Suggested Basic Tools & Equipment For DIY Recipes & Formulations

Suggested Basic Tools & Equipment For DIY Recipes & Formulations

Here is a list of some basic equipment that you may need in your formulating and crafting endeavors. Be sure that you only use these tools for your crafting needs. For example, don’t use the same equipment for other purposes, such as cooking. There are certainly other gadgets, apparatuses, and lab ware not on this list that you may find useful, but these are a few things that come to my mind. I may edit this list from time to time to add more items.

Ingredients: Which ingredients will depend on what you are trying to make.  In natural formulation and DIY natural products, you will typically need ingredients like carrier oils, butters, essential oils, hydrosols, herbs, waxes, emulsifiers, solubilizers, dispersants, broad spectrum preservatives, antioxidants, soap, alcohol, clay, and more.

Containers like bottles or jars: It is best to choose a variety of sizes to package products and store ingredients.

Bowls: I suggest having an assortment of bowls in different sizes to measure out ingredients or to blend ingredients together.

Pots or a double broiler: This is to heat, warm, or melt ingredients.  If you don’t have a double broiler then you can use a Pyrex measuring cup in a pot.

Pyrex measuring cups, graduated cylinders, and beakers: To measure ingredients.  Be sure to have various sizes.

Droppers or pipettes: To measure small amounts of liquids.

Glass stirring rods or spoons or cosmetic spatulas: You need something to stir and mix with; I suggest having an assortment.

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Gloves, googles, hairnet or cap, and masks: These are some examples of Personal Protective Equipment, which is part of Good Manufacturing Practices.

Blender (regular or stick) or mixer: These are used to mix ingredients together.    

Grinder or mortar & pestle: Something to grind or crush ingredients, if needed.  

Cheese cloth, a strainer, or coffee press:  These are used to strain products, if needed.

Funnels: Funnels are useful to avoid spills.

Towels: I recommend using both cloth rags and paper towels.

Scales: To measure ingredients.  Scales are a must to get the most accurate and consistent results. For more about choosing the right scale, see my article about scales!

Labels: Always label your ingredients and finished products.  You may think you will remember what you made (if you don’t label) but trust me, you may not remember (especially when working on several products at a time), so it is best to label.

Thermometer: To check the temperature; some products need a thermometer and some don’t.

Tools and equipment

For more information or if you have questions about aromatherapy, herbalism, formulation, perfumery, eco living, and natural skin and hair care, please join Herbs, Essential Oils, Perfumes & Formulation by Plant Alkemie’s Facebook group and Plant Alkemie Institute of Holistic Botanical Studies’ Facebook business page.  And be sure to check out more articles on Plant Alkemie Institute of Holistic Botanical Studies’ website: https://www.plantalkemie.com.

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2 comments

  1. Under the cloth section I also use unbleached muslin and sometimes, in a pinch, unbleached coffee filters.

    Under labels -post it notes are great for temporary info. I use these while things are infusing and use more permanent labels for the finished jars.

    • Hi Tricia, thanks for your suggestions. I also use muslin and coffee filters too. I used to occasionally use post it notes for labels. Nowadays I use my label maker! Have a wonderful day!

      Cheers,
      Li