Raw materials and formula variety can help you add some creativity to your apothecary product collection. Ingredient selection often affects more than just how a product looks and feels. With minor adjustments, makers can change the product’s performance during use and storage. Many makers prioritize versatile materials they are able to be used for a range of recipes, such as essential oils for facial serums or moisturizers. Here are five ingredients to enhance your apothecary products:
1. Nourishing Natural Oils
Many Crafters use natural and carrier oils as the base for their apothecary recipes. These oils tend to blend easily with other ingredients, and crafters commonly use them to make soaps and lotions. You may use different oils, such as coconut oil, grapeseed oil, or golden jojoba oil, to adjust the weight and finish across your apothecary products. Many crafters select oils based on how well they blend with other core ingredients in a finished formula. Natural oils are versatile and mix well with both thicker ingredients, such as waxes, and perfume bases.
2. Skin-Loving Butters
Plant-based butters are often used to add structure and body to apothecary formulations. Some crafters use ingredients such as cocoa and kokum butters in recipes that require a thicker consistency. Shea butter may be paired with oils in whipped mixtures, such as soft creams, or added to formulas designed for warm-weather use.
Many crafters opt for other ingredients, like mango and cocoa butter, based on how they melt, cool, and set within a recipe. In some cases, butter solidifies at room temperature, which allows makers to use it in container-poured creams and artisanal soap blends. Butters are also found in products such as lotions, lip balms, lotion bars, and salves. You can use butter to help define the product’s overall texture without changing the core formulation. The amount and type of butter also help determine a product’s firmness and spread qualities.
3. Aromatic Essential Oils
Crafters often use essential oils to add scent to apothecary formulations. They appear in a wide range of products, from facial serums and cleansers to teas and candles. They are highly concentrated, so most recipes typically don’t require more than a few drops.
Pairing these oils with alcohol bases helps distribute scent evenly across different types of apothecary products, allowing for more consistent formulas. In perfume blends and body products, essential oils are commonly added after the base materials are set to help balance the scent with the formula. Beyond personal care, essential oils are also used in home-fragrance formats such as bedding sprays and candles.
4. Versatile Raw Ingredients
Beyond oils and butters, many makers rely on raw ingredients that add function and variation to their apothecary recipes. These materials are often used to adjust texture, stability, or application across different product types. Here are a few examples of raw materials to add to your apothecary products:
- Clays – Makers commonly include clays in recipes that require absorption or added structure. They often appear in soaps, masks, and solid products that require added body.
- Beeswax – Crafters use it in formulations that need firmness or shape. It is frequently found in lip balms, salves, and other products poured into tins or tubes.
- Beef tallow – Some traditional soap and lotion recipes include beef tallow. They are typically selected based on their behavior during heating and cooling.
- Natural fragrance oils – Those oils are added to provide scent in both personal and home products. They are often used in soaps, candles, and laundry-related recipes.
5. Eco-Friendly Packaging Picks
For many makers, container and packaging choice is part of the overall formulation process. Material type and size may factor into how a finished product fits into daily routines. For those looking for more eco-friendly packaging, options like kraft lip balm tubes, wheat-straw bottles, and soap lifts are available. These formats work across different product types and are easy to incorporate into existing recipes.
Get More Apothecary Products
Ingredient choices help shape how apothecary products come together once they’re finished. Oils, butters, raw materials, and packaging each allow you to create artisanal, unique products. Some crafters also incorporate dried herbs and spices into their creations. Natural ingredients can be used for their properties and aesthetic appeal. If you’re looking to add color to your products, you are able to use natural powders like hibiscus and spirulina. Explore new ingredients and try a more sustainable packaging option for your apothecary products today.
