What is a Liquid Botanical Extract? NDA’s Liquid Botanical Extracts are concentrated solutions that are produced by extracting various herbs’ chemical constituents out of their inert herb fibres (cellulose) using an appropriate natural solvent. What is a ‘Standardized’ Liquid Botanical Extract? A Standardized Liquid Botanical Extract is an herb extract that has a component or active present in a guaranteed specific amount, which is usually expressed as a percentage. The intention behind the standardization of herbs is to guarantee that the consumer is receiving a consistent product from batch to batch. Why use Liquid Botanical Extracts? Liquid Botanical Extracts have excellent solubility in formulations and, because they are ready-to-use, they are extremely convenient. How much of a Liquid Botanical Extract can I add to my formulation? The suggested usage level is 0.1-3%. What is the shelf life of the Liquid Botanical Extracts? If stored properly, a Liquid Botanical Extract will have a shelf life of 36 months. Do NDA’s Liquid Botanical Extracts contain preservatives? No, NDA’s Liquid Botanical Extracts are preservative-free. Are the Liquid Botanical Extracts all-natural? Yes, NDA’s Liquid Botanical Extracts are 100% natural. How are Liquid Botanical Extracts used in skincare formulations? Whether Liquid Botanical Extracts are incorporated into pre-existing cosmetic bases or into products that are formulated from scratch, they can be added to creams, lotions, foaming products (for both skin and hair), anti-aging products, after-sun products, and rinse-off products. These extracts are water- soluble and can be combined directly with water without the use of heat, making them ideal for addition to cold process products. We recommend adding these extracts to final formulations when the temperatures are below 40°C, as this will ensure the effectiveness of the liquid extracts. What are the ideal storage conditions for herbal extracts? Liquid Botanical Extracts should be stored in cool, dry places away from moisture (e.g. humidity) and direct sunlight. The recommended long-term storage temperature is 20°C. Do Liquid Botanical Extracts have a range of colors, or are they clear? None of these extracts are bleached or processed harshly, which allows them to retain the natural colors and scents of the herbs from which they are derived. Can I combine 2 or 3 of these extracts? Yes, 2-3 extracts may be mixed together in product formulations. Can these extracts be used in bath bombs? Yes, these extracts may be used in bath bomb recipes; however, we recommend using extremely small amounts, as Liquid Botanical Extracts will cause these mixtures to fizz. Do Liquid Botanical Extracts work well in CP soap? Though these extracts may be used in CP soap, we recommend adding them at trace amounts, as it is unclear how extracts will react to the heat from the lye. Can I add Liquid Botanical Extracts to Melt & Pour soap? Yes, Liquid Botanical Extracts may be added to M&P soap at trace amounts; adding too much can decrease lather, make the bar soft, or cause the soap to sweat, thus we recommend staying closer to the lower end of the range. Are the colors of the Liquid Botanical Extracts pH-sensitive? Yes, the colors of the extracts can be pH-sensitive depending on the active. For example, in Bilberry Extracts, Anthocyanin is more stable at low pH (acidic conditions), which contributes a dark maroon to dark purple pigment. On the contrary, Anthocyanin at a higher pH value will cause the color to fade, with possible results ranging from blue to yellowish