in fragrance oils.
Description
Vanilla Stabilizer
What it does, and what it can't
Vanillin, the compound that makes vanilla smell like vanilla, oxidizes in air and light and slowly turns finished products cream, then tan, then brown. It happens in hundreds of fragrance oils, not just the ones with vanilla in the name. Vanilla Stabilizer goes into your fragrance oil before it reaches the base and slows that browning down, so a white lotion stays white for longer.
It slows browning; it does not stop it. It only acts on vanillin, so it will not hold colour that is changing for another reason, such as a botanical extract, a natural colorant or goat's milk. And it comes in two formulas that are not interchangeable: one for lotions, creams and other water-based products, one for melt and pour soap.
Which formula do I need?
Chosen by the product you are making, not by the fragrance
| You are making | Use | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Lotions, creams and other water-based emulsions | Lotion & Cream | The formula it was built for. |
| Body wash, liquid hand soap, bubble bath | Lotion & Cream | Water-based, so it disperses fully. |
| Clear, alcohol-based body spray | Lotion & Cream | Works in the clear sprays; see the shimmer mist row below. |
| Melt and pour soap | Melt & Pour | The only formula for M&P. Do not use the Lotion & Cream version here. |
| Goat's milk lotions and creams | Neither | Gives poor results in goat's milk bases. Choose a low-vanilla oil instead. |
| Shimmer mist | Neither | It can make suspended shimmer drop out. Tint the mist or choose a low-vanilla oil. |
| Salt scrubs, bath salts, bath bombs, freshies | Neither | There is no version for dry products, and salt reacts with it. |
| Body oils, butters, balms and other oil-only products | Neither | Both formulas are water-soluble and will not blend into an anhydrous base. |
| Candles and wax | Neither | Not designed for wax. |
| Cold process soap | Not tested | We have not tested either formula in cold process. Test a small batch first. |
How much to use
Measured against the fragrance oil, not the whole batch
| Per 1,000 g batch | Oil | Stabilizer |
|---|---|---|
| Lotion or cream, 1% | 10 g | 5 g |
| Body wash or liquid soap, 1% | 10 g | 5 g |
| Melt and pour soap, 1% | 10 g | 5 g |
| Clear body spray, 3% | 30 g | 15 g |
For oils at 10% vanilla or more, the stabilizer equals the oil: 10 g and 10 g, or 30 g and 30 g. Where to find the vanilla figure: every fragrance oil lists it under Vanilla Content on its Additional Info tab. Where it is a range (“~2–4”), use the top of the range. Where it reads “None” or is blank, you shouldn't need the stabilizer, but test a white base if colour is critical. The stabilizer goes in on top of your normal fragrance load: set the fragrance oil from the base's own usage rate first, then dose the stabilizer against that. For a 16 oz batch at 1%, that is 0.16 oz of fragrance and 0.08 oz of stabilizer.
How to add it
Three steps, every batch
What to expect
So nobody is surprised a month from now
Or work with the colour
Sometimes the better answer is not to fight it
Where the stabilizer can't go, or where you'd rather not add another ingredient, you have two other options: choose a fragrance with little or no vanilla, or design the colour in from the start. A caramel, latte or cocoa colourway hides browning completely, and a light tint hides it in a shimmer mist.
Why vanilla turns brown, and why it's in so many oils
Vanillin reacts with oxygen, and heat, light and the rest of the formula all change how fast. The reaction is harmless and doesn't weaken the scent; it only shows in white and pale products. Perfumers use vanillin far beyond vanilla scents because it rounds out and lifts other notes, which is why a coffee, a floral or a pumpkin oil can carry more vanilla than one with “vanilla” in its name. If colour matters, go by the Vanilla Content figure, not the name.
Safety, storage and documents
Read before you open the bottle
Store sealed in the original container, somewhere cool, dry and out of the light. Shelf life is one year.
Product compatibility is not the responsibility of Essentials By Catalina, Inc. We strongly advise testing in your own formulation before committing to a full batch. Keep all products out of children's reach.
Technical
Both the Lotion & Cream and Melt & Pour Soap formulas carry a Serious Eye Damage Category 1 classification (H318). IF IN EYES: rinse cautiously with water for several minutes, remove contact lenses if present and easy to do, continue rinsing, and immediately call a poison center or physician. The Lotion & Cream formula additionally carries Acute Toxicity (Oral, Dermal, Inhalation) Category 5 classifications (H303, H313, H333) — may be harmful if swallowed, in contact with skin, or if inhaled. Wear protective gloves and eye protection when handling either formula.
Product Profile
Physical characteristics by formula
Lotion & Cream Formula (RAW0963LC)
Liquid
Colorless
Soluble
1.0615 @ 25°C
1.0585 g/mL @ 25°C
1.3430 @ 20°C
>200°F / 93.33°C
0.00%
Melt & Pour Soap Formula (RAW0963MP)
Liquid
Nearly Colorless to Light Yellow Tint
Soluble
1.0915 @ 25°C
1.0885 g/mL @ 25°C
1.3675 @ 20°C
>200°F / 93.33°C
0.02%
Ingredients
Common and INCI names for your product label
Fragrance
Proprietary fragrance compound blend; both formulas are declared as "Fragrance" per INCI nomenclature. The Lotion & Cream formula's hazard profile is driven by Sodium Metabisulfite (5–10%); the Melt & Pour Soap formula's is driven by an ethoxylated C12-14 secondary alcohol (5–10%). Mix ratio: if the fragrance's vanilla content is under 10%, use 1 part stabilizer to 2 parts fragrance oil; at 10% or more vanilla content, use a 1:1 ratio.
Storage & Shelf Life
How to keep either formula stable batch to batch
Airtight container, room temperature
1 Year
Store Cool, Dry, and Protected From Light
Store in a cool, dry, ventilated area away from heat sources and protected from light, in the tightly closed original container. Avoid uncoated metal containers, and keep air contact to a minimum.
Use the Correct Formula for Your Base
Choose the Lotion & Cream formula for water-based emulsions, or the Melt & Pour Soap formula for soap bases — the two are not interchangeable. Not recommended in goat's milk lotion/cream formulations or in shimmer mist bases, as it can cause undesirable results or destabilize suspended shimmer.
Use Clean Tools
When measuring or transferring product, use clean utensils to prevent cross-contamination. Avoid reaching in with bare hands.
Test Before Scaling
Run a small batch first to confirm color stability in your specific formulation before committing to a full production run. Note: this slows, but does not fully stop, vanillin browning — for the best results, use finished product within several months.
Quality & Compliance
Regulatory status by formula
Lotion & Cream Formula (RAW0963LC)
Danger — Eye Damage 1, Acute Tox. (Oral/Dermal/Inhalation) 5
Sodium Metabisulfite (5–10%)
All components listed or exempt
No warning required
Melt & Pour Soap Formula (RAW0963MP)
Danger — Eye Damage 1 only
Alcohols, C12-14-secondary, ethoxylated (5–10%)
All components listed or exempt
No warning required
Neither formula is classified as carcinogenic, mutagenic, or a reproductive toxicant; classification criteria for skin sensitization and aquatic toxicity are not met for either. Not regulated as dangerous goods for DOT, ADR/RID, IATA, or IMDG transport.
Disclaimer: The technical specifications above reflect standard production values and may vary slightly between batches. Always conduct your own small-batch testing and stability studies before scaling up to production.
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If I cant use this in the shimmer mist base how do I stop the browning ? -
Vanilla Stabilizer does not stop the browning process, but slows it down. We’d suggest tinting the Shimmer Mist with liquid colorant to help camouflage the slight tan hue, or choosing fragrances that contain less vanillin.
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Can I use this in the shimmer mist base? -
We do not recommend using Vanilla Stabilizer in the Shimmer Mist as it could cause the shimmer to fall.
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Which formulation would be better for fragrance spray? -
Hi RB, the Vanilla Stabilizer for lotions and creams works best in a clear, alcohol based body spray, however, please know it does not stop the natural browning process, only slows it down, therefore for the best result, the product should be used within several months. Thank you
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Could you please tell me which type of vanilla stabilizer I would use for salt scrubs, bath bombs and freshies? Thank you! -
Good Morning, unfortunately we do not sell a vanilla stabilizer for dry product, and we would not recommend using with salt scrub, as salt causes a reaction with many ingredients/elements. Thank you
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Hi, I have two questions:
1.) Are your fragrances Phthalate Free?
2.) When using the Vanilla Stabilizer is it 1 for 1. Equal part fragrance to equal part vanilla stabilizer?
Thank you.-
Good Afternoon, all of our stock fragrances are Phthalate Free. If the fragrance has less that 10% vanilla content, mix in at a one-part stabilizer to a two-part fragrance oil ratio. If the vanilla content in your fragrance is at 10% or more, mix in at a one to one ratio. Thank you
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Henderson
NO. More. BROWN!!!
One note, though. DO NOT use it in a lotion/crème recipe with goat’s milk. The results were, um, let’s just say “yukky”. Otherwise, this product is fantastic! I’ll be ordering more–and HOPING you will offer it in a larger size than 8 oz…? ;o)