Working With Powdered Extracts

Powdered Extracts provide an easy way for formulators to incorporate herbal ingredients into their water based products.  These Extracts are standardized, ensuring consistent quality and potency, batch after batch.  Our line of Powdered Herbal Extracts are almost all water soluble, meaning they will dissolve easily into warm water or water based ingredients.  Many are concentrated, some up to 10 times the potency of the original Extract.  You can determine each Powdered Extract's potency by the numbers in its title.  For example, Horsetal 4:1 is four times as strong as the original Extract, while Oat Straw 10:1 is ten times its original strength.  To incorporate an Powdered Extract into a formula, first determine what percentage of the original extract you'd like to add.  After you've determined the percentage, divide the amount based on the Extracts strength. 

For example, if you were making 480 grams (or 1 lb.) of lotion, and wanted to add 5% Rosehip Extract using Rosehip Powdered Extract 4:1, you would determine the amount to add by the following method:

• Determine 5% of your total weight. (5% of 480 grams = 24 grams)
• Divide the 5% by the strength of the Extract. This Extract is four times as strong as plain Rosehip extract, so you would divide it by 4. (24 grams / 4 = 6 grams)
• The conclusion is that you would add 6 grams of Rosehip Extract 4:1

Powdered Extracts are great for use in toners, rinses, lotions, conditioners, or any other recipes that contain water.  Because they have a shelf life of up to two years they are great for those who formulate in small batches, and unlike herbal infusions, you can be sure of the exact potency of the herbs in your formulas. If you are looking for a convenient, and efficient way to incorporate herbal properties into your recipes, try working with Powdered Herbal Extracts.

Comments

[DaisySoapGirl]

I am so happy I found your blog. The info is wonderful.

[joanna schmidt]

What about powdered fruit extracts in sugar scrubs? Any thoughts, suggestions, shelf life determinations, fermenting issues?

[Emmy]

I'm happy that you found the blog too! I hope that you are enjoying it. Feel free to email or comment if you have any questions about articles or recipes. I am are happy to help!

[Emmy]

Hi Joanna, I haven't worked with powdered fruit extracts personally, but I can't see any reason why they wouldn't be excellent for use in skin care. Talk to the manufacturer about shelf life, and whether the extracts are powdered juice, or extracts specifically.

[Debbie Smith]

Can rosehip seed powdered extract be safely added to an organic hydrosol.

[Emmy Gabriel]

You can certainly use an Organic Hydrosol to reconstitute a Powdered
Extract.  Hydrosols are water-based, so they will do just fine.  You
may need to warm the Hydrosol a little in order to get the Powdered
Extract to dissolve fully.  After the ingredients have been combined,
the mixture should be treated in the same manner as any formulation
that includes water. It will be fragile, and prone to instability. To
keep it fresh, you can store it in the refrigerator, add an
antibacterial agent such as Grapefruit Seed Extract, or simply use it
up right away.