Developpment of a natural personal care product (soap) physiochemical characterizations and safety assessment

Abstract

Soap is a widely used personal care product across all age groups. This study aimed to develop a mild, effective, and eco-friendly soap enriched with rosemary essential oil. The process began with the extraction of rosemary essential oil through hydrodistillation, followed by its physicochemical analysis. A cold process technique was then used to produce soap from selected vegetable oils (olive oil, coconut oil, palm oil, castor oil), incorporating the rosemary essential oil. The final product underwent various evaluations, including organoleptic assessment, pH measurement, foam capacity, moisture content analysis, and microbiological testing. Results indicated that the rosemary essential oil retained its properties throughout the soap-making process and enhanced the soap’s overall quality. The soap exhibited a skin-friendly pH (9.73), good foaming ability (50%), low moisture content (1.57%_4.02%) for improved shelf life, and a pleasant natural aroma. These outcomes highlight the potential of rosemary essential oil as a natural, functional, and aromatic ingredient in plant-based soaps