Essential oils as preservatives in homemade cream?  

GSE is a good choice.
Did you used distilled purified water for your cream?? i've made several batches now and the one that went bad i used non distilled water from my tap.
isn't cream making FUN!
i love it!! i just made one with avocado oil and shea butter....
YUMMY!

I don't think you can get benzoin very easily in the US and it isn't approved as a preservative.

I am not very hip to GSE either. The companies that DO use natural preservatives use a very complex process that I cannot possibly describe...burt's bees does that for some of their products.

There are two preservatives that work very well..and if you ever intend to sell your cream that's what you will have to use as I do not think GSE is approved as a preservative in creams, creams qualify as "cosmetics" and thus have more regulation (eerr...I think the FDA does that)

phenohip and germaben II are both good preservatives but neither are considered natural. But they are the most widely used among those who make stuff like that to sell.

They can be easily found at most soapmaking websites. Phenohip works well if you mix your preservative in when the cream is still pretty hot. If you use Germaben the cream has to be warm..if it is hot it will jack with the preservative.

If you are really wanting to go the natural route, and just use it for you then don't use a preservative and keep your cream in the fridge.

It lasts about six months that way. Without a preservative or being in the fridge it won't last long at all.

But like plantspirit said you'll need distilled water also, I have really hard water and have to be extra careful when washing my utinsels I use for things like that or I get weirdness.

Someone suggested to me using almond oil, olive oil or any essential oil.

Olive and almond oil will not work because most lotions and creams contain water. This would be different.

Some of the people at this forum sell thier lotions and creams and you should be able to find something regarding the regulations in Canada or at least someone should be able to point you to where you need to go.

http://www.soapdishforum.com/phpBB2/

The distilled water should still be fine.

You can also use chaparrel herb in the oil to preserve it. I think it is a T. per quart and just leave it in for a couple weeks then strain. check out Susun Weed's site they will have more specific info for you.
We have benzoin in the local drug store here.
I believe it is a tree gum and works well as a preservative too.

benzoin is not approved by the FDA as a preservative in cosmetics it is a sensitizer, meaning you can develop allergic reactions to it,

I believe Chaparral will not work as a preservative in things that contain water (like lotion I don't know if your cream contains water). It will work if it only contains oils, butters and waxes. It is used as a preservative for lard.


You need to check Canadian law about which preservatives are ok and which are not.