The world seems to have gone a bit mad about the dangers of making and using talc and body powders. Join me, as we look at the contentious issue of asbestos and how to avoid it in your talc. Discover the merits of using alternatives to talc with Cornstarch, Tapioca, Rice Flour, and Kaolin for making your own natural Body Powders. Pair them with the active constituents of essential oils like Tea Tree, Geranium, and Roman Chamomile and we can create something for everyone. Try our Baby Powder recipe for the smallest members of the family. Tackle Athletes' Foot, dry, and itchy skin and why not make a Medicated Talc alternative? Have a go at making a Body Powder with fragrance oils. We have exciting and highly fragrant recipes for everyone, even precious newborns.
What are Talc and Body Powders?
There is a difference between Talc and Body Powders, let’s talk you through them!
Talc
Talcum Powder is made with Talc, which is a naturally derived mineral mined from the Earth.
Widely used across the cosmetics industry in toiletries, and cosmetics to absorb moisture and prevent products from caking, it is used to smooth and soften products like lotions, and white powders are often used to create more opaque make-up*.
Talc is widely used in feminine hygiene products across the United States. It can also be found in food products for humans and animals for its anti-caking and anti-sticking qualities and it is even used in fertilizer.
*You can use this principle when painting your walls at home in a striking color, paint it white first and you will get better opacity from your colored paint!
Asbestos Contamination
The hoo-ha over recent years around using talc has been well-founded, as talc and asbestos are often found very close together due to the natural composition of the rock formations in which they are found.
For many years, asbestos has been linked to cancer, with plenty of research to support those claims. However, many suppliers and manufacturers are routinely testing their talc samples for asbestos.
Always source talc that is certified to be asbestos-free. It is not hard to find. If it does not state that it is asbestos-free, leave it in the store.
Talc & Babies
Our kids are precious. ( Well, most days!) But especially so, when they are babies. We want to give them the best care that we can and protect them from hidden dangers.
Talc is one of those ‘dangers’ many are still on the fence about. I always used Purified Talc when my son was little and he had/has no related issues.
However, of the Baby Powder tested in Korea, two-thirds contained asbestos. That’s a worry.
A 2022 article in the BMJ stated that “Johnson and Johnson will discontinue talc-based baby powder worldwide”. This was scheduled to happen in 2023 when they were anticipated to switch to a Cornstarch-based formula. However, their current website, which was last updated Jan 2024, says they are still using Talc.
My advice, check the label! I checked the shelves in the local pharmacy yesterday and found one still containing talc.
The choice to use Talc on your baby, or not, is yours. But make that decision based on your own comprehensive research, rather than fear.
Body Powders
Body Powders are similar to Talcs, but made up of different ingredients. They can be formulated from a single ingredient like Arrowroot, Cornstarch, Tapioca Flour, Rice Flour, or Kaolin Clay, or they could also be a combination of these powders.
I think the general conception of the differences between Talc and Body Powders may be:
- We use Talc to absorb moisture after a bath or shower or absorb odor when changing a nappy or a pair of sneakers.
- We use Body Powder mainly for its fragrance and silky smooth finish to the skin.
Certainly, there seem to be far fewer health concerns associated with the naturally derived ingredients used in body powder with essential oils.
Scented Powder For Body Beautiful Fragrance
Use aromatherapy to make a sensational diy body powder with essential oils. Simply mix naturally derived powders with a suitable aroma compound, like essential oils or fragrance oils to make a highly fragrant and effective body powder.
Common Problems with Making Your Own Talc and Body Powder with Essential Oils and Fragrance Oils
There are some dangers to making your own talc and body powders with essential oils and fragrance oils, but if you are aware of them, you can mitigate them and work as safely as possible.
Clumps of Oil
People think they can just drop 100 drops of essential oil in a pot of talc, give it a shake and you are good to go. This is absolutely NOT the case. All that happens is you have lumps and clumps and undiluted essential oils sitting in your talc, which you then rub on your body, essentially neat! This is when things go wrong and people have skin reactions, and experience burning sensations, redness, and rashes. Not surprising, given the oils are undiluted!
You must always dilute your essential oils and fragrance oils, before adding it to talc or body powders. Which brings about our next set of issues!
What Do You Dilute It With?
Most people discount carrier oils right away because they don’t see how talc will absorb that much oil. So they start to look for other alternatives.
Not DPG
Some turn to a product called Dipropylene glycol or DPG. The problem with DPG is that it is a humectant, which means that it attracts water. When it attracts water the talc or body powder will start to clump and may even harden and cake together.
In an old forum post, a seasoned formulator put Silicon as an alternative to DPG. This is not something that I have tried myself, so I cannot attest to its efficacy, but in theory, I can see how it might work.
Alcohol
Others have turned to alcohol, like Vodka, with the thought that it will evaporate. Indeed it will, but if the essential oils or fragrance oil did not fully dilute in the alcohol, then you have the ‘original’ problem. The alcohol will evaporate and leave blobs of oils on the surface of the talc or body powder. This oil is as good as neat as it did not get diluted in the alcohol.
The only way to remedy this is to add a surfactant like Polysorbate 20 or 80 or a liquid Castile Soap to help dilute and disperse the oils into the alcohol.
I’ve tried this in the past, I wasn’t overly keen on how long it took to dry out and evaporate and I felt it lost its intensity of fragrance in the drying process too.
Antioxidants
When you make talc, you have an enormous surface area. This surface area is exposed to degradation from the air, light, heat sources, etc. In time, this affects the quality of the scent, especially with essential oils. Therefore, always add an antioxidant to reduce fragrance degradation across the larger surface area.
Some essential oils and carrier oils are stuffed with antioxidants, so considered choices here help you.
Which Brings Me Right Back Round To Carrier Oils
We came full circle back to carrier oils, look at that!
The very product that people discount is probably the best tool for the job. The trick is in choosing the right one. We cover that next…. How exciting!
Best Ingredients for Talc and Body Powders
When it comes to making the best talc and body powders with essential oils and fragrance oils, we want the very best ingredients to give us a good start. This is even more important if you are looking for a really good baby powder essential oil recipe.
Carrier Oils
The best advice I can give you here is to go super light and preferably packed with antioxidants. However, most carrier oils full of antioxidants are not colorless. Of course, this may not affect your design choices, but will for others, where aesthetics are everything!
Rosehip (Rosa Canina)
Rosehip carrier oil would be my first choice as it is packed with antioxidants and has a wonderfully light fluidity, making it perfect for this project. It has a strong orange color, but you can buy refined versions which are more beige in color.
Grapeseed (Vitis Vinifera)
Grapeseed has a great flow and makes a great base for diluting your essential oils. It is a light green/tan in color.
Jojoba (Simmondsia Chinensis)
Jojoba is the closest oil we can get to our own natural sebaceous secretions and is great for the skin. It is a golden yellow.
Coconut (MCT)
Coconut (MCT) is a colorless oil for the aestheticians around you, but it is not a light oil so your talc will take longer to ‘dry’ out.
Powders
We need naturally derived absorbent powders to form the base of our Body Powders. Often people use Body Powders instead of, or in addition to, deodorant for their extra absorption qualities so bear that in mind when it comes to your design process.
We can plump for those mineral-based powders and clay-like Talc, Kaolinite, Bentonite, and Fuller's Earth. Or we can choose plant-based powders like Cornstarch, Arrowroot, Tapioca, and Rice Flour.
My personal preferences for a more professional-looking product would be Cornstarch, Arrowroot, and Kaolin, in that order.
You can also use a small proportion of Bicarbonate of Soda, as it can help you to retain fragrance. However, please appreciate that over time it may not be stable, so make small batches that will be used up quickly. Don’t use more than 10% in your overall product and beware of online recipes using 50% or more, avoid doing that, please.
Herb and Plant Powders
Herb and plant powders are a wonderful cruelty-free way to make talc and body powders with essential oils and fragrance oils. They can help us to reduce the amount of mineral matter we consume, creating a more sustainable product.
You can use powdered herbs and flowers to add to your talc and body powders:
- Add Calendula and Chamomile powder to your Baby Powder for skin soothing.
- Adding Damiana to your rather sensuous Body Powder to boost its aphrodisiac qualities.
- Powdered Rose Petals are frankly incredible and give you baby-soft skin.
Herbal powders have their own active qualities, please consult a qualified herbalist or health professional for more individual and specialist advice, especially if you have existing health issues or are taking medication.
Essential Oils and Babies
This is where people searching for a baby powder essential oil recipe usually come to an abrupt halt. As a general rule, the advice is to never use essential oils on a baby under 6 months of age, unless it is an emergency. But don’t stop here, check out our soothing Baby Powder recipe below!
Baby & Child Safety And Essential Oils
Let's just explore how we can work safely when formulating products for our kids.
Take a look at our guidance on the gentlest essential oil, Lavender, and let’s have a deeper look at Lavender’s Safety Synopsis.
Lavender Essential Oil
‘For normal aromatherapy, we would recommend:
- 3% dilution for adults
- 2% for people in a weakened state
- 1% for children over the age of 6
- 0.5% for children aged 6 months to 5 years,
- We do not recommend using essential oils on children under the age of 6 months unless it is an emergency.
Every essential oil is different so you need to check each one. You can find the Safety Synopsis on the webpage for every essential oil that we stock, under the ‘Documents’ section.
OK, But What Does 1%, 0.5% and 0.25% Look Like?
It is easier to work out what that percentage is in millitres, (or in milligrams, you would work by weight rather than by volume).
- If you take 100 ml /3.38 fl oz of any base, that could be carrier oil, lotion, cream, etc
- A 1% safety dilution recommendation equals 1 ml essential oil in 100ml of base
- 1 ml of essential oil roughly equates to 20 drops, it depends on the viscosity of your essential oil
Quick Reckoner:
100 ml - 1% = 1 ml = approx 20 drops
100 ml - 0.5% = 0.5 ml = approx 10 drops
100ml - 0.25% = 0.25ml = approx 5 drops
So…..
We need to translate this into milligrams because, in this instance, we are working by weight rather than by volume.
If I were making a 100mg bottle of Lavender Body Powder for a 6-year-old, I can add up to 1 mg or approximately 20 drops of Lavender essential oil.
If I was making the same-sized bottle for a 3-year-old, I could use up to 10 drops of Lavender.
For a baby under 6 months, I cannot use any. I can however use herbal powders like Calendula, Chamomile, and Yarrow :) If you want to make Baby Powder for very young babies, this is the route I would suggest you follow.
For more in-depth information check out Developing Essential Oil-Safe Practices.
Best Essential Oils for Talc and Body Powders
When you first learn how to make body powder with essential oils, the essential oils you choose are based on what you want your talc or body powder to do.
Note: All essential oils should not be used in the first 16 weeks of pregnancy, exceptions to the rule are notes in their bio.
Antimicrobial
If you want a talc or body powder that addresses your jock itch, athlete's foot or sweaty bum (Let’s just be real here)! Choose essential oils that tackle bacteria and microbes with extra verve. Tea Tree, Lavender, Thyme, and Oregano are all excellent choices.
Tea Tree (Melaleuca alternifolia)
Tea Tree essential oil has constituents that fight off skin infections and boost your immunity. Its qualities are especially useful for tackling the bacteria that cause body and foot odor, making it an ideal deodorizing addition to body and foot powders
Thyme (Thymus vulgaris)
Thyme essential oil has antifungal qualities that are great to employ in foot and body powders where Athlete’s Foot, Candida, and Jock Itch are causing issues. The aroma of Thyme is uplifting and can boost you when you feel a bit down in the dumps.
Oregano (Origanum compactum Benth)
Not just for your Pizza you know! Oregano essential oil is bursting with antibacterial and antifungal constituents, which is just what we want here. It’s a powerful oil, so go easy with this one! Do not use it during pregnancy.
Sensitive Skin & Sleep
If you have super sensitive skin like me, finding Talc and Body Powders that suit your skin can be a potluck. I get around it by making my own!
The essential oils that tend to have the right qualities for soothing sensitive skin can also soothe us to sleep! It made sense to double up this section. Why not try Lavender, Roman Chamomile, and German Chamomile?
Lavender (Lavandula angustifolia)
Lavender essential oil is super gentle and packed with the kind of actions we want here, antibacterial, antifungal, and antiseptic. However, it’s also rejuvenating, soothing, and calming which makes it perfect for Body powders used at night.
Roman Chamomile (Anthemis nobilis L.)
Roman Chamomile essential oil is super soothing to the skin and to your mind. It cools things down and takes the heat out of your skin and situations. If you need to cool yourself down, plump for this and settle your skin and your mood ready for sleep.
German Chamomile (Matricaria chamomilla L.)
Don’t be put off by the incredible blue color of this essential oil, while it can give a gray tinge to your powders, its benefits far outweigh a shade of gray! Its anti-inflammatory properties are useful for atopic dermatitis and other skin conditions that contribute to sensitive skin issues. Wonderfully soothing and calming, again another good essential oil to use at night to help you sleep too.
Dry Itchy Skin
Is dry, itchy skin driving you mad? It’s that time of year when the air cools and the heating goes on and millions of us start to experience ‘the itch’. Get on top of it before it even starts with Patchouli, Geranium, Rose Geranium, and Roman Chamomile.
Patchouli (Pogostemon cablin)
Patchouli essential oil is widely used in the aromatherapy world to soothe and heal skin with its antiseptic qualities. It’s excellent at moisturizing the skin and leaving it feeling rejuvenated. It has useful antifungal qualities too.
Geranium Egyptian (Pelargonium Graveolens)
Just the scent is enough to lift your spirits and make you feel a bit better about life. Antiseptic and anti-inflammatory qualities make it useful when the skin is dry and flaky. It has cooling qualities that will soothe and calm irritated skin.
Rose Geranium (Pelargonium Roseum X Asperum)
Rose Geranium has the same cooling and soothing properties as Geranium, but I prefer Rose Geranium for my own skin if it gets really flaky and dry.
While similar, they both offer slightly different constituents and qualities, and it can’t hurt to capitalize on both!
Acne Prone Skin
For those of you who have acne-prone skin on your body, it can feel counterproductive to use Body Powders, but it’s not, so go right ahead! Make them a useful commodity to you and use Jasmine, Tea Tree, and Grapefruit. Diluting them in Tamanu carrier oil will be wonderful for acne-prone skin.
Jasmine (Jasminum grandiflorum)
I know, it’s expensive, sorry. However, I will stand my ground here and promote it for your acne-prone skin, especially if you are also prone to scarring. There’s little better than Jasmine constituents, to address both your acne and your scars. It can make such a difference and of course, it smells divine…and you need very little of it. Do not use it in the first 37 weeks of pregnancy.
Grapefruit (Citrus paradisi)
Its antiseptic and astringent qualities make it perfect for acne-prone skin and it can also tone and tighten the skin. I love it for its cleansing properties as it always leaves your skin feeling clean and fresh. Grapefruit is mildly Phototoxic, so do not expose the skin to direct sunlight (or sunbeds) for 12 hours after use. It’s best to use in a nighttime Body Powder or in places that will be covered by clothing.
Enlivening and Uplifting
Make your own diy body powder with essential oils that really lift you with vibrant citrus notes.
Now, the problem with all these cold-pressed citrus oils is that they can be Phototoxic. So we need to avoid exposing the skin to direct sunlight (or sunbeds) for 12 hours after use. Just apply this in places that will be covered with clothes if you wish to use it in the morning to start the day with a zing!
Sweet Orange (Citrus sinensis L)
One whiff of Sweet Orange essential oil and it just lifts you, I have a bottle in front of me now….and ah it’s just so gorgeous! Something goes ‘ping’ in your brain and you are more alert, focused, and strangely calm! Guess why it is in front of my PC all the time. It’s the perfect choice to start the day with some pep in your step.
Mandarin (Citrus reticulata)
Mandarin is wonderful if you have some anxieties about the coming day and need to calm yourself and collect your thoughts. Mandarin is the odd one out here because it has a much more soothing effect as opposed to the elevating effects of the others. So use this to your advantage.
Tangerine (Citrus Reticulata Blanco)
Bright, fresh, and super zingy, who doesn’t love Tangerine? It’s particularly good if you feeling overwhelmed and depressed. Add some of this to your Talc and Body Powder to lift yourself up and support yourself forward.
Best Fragrance Oils for Talc and Body Powders
It’s really important when we are sourcing ingredients that we may use on our children that we can trust the products on offer. None of the VINEVIDA fragrance oils contain Phthalates, Parabens, SLES, or SLS. This means not only can you trust them on your skin, but also your children’s.
You will be pleased to know our fragrance oils are always cruelty-free and never tested on animals, because we care about the creatures of the Earth too.
Always choose the soap and candle variations of our fragrance oil for this project.
If you are searching for the perfect baby powder fragrance oil for skin-safe products, check out NO. 3 - Baby Powder.
Bright and Uplifting
For bright and uplifting aromas to start your day with, try the following:
Smooth and Mellow
Go really smooth, mellow, and relaxing with these sophisticated fragrance oils:
Floral
Go for all-out florals for unashamedly feminine fragrances:
Delicious
Plump for delicious food and bakery aromas with these mouthwatering choices:
For the Men
Plump for rich, woody, and spicy aromas for men’s talc and body powders with fragrance oil:
For The Kids
Get the kids in on the act with these fun fragrances for children’s body powders.
Not At a Designer Price
Why pay out a fortune for designer-branded talc and scented body powders? Make your own with these professionally blended alternates.
Can I Scent My Talc or Body Powders With Perfume?
It’s rather delicious to evoke the glamor of yesteryear, with a movie star ideal of a perfumed body powder with puff. Soft, fluffy, fragrant, and oh-so tantalizing.
However, if you are wondering if you can scent your talc or body powder with perfume…
Well.. you can. But I don’t recommend it!
Perfume is heavily diluted in alcohol, at its strongest it’s only ever up to 30% in aroma compounds and 70% alcohol and water. It is designed to be sprayed on your skin and lasts a few hours at most. You would be lucky if it lasted much longer in your talc.
Remember, from above, why do we need an antioxidant? Because the large surface area creates a faster rate of fragrance degradation. This would happen with your perfume much faster than it would with essential oils or fragrance oils because your perfume is designed to evaporate and take the scent molecules with it!
When you come to learn how to make body powder with essential oils and fragrance oils, stick to those for good reason!
Our Favorite Recipes For Talc and Body Powder with Essential Oils and Fragrance Oils
Welcome to the fun bit! Make your own talc and body powders with essential oils and fragrance oils. You are sure to find the perfect recipe here for you. If not, create your own, just remember to follow the guidelines above.
For Every Recipe, You Will Need:
- Protective gloves
- Measuring cups
- Oven or dehydrator
- Mixing bowl
- Small measuring jug
- Baking tray with sides
- Stainless steel spoon
- Pipette
- Large plastic tub with tight-fitting lid
- Suitable storage vessel
- Oil and waterproof label.
Method:
- Measure out your carrier oil(s) add your essential oil and/or fragrance oil and stir well until thoroughly combined. They must be mixed well for safety reasons, so stir for a couple of minutes.
- Measure out your chosen base powders and/or clays and mix these thoroughly.
- Add any herbal powders now and thoroughly combine them.
- DO NOT just dump all the oil into the powder in one go, it will be a disaster.
- Using a pipette, evenly space drops of oil across the surface of the powders. Take your time with this and once your surface is well distributed with drops of oil, stir them in and do another round. Continue in this systematic way until all the oil has been used.
- Using gloved hands work your way through the powder breaking down any lumps or clumps. Spend plenty of time on this bit and you’ll get a better product at the end of it. It can be quite therapeutic to sit in front of a movie doing this!
Conditioning The Powder
- Once you are happy that everything is evenly distributed, decant it onto a large baking sheet with sides.
- Set your oven to 325 F, let it come to temperature and then turn it off and leave the door slightly ajar for ten minutes.
- After ten minutes, place the baking sheet in the warm oven and do not shut the door. Leave in the oven until it is totally cold. Alternatively, pop it in your dehydrator at 30 degrees for 2-3 hours.
- Once cooled, you don’t want it to be warm because it can encourage condensation and moisture to your powder. Check it over for any lumps or clumps and break them down with a gloved hand.
- Decant it into the large plastic tub fit the lid tightly and give it a REALLY good shake for 5-10 minutes. Get the kids involved to save your arms.
- You should now have perfectly dry and lump-free talc or body powder
Jarring The Powder
- Decant the powder into an airtight storage container with a shaker top. It’s worth saving old talc containers for this.
- You must label your creation with an oil and waterproof label by clearly listing all of the ingredients.
- Add a date and an expiry date of 3 months, lower that to 6 weeks if you used herbal powders as well.
- Store in a cool, ambient temperature, away from moisture.
Baby Powder
Right then, let's not get fixated on what we can’t use here (essential oils), and focus on the things that we can! We can still use carrier oils, natural powders, and herbal powders for our precious babies.
However, if your baby has health needs, please consult a qualified herbalist or medical professional before using herbal powders with your baby.
You may ask why use carrier oils when there are no essential oils or fragrance oils to dilute? Well because you want their active properties too, they are powerhouses in their own right!
Here I have chosen Grapeseed, with just a dash of Rosehip which will be useful if your child suffers from dry skin.
Herbal powders are easy to make yourself by drying the herbs or flowers at home, conditioning them in the oven to make sure they are super dry (just like in the instructions above), and then grinding them into a fine powder. I prefer this, as I can always be sure my herbs are organically grown when I have grown, dried, and ground them myself.
Ingredients:
- 1 cup of Cornstarch (Zea mays starch)
- ¾ cup of Tapioca Flour (Tapioca starch)
- ⅛ cup of ground Calendula petals (Calendula Officinalis)
- ⅛ cup of ground Chamomile flowers (Anthemis nobilis L.)
- 3 ml of Grapeseed Carrier Oil (Vitis vinifera)
- 2 ml of Rosehip Carrier Oil (Rosa Canina)
Optional:
Baby-safe preservative of your choice, follow the manufacturer's instructions.
Safety:
- If your baby has health needs, please consult a qualified herbalist or medical professional before using herbal powders with your baby.
How To Use:
- Do a 24-48 patch test before use, this is especially important with babies.
- Dispense the powder directly into your hand, keeping the powder away from both of your faces.
- Avoid inhalation where possible.
Talc and Body Powders With Essential Oils
Dry and Itchy Skin
This is perfect for those who have dry and itchy skin. Use this body powder with essential oils to soothe, soften, and condition your irritated skin.
Ingredients:
- 1 cup of Cornstarch (Zea mays starch)
- 1 cup of Tapioca Flour (Tapioca starch)
- 10 ml of Rosehip Carrier Oil (Rosa Canina)
- 30 drops of Rose Geranium Essential Oil (Pelargonium Roseum X Asperum)
- 30 drops of Roman Chamomile Essential Oil (Anthemis nobilis L.)`
- 20 drops of Patchouli Essential Oil (Pogostemon cablin)
Optional:
- Preservative of your choice, follow the manufacturer's instructions.
- ¼ cup of ground Chamomile flowers (Anthemis nobilis L.)
Safety:
- Do not use it in the first 16 weeks of pregnancy
- Avoid inhalation
Athlete's Foot and Smelly Feet
If you have smelly feet then Fullers Earth is going to be your best friend. My husband used to swear by this when he was in the Army for keeping his feet clean, dry, and in tip-top marching condition. Pair that with active essential oils, and you have a powerhouse against bacteria and foot fungus.
If you have blisters, try adding Yarrow herb powder or essential oil.
Ingredients:
- 1 cup of Fuller’s Earth (Solum fullonum) - get as fine a grind as possible
- 1 cup of Cornstarch (Zea Mays (Corn) Starch)
- 10ml of Tamanu Carrier Oil (Triticum vulgare)
- 40 drops of White Grapefruit Essential Oil (Citrus paradisi)
- 30 drops of Tea Tree Essential Oil (Melaleuca alternifolia)
- 20 drops of Thyme Essential Oil (Thymus vulgaris)
- 10 drops of Oregano Essential Oil (Origanum compactum Benth)
Safety:
- Do not use it during pregnancy
- Avoid inhalation
Medicated Talc Alternative
People use medicated talc or body powder for all sorts of reasons. May they want to relieve dry, irritated, or eczema-prone skin, soothe minor skin irritations, or bring some comfort to babies' diaper changes.
Many people also use it to absorb excess perspiration and relieve the discomforts caused by our skin chafing, rubbing together, or from excess sweating. Usually, we use it in conjunction to prevent skin infections that may pop up because of these.
When it comes to choosing essential oils, we want to select them for their active properties. We want soothers and softeners and bug busters and fungus killers. Choose essential oils that contain constituents with anti-inflammatory, antiseptic, antimicrobial, antibacterial, and antifungal properties.
NOTE: For a more masculine scented blend swap the 20 drops of Geranium for 20 drops of Patchouli essential oil
Ingredients:
- 1 cup of Cornstarch (Zea Mays (Corn) Starch)
- ½ cup of Kaolin Clay (Kaolin)
- ½ cup of Bentonite Clay (Montmorillonite)
- 10 ml of Tamanu Carrier Oil (Triticum vulgare)
- 40 drops of Lavender Essential Oil (Lavandula angustifolia)
- 40 drops of Roman Chamomile Essential Oil (Anthemis nobilis L.)
- 20 drops of Egyptian Geranium Essential Oil (Pelargonium Graveolens)
Safety:
- Do not use it in the first 16 weeks of pregnancy
- Avoid inhalation
Talc and Body Powders With Fragrance Oils
You can use this one basic recipe for all your body powder recipes with fragrance oils. It will leave your skin silky smooth, and soft and feeling beautifully clean and dry.
IFRA Safety
Now we need to follow the IFRA guidelines for maximum safety restrictions when using fragrance oils.
- Adult Body Powders fall into IFRA Category 5A
- Baby Powder falls in IFRA Category 5D
There is a choice for Baby Powders, but for adults, use the Body Cream option on the VINEVIDA Calculator when working out the correct safety data for your own formulations and recipes.
For these recipes, all the safety data is already worked out for you, I'm good like that!
Base Ingredients:
- 1 cup of Cornstarch (Zea Mays (Corn) Starch)
- ½ cup of Tapioca Flour (Tapioca starch)
- ½ cup of Kaolin Clay (Kaolin)
- 5 ml of Grapeseed Carrier Oil (Vitis vinifera)
- 5 ml of Rosehip Carrier Oil (Rosa Canina)
Safety:
- Avoid inhalation
Soft and Sensuous For Adults
Make a super glamorous perfumed body powder with a puff to be proud of! It’s super soft and will leave your skin feeling clean, smooth, and refreshed.
Masculine For Adults
Go deep, dark, and very delicious with this smooth, mellow, and uber-rich blend. It’s elegant and sophisticated and will linger all day.
One For The Kids
This is great for newborn babies and older kids. It has a really high maximum safety dilution rate so it’s brilliant for children's products.
It smells delicious too and has a fun, lively, and vibrant scent.
How To Use
When my son was a baby there was a huge ruckus about how talc was creating asthmatic-like issues in babies and small children. Sadly, the image of peachy babies' bums in a huge poof of white talc was gone forever, as the guidance shifted towards applying it to your hand before applying it to your baby.
That’s still the advice, for you and your baby. Dispense it into your hand and apply it to your body.
Try and avoid inhaling the talc and body powder, where applicable.
How to Store
Think about it, you apply talc and body powder to absorb excess moisture. If you leave them in a damp place, they are going to absorb moisture.
Store it in airtight containers, where possible, and try to store them out of the worst of a bathroom's steam and moisture.
It helps the longevity of your talc and body powders by keeping them in the dark, to stop light and fragrance degradation.
The Final Word
So as you see, very few dangers lie in making your own talc and body powders when you know what you are doing. And you do now if you stayed with me this far!
Choose from a range of natural powders and clays for your absorbent base. Try Cornstarch, Tapioca, Rice Flour, Kaolin Clay, and Bentonite Clay.
Pair it with lights and fluid carrier oils full of antioxidants like Grapeseed, Rosehip, and Jojoba. The antioxidant qualities will help your fragrance last longer.
Pair Fuller’s Earth with Tea Tree, Thyme, and Oregano for dealing with foot issues.
Pair Cornstarch’s silky texture with Geranium for soothing dry and itchy skin.
Or maybe just make a scented body powder for you the kids, and even your man.
However you make your talc and body powders, have a riot with it!
